DISCLAIMER: Dragon Age, Dragon Age Origins, Dragon Awakenings, Dragon Age II, The Stolen Throne, The Calling, Asunder and all Dark Horse Comics are property of Bioware™ and Electronic Arts ™.

SPOILER WARNING: This story may contain spoilers for Dragon Age games, books and comics.

A/N: This story uses characters from my I Shall Endure universe. It does not follow the plot line or reveal the outcomes of the I Shall Endure series.

FROZEN DRAGONS

Chapter 9: Ice Keep


Col and Snowfield of the Lady of the Skies === 9:39 Dragon Cloudreach

The Avvars and lowlanders woke as the sun rose over the cliffs. Alistair's company met over a morning meal of porridge and tea.

"Report, Zev. How did the late night walk turn out?"

"Quite well, my Warden. We reached the cave and left our supplies in the inner cavern away from casual observation. Will stayed and the rest of us returned safely."

"Will?"

"Ah yes, Will decided to join us and stay to observe today. Shaman Wentlyan agreed with our plan. You were not here at the time to advise, so we acted on our own. He sent his apologies."

Alistair looked down and rubbed his neck, but made no comment.

"After our return, however, I saw one of the dragons visit the meadow, as you know. I believe a sheep will be found missing. I suppose that's how they feed themselves. Saves them from chasing wild animals or carrying sheep or cattle a great distance."

"You're correct, Zevran. A sheep is gone." Howel joined the group around the small fire.

"It should keep the people in the Ice Keep busy today. Less time to notice Will. That's a good thing. Also good that we will end this tomorrow. We're tired of losing our flock to them."

As Howel spoke, two shadows overtook the village. The group looked up to see the dragons leaving on their daily flight.

"Well, we have all day. Spar, pack, ready your arms and armor, whatever you do to prepare yourselves for battle. We'll meet again over the evening meal just before sundown. Have your gear packed and yourselves ready to depart. No rushing about after dinner. We'll leave for the cave as soon as it's full dark. I hope last night's hunt means the Ice Keep's inhabitants will be feasting and not flying around tonight."

Howel cleared his throat. Everyone turned to him. "My father asked that you join us before sundown for a meal. We'll take our dinner together prior to your leaving, if it pleases you."

"Of, course, Howel. Thank you."

"Join us in front of my father's long house then."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Alistair, his company and the Avvars gathered in front of Maredudd's long house after their dinner. Wentlyan would lead the group up the cliff trail. With Rhys and Rinae in the middle and Zevran in the rear as guides, no stragglers would get lost. For most of the walk, the group would move in pairs or, at the narrowest points of the trail, in single file.

The group hoped to travel invisibly. Hoods covered heads; kerchiefs covered faces. They all wore dark leather to make their passage as quiet as possible. Their metal armor had either been carried up the night before or was padded and loaded in their packs. The more silent their passage the better.

"It is time." Wentlyan announced. "No further speaking unless one of the guides addresses you. She turned to move along the trail where it ran past Maredudd's long house into the meadow. Twelve Avvar soldiers, Rhys and Maredudd moved in behind her, followed by Varric, Rinae, Sofia, Isabela, Fenris, and Alistair. Three more Avvars and Zevran brought up the rear. As the night progressed, they made steady progress up the cliff side to the Col.

On arrival, the group entered the cave. The Avvars went to the inner cavern, as most of their number would stay with Maredudd to block the path down to the meadow and the village. Howel and Angharat remained in the village with Rhyannon and the rest of the Avvar soldiers, archers and villagers. The Avvar settlement would not be defenseless if attacked, but all hoped the battle would remain on the Col.

Will greeted them, showing each group where he had put the arms and armor brought up the night before. He had sorted it into piles so each Avvar or lowlander could find their pieces quickly. Alistair and Wentlyan pulled him aside.

"Anything we should know?" Alistair asked.

"Nothing new. The two dragons left and returned at their usual times. The rest spent the day inside the Ice Keep. From the smells, I think they were roasting a sheep."

"Probably. A dragon took one last night." Alistair spoke to the rest of the group.

"Alright, most of you should get some rest. It won't be daylight for some time yet."

"Alistair, your people should all rest. My troops can stand watch," Maredudd offered.

