Kate didn't especially want to attract any remaining villagers, so only she and Zevran entered the village. Leiliana was still very sore, and thus found blending difficult. Zevran showed Kate how to pick several different kinds of locks, all the while talking about his time in the Crows.
"What was the worst mission?" asked Kate.
"What was your worst day? Do you really want to relive it?" replied Zevran.
"That was the day my parents died, easily." said Kate.
"I already know that story." said Zevran. "I desire to know about why it is that you asked Alistair if he wished to fight you, after your battle with Sten. You said that he had a history of questioning you?"
"And if I tell you about that, you'll tell me about your worst mission?" asked Kate, grimacing as she worked on an intricate lock.
"Sure." said Zevran.
"Well, you know Alistair's uncle is Arl Eamon, right? The guy we are hoping to cure with the ashes. Anyway, his son was possessed by a demon, and at the time, the Circle was also in turmoil. I had two choices: kill the boy outright, or enter the Fade and try to kill the demon possessing him. I could not enter the Fade in the traditional way, as the Circle was locked down to outsiders. There happened to be a blood mage at the castle, and he offered to help us enter the Fade using his magic. The thing with blood magic, though, is, well, it takes blood. In Isolde's, who was the possessed boy's mom, case, all of it. She sacrificed herself to save her boy."
"And Alistair did not approve? That is not surprising. He was a Templar, right?" asked Zevran.
"I wish he had only disapproved. No, Alistair turned on me. He accused me of being a poor leader, Morrigan of being an apostate, and called us both bitches. The worst, though, was when he threatened to turn us into the Templars for using blood magic." said Kate.
"What an idiot. He has never had to struggle in his life, and thus expects everything to be easy. I am glad you are the leader, and not only because I am still alive." sneered Zevran.
"Since then, we've, er, reconciled. Betrayal still stings, though. I know in my mind not to trust others, but my heart keeps on trusting them." said Kate quietly.
"A lesson which most of us have yet to learn." said Zevran.
Kate laughed. "You, trusting anyone? I find that hard to believe."
"That is my problem. I never trust anyone, even if they deserve my trust. You wanted to know about my worst mission? That would have been the day I killed Rinna. Oh, Rinna. She was a fellow elf, and also a fellow Crow. She was-beautiful. She was ruthless, and bloodthirsty, and her eyes gleamed with justice when she felled an opponent. I-I loved her, and she loved me. Then, we had a mission go badly, and it turned out that she had betrayed us." said Zevran.
"So how does that mean you should trust anyone-" started Kate.
"Let me finish. Rinna begged me for her life on her hands and knees. Rinna, who never begged for anything. Rinna, the proud, cold, collected murderess, begged me with tears in her eyes to believe her when she told me she had not betrayed us. I laughed in her face, and slit her throat. She bled out on the floor in front of me, her eyes never leaving mine. When I returned to Antiva with Taliesen, the other member of our group, I found that she had not betrayed us, after all." said Zevran, knowing without looking the hatred and disgust he would see on Kate's face. Kate, the closest thing to a hero he had ever known. Kate, who would rather die than betray those she loved.
"You couldn't have known that." said Kate.
Zevran looked up, and saw only sympathy in her face.
"I'm so sorry, Zevran. I guess I wasn't expecting you to tell me a serious story. I thought you'd tell me about some hilarious, yet sexy adventure. Not-not this." said Kate.
Zevran turned away. "When I decided to take the mission to try to kill the Grey Wardens, I did it because even among the Crows, the Grey Wardens are very respected. I fully expected, and wanted, death. How could I live after what I did to Rinna? Yet, somehow, I was spared." said Zevran.
"This is where Leiliana would say the Maker has a plan for you. I would say, however, that I spared you because you were so damn cocky. I admired you for it. The Grey Wardens are mostly people with deathwishes, and people who have nothing left to lose. I recognized a kinship in you, Zevran." said Kate. "Your cute butt didn't hurt your chances, either."
Zevran laughed. "I did offer my services as a lover. Anytime you want to take me up on them, I'm game."
Kate rolled her eyes, and the lock sprang open. "Ah! Good!"
Kate and Zevran returned in the evening, each carrying a sack full, mostly of food.
Kate shooed Genetivi away from his table. "Have you made much progress?" she asked.
"Oh, yes. Here is the chart. Many of these amulets are magical." he said.
"Good. Now move your stuff out of here. We have onions to slay." said Kate, and began dumping a bag of potatoes and onions onto the table.
"You'll get dirt all over my research!" shouted Genetivi.
"Then move faster." said Kate.
Genetivi muttered to himself and quickly gathered up his papers.
"Wynne, can you clean these? I want to get chopping." said Kate.
Wynne sighed. "Magic isn't really to be used for such trivialities-
"Morrigan!" shouted Kate. Morrigan looked up, and snapped her fingers.
Kate looked down to clean vegetables, and stuck her tongue out at Wynne.
Wynne frowned, and began slicing vegetables next to Kate. Kate chopped very quickly, and Leiliana looked up in surprise. "You grew up a noblewoman, yet you know how to chop vegetables?" she asked.