The group settled in to doze for the remaining time until sunrise on the Col of the Lady of the Skies. The lowlanders slept hoping the day would end the threat to Ferelden and, in truth, the rest of Thedas. The Avvars, not on watch, slept hoping they would not find themselves laid out in pieces on the sky burial altar at the end of this day.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The dragons left the Ice Keep's roof at the usual time. Allowing time to be sure the dragons had gone, the lowlanders, Avvars and mages readied to leave the cave. The mages prepared to shape shift. Alistair's company and the four Avvar soldiers who would accompany them put on white hooded capes. Maredudd and the remaining Avvar soldiers would stay in the cave, ready to defend the path to the village. The Ice Keep stood near the path that continued onward through the Frostbacks. Alistair's company hoped to prevent any escapes in that direction.

The path connecting the opposite ends of the Col traveled along the edge of the snowfield and passed the base of the Ice Keep. The white cloaks would help the company blend into the glare of the snowfield; the hoods would shade their faces and eyes from the sun and that same glare. Once the dragons were gone, the lowlanders and Avvar troops set out.

Will and Rhys flew ahead to scout in the Ice Keep itself. Wentlyan and Rinae flew along with those on foot. Once at the Ice Keep, Wentlyan and Rinae, as healers, would remain in bird form to scout ahead of the fighters, while Will, Sofia and Rhys would enter the Ice Keep in human form with the troops. Varric would remain outside with the Avvar archers to stop any escapes. The mages would have enough difficulty casting in the confined spaces of the tower, without having to worry about archers.

Alistair and Maredudd hoped their forces would overwhelm the two mages and six soldiers. He hoped the dwarves did not fight. If they did, they might be formidable adversaries, but with the caste system, it was probable that builders did not fight.

Just before the group rounded the last curve and approached the Ice Keep, Will and Rhys returned and shifted into human form.

"The dwarves are working on the roof. They seem to be shoring up a wall. All three are there. The mages are one level down in their workroom. Two soldiers are with the dwarves, perhaps guarding them? There are four more on the ground level in the guardroom. They'll be the first we meet."

Alistair smiled at Zev.

"Ah, I see we have the same sneaky plan, my handsome Warden. Rhys and Will enter the guardroom as little birds and perch. Isabela and I sneak in undetected. Then we can overwhelm the guards and perhaps capture them. Yes?"

"Yes, I want captives, but not at the risk of endangering the rest of the mission. Varric, you, Haakon and Tewdr are ready?"

The Avvar archers nodded.

"You will remain outside with your bows for now, as Maredudd and I planned. Take down any who escape."

"Good. Now let's get on with it. Everyone, move out."

The group progressed along the path at the snowfield's edge, then up onto the snowfield to approach the Ice Keep. As planned, the mages flew into the guardroom. The distraction provided by two small birds fluttering around made a stealthy entry by Isabela and Zevran even easier. As they threatened the guards, Will and Rhys shifted and the rest of the armed group entered. The guards resisted in spite of the overwhelming odds and Alistair's demand that they yield. Isabela and Zevran quickly dispatched the two nearest to them with some help from the mages. Paralyzing spells proved quite effective. Alistair engaged the third guard, while Fenris took on the fourth. Neither guard could withstand the attacks of the two warriors. By the time the two mages and rogues turned to help, the battle was over. With the guards dead, the group gathered around Alistair.

"We can try the same with the mages," Will suggested. "Rinae and Wentlyan should be waiting for us near their workroom. They can fly into the workroom with Rhys, while I wait for you on the stairway. First, however, we'll make sure no one has gone back to the sleeping quarters on the floors above this one."

"Is there a stairway?"

"No. From this level, it's a ladder set up against the wall. The stairway starts from the first level and goes to the top." Will pointed through the archway on the far side of the guardroom. "The ladder is through there."

"We'll put these poor sots in one of the bedrooms, while you make sure the first level is clear, Will. Then, let's all get up that ladder."

They left two Avvar soldiers on the ground floor. One would relay their plans to Varric and the Avvar archers and then remain in the guardroom securing the exit. The Avvars could raise the ladder, they had pushed back onto the floor, when needed. It's absence would stop, or at least slow, any escape attempts from above.

The birds flew on to the second level and again signaled the all clear. The company quietly joined them. Alistair signaled the birds to go on to the third level and execute their plan.

Will remained outside the workroom, as the other two healers and Rhys flew in. The outlander mages tried to wave the finches out the window. Again, the distraction worked as Isabela and Zevran slipped into the room. As soon as the rogues were in place, the birds flew out the window and Alistair moved to the doorway. Having gathered his powers, Alistair cast a holy smite at the outlander mages who immediately collapsed. Will then cast a freeze spell and the two rogues quickly moved to subdue, gag and bind the mages.