"I would have done anything to get a knife in my hand. Plus, my mother didn't really like having servants. The ones we did have were given the same status as the knights, and thus, didn't really chop vegetables. Vegetable chopping was reserved as punishment, and I was often deserving of punishment. Plus, I really like cutting things up, so I don't mind." chattered Kate. "I learned a few tricks, too."
"Oh?" asked Leiliana, seeing the childlike excitement in Kate's face. "Show them, then."
Kate threw a potato in the air, and whipped out her sword, faster than Leiliana could follow. Before the potato hit the ground, it was in four pieces.
"Wasting food, now?" asked Wynne.
"No, that one is for Meat." said Kate. The dog sniffed at the potato and gulped it down.
"If you are so good with a sword, why did you have Alistair give you lessons?" asked Leiliana.
Kate said nothing, but her cheeks turned pink.
Alistair, who had been peeling potatoes next to Wynne, looked up sharply. He saw Kate avoiding his eyes, and laughed.
"I just wanted to see if Templar training was different than my own." she muttered.
Alistair just laughed more, and suddenly, peeling potatoes was not so bad. He was enjoying watching her blush.
The next morning, they opened the tunnel. Morrigan had finished brewing ahead of schedule, and Leiliana's wounds were mostly healed.
"Thank you for opening that for us. Now, we must depart." said Kate to Genetivi.
"I'm coming with you." said Genetivi.
"I don't think you can handle it. You were just starved nearly to death, and your foot-" started Wynne.
"This is my life's work. I will crawl, if I have to. Please." begged Genetivi.
"I knew I'd have to carry your old ass. Damn it." said Kate.
"I'll help him. You can't deny him this-it would be unspeakably cruel." said Leiliana, slipping one of the monk's arms over her shoulder.
Kate sighed. "Fine."
After walking for about a mile, the tunnel opened to an old ruin of a temple.
"Oh, my. I think this is an ancient temple of Andraste's." said Leiliana.
"I thought these wackos didn't believe in Andraste? Or maybe they did, and were hiding her, to protect her? Clever." said Kate.
They entered the temple, which was still very beautiful, despite its decay. Kate thought the decay enhanced the beauty, with sparkling snow topping the old pillars, and icicles shining from the ceiling.
"These are original Andrastian statues. Oh, I must make a copy of the etchings on their bases." said Genetivi, pulling out some paper and a piece of charcoal.
Kate waited while he traced, then watched as he moved on to the next statue.
"There are hundreds of these statues. I don't have time for this." she said. "Will you be okay on your own?" Kate asked.
"Maybe my destiny was just to lead you to the path to the Ashes." said Genetivi. "I will wait for you back here."
Kate left him with food, water, and stern instructions to keep an ear out for danger. The instructions were mostly meant for Meat, who she ordered to protect Genetivi.
The rest of the group walked through the massive hall, which rivaled the fortress at Ostagar in size. At the end of the hall, Kate felt uneasy.
"Someone's here. I can feel it." said Kate, drawing her weapons.
Morrigan and Wynne began chanting, preparing their spells. The rest also drew their weapons.
Kate crept forward, and spotted a familiar horned helmet.
"Damn. Looks like we have another fight." she said to the rest of the group, and signaled them forward.
The two horned guards rushed forward, swinging massive axes.
One fell, arrows protruding from his throat. The other let out an inhuman roar and rushed at them. He slipped at the bottom of the stairs, where Kate was standing, and fell forward.
Kate heard Zevran snicker. "I didn't even see you put down that grease." she said, and brought her sword down over the horned warrior's neck.
"Wait, before we go any further. I forgot about these." said Wynne, and pulled a handful of amulets from a pouch on her belt.
"I think I have a good idea of who should wear what." said Wynne. She held out a strange necklace, made with the teeth of bears and wolves.
"Let me guess-the Wilds Witch gets that one." said Alistair.
"No, why would she wear this? It increases strength. This goes to Sten." said Wynne, frowning at Alistair. She then pulled out a purple, glowing amulet on a pink ribbon. Alistair grimaced.
"I suppose that one's mine?" he asked.
"Why are you making such stupid guesses? Are you doing this on purpose?" asked Wynne, shaking her head. "I hardly think you have need of a necklace that increases poison potency." she said, and threw it to Zevran.
Kate received a simple silver chain, which, upon touching her skin, felt like it warmed her blood. "What does this do? I feel warmer." said Kate.
"It helps healing. I thought I'd make my job easier." said Wynne.
Alistair, who had been snickering at Zevran's purple pendant, paled at the sight of what Wynne handed him: a gaudy gold locket, in the shape of a heart. "I think I'll go without whatever this does." he said.
Wynne narrowed her eyes at him. "Put it on, young man." He gulped and slid the chain over his head.
They crept up the stairs, and Kate saw massive stone doors at the top. Sten and Alistair pulled the doors open, and Kate coughed at the dust that flew out. Cobwebs covered the walls. Leiliana shuddered.
"I recognize those webs. Remember those spiders from New Geili? These are more of them." said Leiliana.
"Ugh. The smell of their nasty green guts-give me a darkspawn, anyday." said Alistair.
Morrigan torched the webs and spiders swung, outraged, from the ceiling.
Half an hour later, Kate leaned against the wall, panting. The rest of her companions were in a smiliar state, with Morrigan alone free of green, pasty goo.
"Look how their legs still twitch. Blech." said Kate, and kicked a twitching leg away from her ankle.
Leiliana stood, shuddering. "I hate spiders. I hate spiders. I hate spiders." she muttered to herself.
Zevran was nowhere to be seen, and Kate looked around worriedly. "Where is Zevran?" she asked.
"Right here." he said, near her feet, and Kate jumped back. "What are you doing down there?" she asked.
"Looking up your skirt, of course." he answered, and nimbly avoided her kick. "Collecting the poison sacs from the spiders. Their toxin is the main ingredient in many poisons."
Kate watched as he squeezed the yellow sac in his hand. It burst, the sound like an amplified pimple popping, and Kate squealed. "That's so gross! Let me try!"
She helped Zevran collect the toxin into a flask, to which he added a white powder.
"Is that some sort of secret Crow compound?" asked Alistair, looking over Zevran's shoulder.
"It may be unknown to you, judging by your bland cuisine." said Zevran.
"Oh yes, I know what would go great in the stew! Poison!" said Alistair sarcastically.
"It's salt." said Kate, and laughed.
"You set me up for that." muttered Alistair.
Kate shook herself off, like a dog, and wiped what she could off her face. "Alright, we should see how much farther we can get today." she said.
They walked down the hall, and Zevran held up a hand.
"I see a trap up ahead." he said, and crouched near an archway, fiddling with something. He stood up, and signaled them forward.
"There are people in the next room. They seem to be praying, or something. Zevran and Leiliana, I need you to sneak around the edge and get ready with your bows. Morrigan, try to freeze as many as you can. I know you've been itching to try the new spells from Irving's books, so go wild. Wynne, Sten, and Alistair: you know what to do. Of course, this is assuming those in the next room are going to try to kill us. If they offer us tea, then use your manners." said Kate, and grinned. She felt the Green Blade pulsing in her hand, and she rocked from foot to foot.
Zevran and Leiliana faded from view, and Kate waited for a few minutes, just to be sure. She then boldly stepped into the room.
"Hi, folks! Sorry about intruding on your little prayer meeting. I was thinking maybe we could have an open discussion about faith?" she asked.
A man pulled out a knife and threw it at her. She ducked, and the knife clattered into Alistair's shield.
"It's never just tea. Just once, I'd like it to be tea." muttered Alistair, and braced himself behind his shield.
Three people rushed Kate, and she blended. They grasped at the space where she had stood, and then fell to the ground. Kate appeared over them, and stabbed one through the chest. Arrows flew through the air around her, and Kate hoped Wynne had her shields up. She got her answer when an arrow aimed for her head hit an invisible barrier and fell harmlessly to the floor next to her.
It was over very quickly. Aside from the man who had thrown the knife, and two archers, nobody seemed to know how to use the weapons they held.
Kate shook her head. "More cultists. I wonder if some live in this temple? Still, it's a good sign: they must be guarding something important."
The next week saw more of the same: cultists and spiders. The cultists seemed to be getting harder to defeat, and Kate hoped it was because they were moving closer to the urn, not due to their fatigue. Kate worried about Meat and Genetivi.
They ventured into the bowels of the temple, where they found a tunnel. It led into the middle of the mountain, and according to Genetivi's map, was where the Urn was located.
The tunnel was home to many cultists, who were much better armed and trained than their Temple counterparts. After a particularly grueling battle, Kate stumbled down what looked like a sidetunnel. "We need to rest." she said.
Kate found a dry, warm cavern. "This looks like a good place." she said. The rest of the group sat down, exhausted. Alistair sported a black eye, and Leiliana, a split lip. Morrigan seemed no worse for wear.
Wynne kneeled next to Sten and began bandaging up the long gash on his forearm. "I will heal this in the morning, but we need the bleeding to stop for now." she said. Sten grunted.
Kate began to take off her boots when she heard a strange hissing. She jumped to her feet and instinctively blended.
Large, wingless lizards appeared around them and began attacking. Kate easily killed one, and felt a sense of relief until she looked up. Lizards surrounded her. She swung out, cutting through them, but more rushed forward.
Kate saw Wynne pull something from her belt. A blue, sparkling potion. She drank it, and shoved another into Morrigan's hand.
"But this is lyrium-" started Morrigan. "What if it scars us?"
"Better scarred than dead." said Wynne firmly. "Drink up."
Kate heard Morrigan shout "Behind you!" and she sidestepped. A fireball consumed the lizards surrounding her, but they didn't seem much affected.
"Fuck, they're dragonlings!" shouted Zevran.
"Then we'll kill them with ice." said Morrigan, and Kate saw her drink another of the blue potions. Morrigan winced, and a long wound opened on her arm.
A blast of cold came from the end of Morrigan's staff, and the dragonlings surrounding her froze in place.
"Smash them. They will shatter." said Sten. Kate picked one up and flung it into the wall. It cracked in half, then shattered.