"That worked well," Alistair whispered, looking surprised. The rest of the company joined him in the workroom, closing the door behind them.

"Wentlyan, Rhys and Rinae returned and shifted, to the surprise of the two, now bound, mages. Wentlyan looked at the man and woman.

"I am sorry for what I am about to do, but you cannot be here in our lands. You and your dragons put us at risk." With that, she removed the gag and forced the mages to drink a concoction including magebane, thus assuring their magic would not return for some time.

Satisfied that the mages would remain quiet and incapacitated, Alistair left Wentlyan, Rhys and Isabela with them. The rest of the group moved toward the final level just below the roof. As they reached the stairs, their boots were engulfed in a stream of water running down the stairway, making the ice steps incredibly slippery, in spite of their fabric and sand covering.

Alistair, Fenris and Zevran looked at each other, as they realized they could not easily climb the slick steps.

Alistair looked at Sofia and Will, "Is there a spell you can cast to get their attention? One that won't destroy the steps. We want the steps there."

"Not really. I can't see the door or opening. I'd have to go partway up, if that is possible. And no fire, obviously, or lightening, as I'm not sure what lightening would do. It might crack the wall. What I can do is freeze the water coming down so you can climb the steps. Stay on that cloth. It will be less slippery." Will looked to Sofia for other ideas, but only got a shrug.

"Wait, look at this bucket of sand, Alistair," Fenris murmured. "They must put that on the steps to rough up the ice. Let's toss it ahead of us as we go up, then you can freeze it." Fenris grabbed handfuls of sand and tossed it on the treads.

"Alright, let's try it," Alistair agreed.

"Sofia?" Will asked.

"Yes, do you want me to stay down here and keep the lower steps frozen?"

"Yes. I'll go up with the fighters." He turned to Alistair. "I'll paralyze the guards; then you can see how the dwarves react."

"We'll be close behind, Will, throwing sand in your path. Sorry, it's not rose petals."

They carefully climbed the still slippery stairs. When he reached the door, Will peered carefully around. The guards were sitting on benches by the doorway, their eyes closed facing the sun. He cast a paralyze spell, then stood aside for Alistair, Zev and Fenris to get by.

Zev quickly knocked out and tied up the guards. "More captives to question," he grinned.

The three dwarves stood hesitantly. "Who might you be?" one asked.

"We're here with Avvars from the village below. They're not fond of dragons living so near to their holy site."

"You're not Avvars," another dwarf said, eyes narrowing. "I've seen you in Orzammar. You're a warden. You here to make sure those two dragons aren't Archdemons?"

"In part, but we are working with the Avvars. Why are you here?"

"Building this stone bedamned tower for these idiots. We're builder caste. We won't resist. These mages hired our House to build this thing, thinking building with ice would be no different than building with stone."

"As we thought," Fenris said. "We should go down and get off this roof. Get the prisoners out of here and decide what to do with the dwarves."

"You're right," Alistair agreed, "you go down and stand with Sofia."

Fenris sheathed his sword and left.

Alistair spoke to the guards. "You lot, you might survive this if you cooperate. Your friends on the ground level weren't so fortunate. They resisted. Now go down the stairs, slowly. We'll be behind you. There are more of us, soldiers and mages, below."

The two guards went down the stairs followed by Will. "All clear," Fenris called out.

"Now you three. I'll advise you, we have powerful mages. Their magic will affect you, as will our blades."

"No problem, warden, we have no fight with you or the Avvars. Just get us out of here in one piece."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The four bound captives, two mercenaries and two mages, sat around the table on the ground floor of the keep. The dwarves had gone to their room, under Fenris and Zevran's watchful eyes, to gather their equipment and belongings. Once they were ready, Zevran would convey the prisoners to the cave. He would leave them for Maredudd and his Avvars to guard. Alistair and the remaining company would wait in the Ice Keep. They would use the time to search it thoroughly and hope the dragons did not return early and surprise them.

As it was just past mid-day, Alistair believed Zevran's group could get the prisoners and dwarves secured in the inner cavern and return to the Ice Keep before sunset. They would leave Will to guard the prisoners in the cave with Maredudd and six of his men. If a message needed to be sent, Will could fly between the cavern and Ice Keep as a courier.