Kate began throwing the dragonlings into walls, shouting gleefully as they broke into tiny pieces.
"I always wanted to be the bull in the china shop!" said Alistair, and stomped on the back of the last dragonling.
"How do we know they are all gone? Where did they come from?" asked Kate.
"We don't know, but I would guess we killed most of them. There must be a dragon nest around here." said Alistair.
"A dragon nest. Dragon, as in large, sentient, fire-breathing monster? Just our luck. Only one has been seen in four hundred years, and we stumble into its nest. Perfect." said Kate.
"If we can manage to defeat it, dragon scales and blood are very valuable." said Zevran.
"Yes, they only cost an arm and a leg." said Alistair, and everyone groaned.
That night, Kate sat watch with Morrigan. Morrigan pulled something from her belt. "I have an offer for you." she said.
Kate looked at her. "What kind of offer? You're pretty and all, but-"
Morrigan snorted. "I am not a hormonal idiot like Alistair or Zevran. I have no interest in women, besides. I wanted to offer you something more...valuable."
Kate cocked an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What would that be?"
"A permanent protective ward." said Morrigan.
"That's possible? Why doesn't everyone have one?" asked Kate.
"Because the ingredients to make them are rare, and expensive. Also, the wards are a type of blood magic, which deters many." said Morrigan. "This jar contains all the ingredients for a ward, save one. If we can manage to slay the high dragon who is mother to the dragonlings we just killed, we will have everything needed."
"Oh, yes, we only need to slay a damned high dragon!" said Kate sarcastically. "Should be easy-peasy."
"I was only saying that if we do, I offer you a very powerful protection."
"What do you want for it?" asked Kate.
"You won't simply agree? You are getting smarter. I need you to kill Flemeth." said Morrigan.
"What? Why would I kill your mother?" asked Kate.
"Because she will soon try to possess my body if you don't. The grimoire you took from her contained secrets, as I had hoped. Those secrets turned out to be the way she has stayed alive for seven hundred years. It seems I am the latest of many daughters Flemeth has raised."
Kate gasped. "So she's been raising them up, and then taking over their bodies? That's vile! She'd kill her own children?"
"Yes. That is why you must kill her. I would not ask you to do it without reward, which is why I am offering powerful protection." said Morrigan.
"I would have done it for free." said Kate. "She deserves death, and you are my friend."
"You trust too easily. I thought you learned your lesson?" asked Morrigan disapprovingly.
Kate laughed wryly. "I guess not. Why can't you kill Flemeth, yourself?'
"I suspect that if I accompanied you, she would attempt to possess me immediately, and if that failed, she would definitely try right before death." said Morrigan. "Killing her will only deter her for a time, before she can snatch another body and try again."
"What? How can she do that?" asked Kate.
"My mother made a deal with a demon, hundreds of years ago. She and the demon bonded, and now share a soul." said Morrigan.
Kate grimaced. "Shit, Alistair was right. Flemeth is an abomination. I will kill her, anyway, and bring you her head."
"You don't need to do that." said Morrigan.
"Oh, I do. I need proof that I killed her, so in case she appears again, you will know that I tried." said Kate.
Morrigan smiled, her teeth gleaming. "It seems you understand me well."
"Is this where we're surprised to discover you've never had a friend in your life?" a sharp voice cut through the darkness.
"Alistair? Have you been eavesdropping?" asked Kate angrily.
"Only long enough to hear you agree to a blood magic ritual performed by an apostate, following the death of said apostate's demon-witch mother." said Alistair snidely.
"Yes, I did agree to blood magic. You want to know why? Because I see nothing wrong with it." said Kate.
"Nothing wrong with it? What about what happened at the Circle?" asked Alistair.
"What about what happened at Ostagar? A blood mage lit the brazier, Alistair." said Kate.
"What? No, you lit it." insisted Alistiar.
"I didn't. The mage that was with us? He cut his arm open and lit the fire with blood magic." said Kate quietly. "He was just as much of a hero as anyone else, and don't you dare argue with me on that. I won't hear it."
"Oh." said Alistair.
"Yes, oh. You were never a good templar, anyway. Why does blood magic bother you so much? You don't follow any other Chantry ideas." said Kate.
Alistair didn't have a good answer, so he settled for a stupid one.
"I just don't like it. It's Leiliana and my turn for watch."
Kate sighed and stood up. She could hear Alistair breathing, and she purposely checked him with her shoulder as she walked past, which ended up hurting her more, as he was wearing his armor.
Wincing, she rubbed her shoulder and stretched out on Leiliana's bedroll.
Kate awoke to the sound of loud arguing.
"You need to mind your own business! How dare you intrude on a private conversation!" shouted Morrigan.
"Oh, because politeness is definitely your usual mode of operation. You never butt in unwanted." retorted Alistair.
"I, at least, earned my place in this group. You are but a pity-case." sneered Morrigan.
"I am a Grey Warden! I have every right to be here!" shouted Alistair, his face turning red.
"After abandoning your duty as leader, and then questioning Kate every step of the way? You aren't half the Warden Kate is." said Morrigan coldly.
"That is true, but at least I'm a Warden. You aren't anything but some apostate whore." said Alistair.
"Whore? Me? If anyone is a whore, it is you. What do you hope to accomplish by bedding Kate? Hope that she'll put you on the throne, or just make you her second-in-command. I was not born into privilege and power-" started Morrigan.
Kate leapt between them.
"Stop this instant. You are both being idiots. Alistair, why do you always resort to ugly, sexist names when you argue? I thought you were more creative than that." she said, and glared at him. She could feel Morrigan's smug smile, and she whirled.
"And Morrigan-I do not need anyone to fight my battles. My argument with Alistair ended months ago. I seem to remember you questioning me just as often as Alistair." she said, poking the witch in the chest. Morrigan scowled, her cheeks pink with shame.
"Each of you have earned your places here. Also, I consider both of you friends, but that may end if you are going to act like I'm a bone to be fought over. Get over yourselves." snapped Kate.
Kate saw Zevran and Leiliana staring. "Make some fucking breakfast, you two, and stop staring." she snarled, and they jumped, turning away.
The next couple days saw more caverns, and more dragonlings. "How many eggs can a dragon lay?" asked Kate.
"Hundreds, or thousands." said Wynne.
"What? Why aren't there more dragons flying around, then?" asked Kate.
"Because most young dragons never make it to their second year of life. They fight to the death, or are killed by predators." said Wynne.
Kate felt a strange substance under her boots, and she looked down. Straw.
"Hold up, everyone. People are around, as I highly doubt dragons are bringing in straw to lie on." she said.
Kate crept to the entrance of a nearby carvern, blended, and slipped inside. At the center of the cavern stood a man, who was speaking to something unseen. A lizard, much larger than the dragonlings, appeared next to him, and he bowed, then said some gibberish.
Kate scowled. What, excactly, was this guy doing with dragons? Why did the cavern look like a nursery?
She crept back to her group. "So, that room is very strange. Eggs are everywhere, propped up on tables, wrapped in blankets, etc. Dead goats are everywhere, and living ones are in a pen in the corner. A man is in there, and he, uh, talked to a lizard that looked like the dragonlings, only triple their size."
"Drakes." said Zevran.
"Why do you know so much about dragons?" asked Kate.
"I don't spend all my time making love or murdering. Sometimes, I read. Dragons are a particularly interesting subject, I think." he said. "The man you saw in there probably belongs to a dragon cult. If any of you had read the book Sten found at Genetivi's in Denerim, you would know this. " he said.
"Dragon cults care for young dragons, in exchange for eggs and blood. Somehow the high dragon talks to those in the cult." said Sten.
"Ah, so someone else read the book? Excellent." said Zevran.
"I never read the manual." said Kate. "Let me guess-we have to kill this guy?"
"Yes, unless we want him to contact the high dragon and tell her we've been slaughtering her young." said Zevran.
Kate unsheathed her sword. "After days of wandering, I'm ready for a fight." she said.
"You're always ready for a fight." said Leiliana, laughing.
"True." said Kate.
The cultist proved to be easy to kill, at least in comparison to his scaly allies. Kate scrabbled onto one of the drake's backs and drove her dagger in. The drake flicked its tail like a horse would flick a fly off its back.
Kate threw her head back and howled after the drake's tail sent her flying into the wall.
"What does it take to kill these things?" she shrieked.
Alistair knocked his shield over the drake's head, and it slumped forward, dazed. Zevran stabbed it under its scaly plating, and then into its head, just to be sure.
The two men looked up and grinned smugly. "Having problems, Katherine?" drawled Alistair.
Kate smiled weakly. "I'm glad you managed to finally kill it. If the babies are this difficult-"
"These aren't babies. These are adult males." said Zevran.
"Well, that's a relief. The female isn't much bigger, is she?" asked Kate.
The rest of her group, who had just finished killing the other two drakes, looked at her. All bore the same expression:"You. ."
Kate grimaced. "So, they're big, then?" she asked.
"They're huge. They breathe fire. They fly." said Alistair. "We're toast."
Kate groaned. "How are we going to kill it?"
"Through the grace of the Maker." said Leiliana. Everyone else rolled their eyes.
Kate sat down heavily. "Wynne, can you help me? I think that lizard bastard cracked a rib." she said.
Wynne came over, and put a hand on Kate's shoulder. "You should feel better in just a bit, but we should rest for a spell."
Kate looked over, and saw Zevran leaning against the wall, talking to Leiliana.
"Can you two scout out ahead? I feel like we are walking in circles." said Kate.
"You would like us to draw a map?" asked Zevran.
"Could you?" asked Kate, cocking her head.
"Of course. Bards are trained in the arts, and I happen to possess a good eye for drawing." said Leiliana.
"Well, go ahead, then." said Kate. The pair left, and Kate slumped against the wall.
She feebly reached for the strap on her armor, and winced at the movement.
"Want some help?" asked Alistair.
"Yes, please." said Kate. He crouched next to her, surprisingly graceful in his armor, and unbuckled his gauntlets. He then unbuckled the straps at her shoulders, and lightly tugged at it. He set the armor aside, and went to sit next to Kate.