The walk to the cave with the prisoners and dwarves went smoothly. Wentlyan left a supply of the magebane-laced drink with Maredudd, instructing him to force the mages to drink twice before sunset. Wentlyan and Rhys flew, while Zevran and Isabela led Maredudd's other Avvars back to the Keep. Alistair wanted a strong force to oppose the dragon mages. Killing or capturing them as mages was preferable to killing them as dragons, but he would take no chances either way.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

On Isabela and Zevran's return to the Ice Keep, Alistair put five Avvar troops in the ground floor guardroom. He took four Avvars, the four mages, Fenris, Varric and Zevran up into the Tower. The four Avvars he left on the second level as backup in case their efforts on the third level failed.

Unlike the dragons' morning departures, where the other two mages attended them, no one met the dragons when they returned in the evening. Alistair and his company hoped the dragons would land, shift back to human form on the roof and then enter the Keep. They expected the dragon mages would land and shift one at a time. As the dragon mage came down the stairs to the third level, Alistair would cast a holy smite avoiding his own mages, who would stay behind him. Once the smite took effect, Alistair's mages would paralyze the dragon mage and the fighters would attack.

The weak point in the plan was the escape route the stairs from the roof afforded. If one of the dragon mages made it back to the roof, they could shape shift back into a dragon and escape or make for a difficult battle. That the dragon would swoop down and attack the Avvar village was their greatest fear. Unfortunately, the roof had no place to conceal any of them.

"But you have a dwarf," Varric said, coming down the stairs from the roof. "I bet those mages can't tell one dwarf from another. I could stay up there. Say I'm cleaning up. I can hide Bianca with the dwarves' tools. They left some up there when you brought them down."

"Uh. Good idea, but you aren't dressed like a builder."

"I can fix that, Warden," Varric replied. I'm sure there's clothing here I can use."

"He's right, Alistair, it's the best option we have," Zevran said. "If we rush up after the dragon mage, Varric could give us just the time we need to get to him before he shape shifts again."

Alistair grimaced. "Do it, but put the clothes over your leathers if you can. And, Varric...thank you. We'll get there quickly, I promise."

"I know you will, Warden. Besides, I'd like to see the dragon land up close." He grinned. "More realistic descriptions." He went off to find work clothes to disguise himself as a builder.

"Think he'll button up?" Isabela asked Fenris.

He chuckled. "Maybe that would be more alluring. Afterall, we're used to the chest hair."

"Ah, you are right my friend. What is not seen, but suspected, is often the most sexy. Take our sexy warden for example. Did you know Alistair had a tattoo?" Zevran asked.

Isabela raised her eyebrows.

Alistair gave him a sidelong glare. "From Zevran. In one of my weaker moments. To celebrate a month of sobriety I think?"

"You do remember. Yes, a whole month."

"What? And where?" Isabela said.

"Now that would be telling," Zevran purred. "And only Alistair should do that."

Alistair hesitated. Might as well just tell them and avoid the inevitable teasing and questions. "It's a wreath – laurel branches - on my chest. Left side. Not a secret, just not something I flaunt."

"Oh, how…uninteresting," Isabela said thoughtfully.

"Yes, quite. Now let's disperse to our places and wait for these damn dragons." He looked around. "Has everyone eaten? Any questions? Good. Let's go to our places and wait."

Varric, on the roof, gave the company the additional benefit of a warning that the dragons approached. He whistled, not sure how well dragons could hear if he yelled.

"Places everyone." Alistair ordered.

One dragon landed, while the other circled the snowfield to give the first dragon mage time to shift and vacate the roof. The first dragon shifted back to her mage form.

"Dwarf? What are you doing here?"

"Sorry, I left some tools up here – parts of our drills. I need to sharpen them tonight. Is there a problem?"

"No, just stay out of the way. Laurens will land as soon as I go in." She glanced through the doorway. "Are the stairs repaired?"

"Improved, but still slippery." Varric shrugged. He'd noticed the drills and a few holes through the ice walls. "Ice is water. We need to drill more drainage holes tomorrow to let the ice melt out. Maybe add some along the stairway."

"See that you do. The ice melt causes too many problems" The mage turned to go down the stairs, which were still slippery.

As she came down the stairs, slowly and carefully, holding the rope handrail the dwarves had installed on the wall, she did not notice Alistair ready to release a smite. The holy smite hit her hard and she fell, unconscious. Sofia immediately cast a paralyzing spell. Zevran and Isabela dragged her into the workroom.