"You forgot the bottom part." said Kate.
"Uh" stuttered Alistair. Kate smiled wickedly, and sat forward on her hands and knees. She thrust her butt into his face. "Unbuckle me." she said.
Alistair flushed. The sight of her, smiling that smile, with brazen invitation in her eyes. He reached out a hand, embarrassed to note it was trembling, and undid the straps at her waist. Alistair pulled the skirt down slowly, running his fingers along her thighs as he did.
"Are you sure you aren't a witch?" he whispered, glimpsing creamy skin when her tunic slid up.
"Such pale, white skin. How would a woman like you keep skin like that?" he asked, and ghosted his hand over the small of her back.
"I was a noble's daughter. I come from a long line of pasty arses. We don't tan in the sun-we burn, and then it fades into paleness again." said Kate. "I wish I could tan, like my brother Fergus, or like you."
"I don't. I like your skin." said Alistair simply, and Kate laughed lightly, turning to him.
He looked at her. Even dirty and bruised, the sight of her made his breath catch. .
"You must be a witch. It's unnatural, how much I want you. I've been infatuated before, but it was never like this-it never threatened to drive me mad. It doesn't make any sense-I am exhausted, we both smell terrible, I'm afraid for my life- all things that should distract or detract from my obsession with you, but they don't. A glance from you is all it takes for my heart to beat faster, for my lungs to catch fire." Alistair whispered, looking down at Kate.
Kate looked up at him, and saw the covetous look in his eyes. She reached out a hand and stroked his cheek. He swallowed nervously, and Kate laughed.
"I'm not going to accost you, don't worry. I am very bruised and hungry." said Kate, and struggled to stand.
Alistair let out a breath. "Let me get you something. No, you sit." he said, and pushed her gently back down. He reappeared with bread, cheese, and onion.
"Your first course, dear lady, is crust of stale bread, followed by a lovely salad of cheese on cheese, and finished with a dessert of questionable onion." said Alistair, flourishing as he held out the food.
"A feast fit for a King." said Kate, and laughed.
"Oh, indeed." said Alistair, and began eating with her.
Kate dozed, and woke to Leiliana shaking her shoulders. "Wake up. We have news."
Kate reluctantly opened her eyes. "'What?" she asked.
"Up ahead is a large cavern, which we think is the cultist's main room. There, Zevran and I counted at least seven drakes, along with two mages, about ten of those horned men, and many, many dragonlings." said Leiliana. "We watched them for about an hour to see where they like to gather, and sketched out their general positions."
Kate examined the map Leiliana held out.
She called everyone together, and drew a rough map in the dirt on the floor.
"Does anyone have any ideas? Sten, you've fought in large battles-what would you suggest?" asked Kate.
Sten stared down at the diagram, and then looked up. "Let me think on this." he said.
Wynne pointed to a corner on the map. "I should probably stay as hidden as possible, to do my healing."
"You are quite frail. Better watch out, you might trip and break your hip." said Alistair, and was rewarded with a hard thump on the back of her head with Wynne's staff. "Ouch!" he yelped.
"And your skull is so thick, only hard knocks can register." said Wynne. "You're lucky I took Healer vows, or else I might be tempted to let you heal your wounds on your own. It would serve you right, you wretch."
Sten cleared his throat. "I have a strategy." he said. "I suggest that the templar and I draw the fire of the warriors. The witch can cause sleep, right?" he asked.
"The witch can." said Morrigan wryly, smirking.
"Then you should try to put the mages to sleep. It will be easy for the elf and the bard to take them down with arrows, and we'll escape much damage. As for the drakes, I think we should be able to herd them between these two outcroppings of stone. The witches can freeze them, and wait for the rest of us to finish with the warriors. The drakes can then be killed." said Sten.
"That looks good to me. For tonight, I would like everyone to sleep as well as they can. We will enter in the morning." said Kate.
Kate was very tired, so sleep came easily despite the nervous rolling of her stomach.
The rest of the group seemed to share her nervousness, and the morning chatter was spare.
"Okay, everyone knows where they are supposed to go?" asked Kate. She received nods from everyone.
"Let's kick some cultist ass!" she said, and raised her fist in the air.
They crept forward. Leiliana and Zevran entered the cavern first, and snuck to positions behind stalagmites. Kate followed, and peered around the corner to see the cultists. They were standing around, talking, in pretty much the same positions Zevran and Leiliana had described. Kate smiled. For the first time, she felt confident before a battle.
She watched the mages, and when they had turned their gaze from the opening of the cavern, Kate signaled Morrigan forward.
Morrigan let out the gutteral yell that signaled the sleep spell, and the mages' heads drooped. Kate nodded to Zevran, who had his bow cocked, and one of the mages fell forward. The others were dropped in quick succession.
The horned warriors turned when they heard Morrigan, and ran toward them, drawing their weapons. Kate stepped out of the way for Sten and Alistair, who rushed forward. She then saw the four drakes advancing, and whirled, stabbing each of them with her daggers.
"Morrigan, follow me!" she shouted.