"It seems we have another prisoner, Wentlyan."

The mage looked around her in confusion as she regained consciousness from the smite. Wentlyan quickly forced the magebane drink upon her.

"Bitch," she hissed, then looking startled. "You…you're a mage!"

"A Shaman of the Avvar people. I protect them at all costs."

"We have no fight with you. I'll convince Laurens to stop stealing your sheep."

"You threaten our village, mage," Wentlyan replied. "I cannot allow that. Magebane is a last resort, but you are too dangerous to be allowed to use your magic."

"We can make a deal," the woman pleaded. "The Fereldan's are not your friends"

"What deal can you offer mage? What are you but some apostates trying magic forbidden by your Chantry."

"No, we are not apostates. I am a Senior Enchanter at the White Spire in Val Royeaux, as is my partner. We're part of a small, elite group. We know forbidden magic. Shape shifting. The Empress and the Divine sent us here to undermine Fereldan. Ruin their crops. Destroy their trade. More of us will follow. The Chantry protects us."

"More shape shifters? Blood mages?"

"No, no blood mages. That is beyond what the Chantry will accept. Only shape shifters. Two or three others. Very few learn this forbidden magic. Even fewer can manage dragons. We have a common enemy in Ferelden. We can destroy them and leave the land for you."

"So you are Orlesian and come here as a mage under Chantry protection? That makes you powerful, yes?"

"You are not Fereldan. Antivan?"

"Zevran Arainai at your service, Demoiselle…?"

"Renata."

"Ah, a Chantry orphan?"

"How do you know that?"

"Named after the Divine Renata yes? The scourge of the elves."

Renata looked nervous at that remark. Her captors were two elves and an Avvar. "Please, I can work with you. If you're Dalish and allied with the Avvars, we will help you. Surely defeat of Ferelden will benefit you all."

Wentlyan appeared to consider the mage's words as she looked out into the hall and then turned to Renata.

"Help us? As the Orlesians did before? They did not leave us alone, as the Fereldan's do now. They came after us and our flocks, just as your Laurens does. They sent their templars and forced their Chantry on us. The Fereldans do not. No, we can exist with the Fereldans."

While they spoke the other dragon had landed on the roof and also questioned Varric. He seemed to accept Varric's explanation, but he descended the stairs more warily. Part way down he stopped. Alistair had gathered himself to smite and stepped into the stairway opening. Before he could cast the smite, the mage cast a powerful Crushing Prison.

Sofia responded with a small fireball to the mages feet, melting the stair tread and causing the mage to fall. Varric had followed the mage to the stairway and loosed a bolt as soon as he saw the mage begin to cast, hoping to disrupt the spell. It caught the mage in the right shoulder as he fell. The mage started sliding down the stairs.

Zevran rushed out of the workroom only to see Alistair held in the spell and the mage sliding down the stairway. Even on his back, bouncing from step to step he looked ready to cast again. Zevran threw a dagger, which struck him in the throat, disrupting his cast.

The mage ended in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. Suddenly, Alistair was free of the spell and falling too. Wentlyan had followed Zevran into the hall and dispelled the dragon mage's spell. She quickly cast a paralyze spell, followed by a frozen web spell that bound the mage.

Wentlyan quickly turned and cast a healing spell over Alistair.

Sofia had followed Wentlyan out of the workroom. Before any of the fighters could reach the mage, she cast another freeze spell. Zevran and Fenris quickly finished him off.

Zevran turned to Alistair, who looked pale and was not moving.

"Wentlyan, is he-

"-alive. Don't move him Zevran. I must mend his broken ribs before one punctures a lung. That mage cast a powerful spell. It's good you finished him. So powerful a mage would be a danger in spite of magebane."

Rinae came over to assist Wentlyan with her healing.

"What can I do?"

"Nothing just yet. His ribs are almost healed. His lung was bruised, but not punctured and that is healed as well. Just stay with Renata and make sure she doesn't get up to any mischief. He was the more powerful of the two, but if she can shape shift into a dragon, we should be wary."

"We'll keep her thirsty," Rinae said with a smirk. "She'll get no water not laced with magebane."

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The group finally got Alistair down to the first level. Getting him down the ladder would have to wait until he regained consciousness and could walk. Wentlyan and Rinae stayed with him. The others took the mage, Renata, to the ground floor.