Kate drew the drakes' attention and ran. Her blood pumping and hair whipping in her eyes, Kate ran faster than she had ever run, the drakes in close pursuit. She led them into the stone outcropping Sten had suggested, and leapt up the side. She scrabbled for purchase, found a foothold, and pushed off. Kate felt the skin on her leg searing, and winced as she threw herself up. She grabbed the edge and threw a leg over it. A drake stood on its hind legs and grabbed her boot. Kate kicked out, and ended up rolling herself over the wall, onto the stone floor of the cavern. She instinctively held out her hands to brace herself, and hit the floor wrist-first. Kate heard a bone crack, and screamed in pain.
Kate looked up to see Morrigan moving from the entrance to the outcropping.
"NO! Freeze the fuckers first!" shouted Kate, rolling back and agony. She held the wrist that was radiating pain through her arm and neck, and felt blood drip through her fingers.
Kate looked down, and saw the bone poking through the skin on her right wrist. She felt her head swim, and fought to stay conscious.
Kate heard Morrigan swear, and saw a warrior running toward the witch, axe swinging. Kate held her right arm to her waist, and pulled out the dagger with her left. She jumped over some rocks, and landed in front of the startled warrior. His eyes darted to her wrist, and he pulled his lips back in a sinister smile. He swung his axe, and Kate jumped to the side. He swung again, and she dodged again. This went on for a bit, with him swinging and her dodging, until he snarled and tried to sweep her legs out from underneath her. Kate nimbly jumped over the axe and slashed out with the dagger in her left hand. A large cut opened in the warrior's face, which made him howl in outrage. He charged forward.
Kate heard muttering from Morrigan, and the man stopped, confusion on his face. Kate saw her chance and stabbed him in the throat. He looked up at her, eyes wide, and fell back.
Kate looked over at Morrigan, who was holding a freezing spell on the drakes, a look of fear and determination on her face.
Kate scanned the cavern, and saw Alistair take a punishing blow to the side. She winced when he fell, and fear turned her stomach. Sten kicked aside the warrior standing over Alistair, and then with a mighty slice, cut the horned warrior's head off.
Zevran appeared next to Kate. He looked down at her wrist, then up at her face.
"We have some dragons to slay, do we not?" he asked, and grinned.
Kate grinned back, and they rushed forward. The drakes were impossible to throw into walls, so Kate and Zevran pushed each over, then Zevran brought a large rock crashing down on each head. He smirked at Kate's quizzical face.
"Don't want to dull my weapons. Rocks do just as well, for this job." he said.
"I'm sorry I can't help you much." said Kate.
"Go, help the others. I have this covered." said Zevran.
Kate stepped around him and ran out into the cavern. She saw a bolt of light come from a darkened corner, and squinted. A mage had escaped their earlier attack!
Kate blended with great difficulty, managing just barely to concentrate. She snuck around the back of the mage and drove her dagger into the back of his neck. Her blade only nicked him, before hitting an invisible barrier. The mage turned, and Kate slashed out. He ignored her, and began muttering.
"Oh, no, you don't!" shouted Kate, and kicked him, hard, in the stomach. He grunted and fell back, his spell broken.
Lightning flew from his fingers and sizzled into Kate. She screamed, her body a ball of pain. The renewed shot of pain through her wrist spurred her on, and she slashed out again, this time cutting the mage across the chest.
He muttered something else, and swung his staff out. Kate ducked under it and brought her dagger up, digging it underneath his ribs. The mage sputtered, and Kate saw the wounds on his face and chest healing. She twisted her blade, and brought her knee up into his groin. He choked, blood running from his mouth. Kate then withdrew her dagger and thrust it forward again, this time pulling up with all her stength. Her sharp dagger carved into him, and the mage let out a horrific scream. Kate was thrown back, and landed on her broken wrist. She shrieked in pain and withdrew the vegetable knife from her belt. The mage was bent at the waist, holding his intestines in, and Kate yelled.
"Hey dragon-fucker!"he looked up, and the knife flew, embedding itself into his throat. He fell back, scrabbling at his throat while his entrails fell in a glistening pile to the floor. Kate got to her knees and staggered over.
She stomped down onto the mage's dying face, relishing the feel of his bones cracking under her boot.
"Kathe! Kate! Holy Andraste." swore Leiliana, who witnessed Kate's ghoulish smile as she drove her foot down.
"Alistair is hurt, and I can't find Wynne." said Leiliana. Kate looked up. "Oh, your arm!" said Leiliana.
"Where is Alistair?" asked Kate urgently.
"Over by Sten." said Leiliana. Kate ran as quickly as she was able to Alistair's side. He was on the floor in front of her, blood running from his mouth, and his eyes closed.
Kate bent and felt his face. Cold.
Anguish swept through Kate, and she dropped her head to his chest. Not another one, killed defending her. Not Alistair, whom she could not imagine carrying on without.
"Get Morrigan." ordered Kate, and Leiliana nodded, her face white. Morrigan returned, limping.
"Is he dead?" asked Kate.
Morrigan leaned forward, feeling for a pulse. "Nearly. He will very soon unless we do...something." said Morrigan, pulling a sharp silver knife from her belt.
"Where is Wynne?" asked Kate.
"She is too injured to help. She is not conscious, either." said Morrigan, and then spoke in a low voice only Kate could hear, "Get Leiliana out of here. What we are going to do is not...not legal."
Kate immediately barked, "Leiliana, go tend to Wynne."
"But-"
"NOW!" shouted Kate, and Leiliana turned sharply.
"What can we do?" asked Kate. "I'll do anything to keep him alive."
Morrigan nodded. "I would not offer otherwise. Do not ask me how I know, but I have knowledge of the Taint that flows through both your and Alistair's veins. I know it will kill you eventually, and I also know it allows Grey Wardens to connect to one another in the Fade. I also know rudimentary principles of blood magic, one of which is a simple life-sharing spell. He is too far gone for that without you losing your life, but there is another way Flemeth told me about. If you are sure, give me your hand." said Morrigan.
Kate held out her hand without hesitation, and Morrigan drove the knife into Kate's arm, ripping open a gash that extended from elbow to wrist. Kate gritted her teeth. Morrigan picked up Alistair's limp arm, and with a whispered word, the armor on his arm fell away. She opened an identical wound on his arm, and then turned to Kate.
"No matter what you see, what you hear, what you feel, do not pull away. This is vital, and this will hurt more than anything you've ever experienced." said Morrigan.
Kate nodded mutely, and then Morrigan held Alistair's arm to Kate's.
It felt as if every muscle in her body contracted at once, and Kate screamed. Her skin crawled at the contact with Alistair's, and the urge to pull away was strong. Kate bit down on her lip and fought the urge.
Kate's vision blurred for a moment. Kate saw the archdemon in front of her, roaring. Her knees quaked with fear, and she wanted to turn, to run, but she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Couslands don't run." her father's voice echoed in her ear. "Hochheims don't run, either. Death before dishonor, remember?" her mother's voice whispered.
The archdemon bellowed, its hot breath blowing Kate's hair back. It threw its purple, mottled head in the air, gnashing its teeth and snapping at Kate. Instead of fear, Kate only felt rage. She curled her lips and the battle cry of her people screamed from her lips.
"FOR THE GREY WARDENS!"
The demon turned away and faded. Kate felt hands gripping her shoulders, shaking her. The pain in her arm was gone, and Kate gasped, afraid she had pulled away from Alistair during her vision.
"No, no, I didn't pull away! I didn't! He has to live. I can't-" she shrieked, and the hands at her shoulders pulled her forward against an armoured chest.
"You're an idiot, you know that? A brave, marvelous, completely deranged idiot." whispered Alistair.
"You're alive?" asked Kate, reaching up to feel his face. Warm, sweaty, even.
"Thanks to you." he said, and held her out in front of him.
Kate looked around. Instead of the cavern she had kneeled in, she was now back in a smaller cavern, lying on a bedroll in front of a roaring fire. Worried faces looked down at her.
"Where am I?" asked Kate. "How did I get here?"
"Sten carried you, after you collapsed to the ground. Morrigan tried to pull you away from Alistair after you fainted, but your skin burned anyone who touched it. Finally, he awoke, and pulled away." said Wynne.
"You've been gone for three days." said Alistair. "This morning, you arched your back and started to choke, your eyes white like the Joining. We thought you were dying."
"It worked. It really worked." said Kate, and grinned. She saw Morrigan to the left of Alistair and threw herself at the witch, knocking her to the ground. She covered Morrigan's face with kisses.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she said.
"Egh, get off me," said Morrigan, and tried to roll away. Kate looked down, and saw Morrigan's hands tied together.
"Why is she tied up?" she asked.
"We thought she killed you." said Zevran.
"She used blood magic. Magic so dark that use is punishable by death." said Wynne.
Kate narrowed her eyes. "Get these off her immediately." she snarled.
"Who did this?" she asked.
Nobody looked at her. "Tell me. Now." said Kate, her voice low and dangerous.
"Alistair and Wynne. The rest of us agreed." said Leiliana quietly.
Kate looked up, and her gaze pinned Alistair. "So she saves your life at the risk of her own, and this is how you repay her?" she asked.
"I thought you were dying. If she hadn't of done the ritual, you would be fine." said Alistair.
"And you would be dead." said Kate.
She turned to Wynne. "And what about you? Why did you do this?"
"I thought she killed you. Also, what she used to save Alistair is a very powerful, dangerous magic. I was convinced she was extremely dangerous, so I placed wards on her." said Wynne.
Kate shook her head. "Take the bonds off her." she ordered.
Morrigan, who had remained silent, twisted her hands slightly and the ropes fell to the floor.
Kate frowned. "So you could have taken those off at any time?" she asked. "You stayed, tied up, for three days? Why?"
"I deserved to die if you died. A mage that cannot control magic is an abomination." said Morrigan.
Kate eyed the group. "So the minute I'm gone you all turn on one another or attempt suicide. Jeez, guys, I didn't think I was that important." she joked.
The others let out sighs of relief. "I should kick every single person's ass here, but honestly, I'm so happy to be alive, and to see everyone alive, that I'll give you a reprieve," said Kate.