"Since our Warden will be fine, we have no casualties. We didn't expect this to be so easy," Zevran said. He looked around at the raised eyebrows. "I am happy that it was so easy, just surprised, but we have a surfeit of prisoners, yes?"

They thought of the two mercenaries and two mages in Maredudd's custody across the snowfield in the cave.

Sofia spoke. "The divine Renata has already admitted they are Circle Mages from the White Spire sent here to do the Empire and the Chantry's bidding. Both Orlais and the Chantry are too enmeshed in their own struggles to send an army to Ferelden, so they send shape shifters to become dragons and ravage our lands."

The Avvar soldiers, who did not speak the Common Tongue as well as their leaders, seemed to understand Sophia's words well enough.

"We would be next, if Ferelden fell. Just like last time," the older one said.

"You would," Fenris agreed. "Slavery of any kind is not to be accepted. Zev, should we send a message to Maredudd?"

Zevran looked for Rhys. "Will you take a message to your headman? Tell him what has transpired here. We will bring this one over in the morning I think. I suggest Maredudd wait there for us to join him, but he should send a messenger to the village to let them know we succeeded. I hope by morning Alistair will be well enough to travel, at least to the cave."

"We'll also bring the birds. We can still send one and have you or Will follow it I think. Or take them to the King and General; they may be of use to them.

Rhys shifted, surprising the Orlesian mage, and flew to his father.

Wentlyan and Rinae worked on Alistair for some time. The Crushing Prison had broken several other bones, but once his ribs were healed he was out of danger. The mages took turns healing him, while conserving their mana and their lyrium potions. Wentlyan allowed him to regain consciousness only long enough to let him know all was well. The dragon mage, Laurens, was dead. The other, Renata, a prisoner. A message had been sent to Maredudd and Rhys had returned with his response. Maredudd, his troops, Will and the prisoners would wait for the company to return from the Ice Keep in the morning.

Once Alistair had the news and had spoken with a concerned Zevran, Wentlyan cast a sleep spell. The spell would allow him to sleep, without pain, and heal more quickly. Fortunately, the other broken bones were in his left arm and not his legs. Walking to the cave should be possible in the morning.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Maredudd, his Avvars, the prisoners and the other lowlanders had gone to the village. Varric had gone with Maredudd to record his experiences while they were fresh. The other four companions had stayed an extra night in the cave to allow Alistair to heal completely. The Avvar village and Ferelden were safe, for now. They needed to return to Honnleath and let the King and Loghain know the threat from Orlais, working with factions in the Chantry and using mages, was real. The Fereldens would need to monitor the Ice Keep and intercept any further mages or troops.

Alistair and Maredudd agreed that Angharat, Howel and a score of Avvar troops would join them on their trip to Honnleath. In part, the Avvars would help guard the prisoners. Angharat and Howel would also establish contact with the Fereldan King and General. Alistair hoped an alliance could be born of this effort. Fergus had forged alliances with the Chasind during the Blight. If anyone could forge one with the Avvars it was the King.

Before leaving for the valley, Alistair, Zevran, Isabela and Fenris climbed to the top of the ridge above the trail that traversed the Col of the Lady of the Skies. The four companions looked out over the snowfield to the Ice Keep in the distance. Their white cloaks discarded, they stood in the wind, colorful cloaks billowing around them as they gazed across the brilliant white expanse. All was quiet here now. No dragons flew, only finches. The dwarves had agreed to return, under the Avvar's supervision, to undo their work. They had plans to weaken the Keep, so any future Orlesian adventurers would find themselves in a collapsing tower.

Alistair hoped King Fergus and Queen Anora would ask King Behlen to forbid his people to cooperate with the Orlesians in the future. Perhaps they could use the lyrium trade as leverage against Orlais and the Chantry. Lengthy negotiations would ensue, but Alistair thought they might succeed.

Fenris slipped an arm around Isabela. "I think I am happy not to have fought a dragon."

Alistair and Zevran joined them.

"It's not an experience I recommend. I've never fought a dragon and not lost companions and friends." Alistair said.

"A most successful mission then. All foes dead or captured. Fereldan warned of the Orlesian-Chantry-mage alliance. No allies lost or tainted. One of your most successful missions, yes, my handsome Warden?" Zev put his hand on Alistair's shoulder.

Alistair nodded and smiled, somewhat sadly. "Indeed, Zev. No companion deaths. No one tainted. Most successful indeed."