Chapter Ten
"Those who had been cast down,
The demons who would be gods,
Began to whisper to men from their tombs within the earth.
And the men of Tevinter heard, and raised altars,
To the pretender-gods once more,
And in return were given, in hushed whispers,
The secrets of the darkest magic."
-Canticle of Threnodies 5:11
Everyone but Sten and I were surprised to see Levi in our midst when they awoke in the morning. I explained to them all that we were going to be heading north to Soldier's Peak to recover the old Grey Warden base, rather than going to Redcliffe like we had planned. No one protested much, but there was skepticism regarding the intelligence my decision.
Their lack of enthusiasm didn't perturb me. I had pledged to help Levi regain his family's honor. In addition, finding the old base would be greatly beneficial to our cause. As far as I knew, there was no formal headquarters for the Grey Wardens in Ferelden, so perhaps Soldier's Peak could become our base.
We all ate and packed up, and then followed Levi north to Soldier's Peak.
XXXXX
Two and a half days later, we arrived at the tunnels. It took us another day to get through them and reach Soldier's Peak itself. When we finally got out of the blasted passageways, I was captivated by what I saw up ahead. Soldier's Peak was a massive fortress, still standing proudly against the snowy mountainside. I imagined it has looked much better back in its glory days, but it still was a truly grand sight to behold.
I can't believe this place is real! I thought. I had thought that Levi was sending us on a wild goose chase…but here we are. This is incredible.
"Soldier's Peak," Alistair breathed. "It looks like it has seen better days, more like better centuries."
"Once the Wardens flourished; their ranks full and their caliber certain. Now they even accept people like you, Alistair." Morrigan said.
"Hey!" Alistair said.
My companions all gazed upon the fortress, looking quite impressed. Even Sten seemed to be impressed, though he didn't vocalize it like everyone else.
"Here we are. Soldier's Peak. I told you the map would get us through the tunnels." Levi said proudly.
"Great Andraste, how did you find that path on your own?" I asked.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." He said.
"I asked, didn't I? I'd like to know." I said.
"Very well…it came to me in my dreams. When I was a lad, I tried going through the tunnel by myself. I got horribly lost. But every now and again since, I've dreamt of it." He said.
"Why didn't you tell me that before?" I asked.
"I didn't want you to think I was some moon-addled simpleton. I have my wits about me, you know. But enough of that," He said. "I'll follow you from a distance. This place has the stench of death. I expect there's trouble up ahead."
We climbed the snowy slopes and a flight of stairs. When we reached the top of the stairs, I paused. I could see spirits just a few paces before me. I stared at them, wide-eyed with astonishment.
"Fall back! Fall back already!" A dark haired lord in heavy plate mail armor commanded.
"Taking the Peak won't be easy, m'lord." A knight with light brown hair said.
"I gave the Wardens one chance to die with honor. Instead, the hole up like cowards. We'll follow the king's advice and starve them out." The lord said.
"But the Peak has months of supplies!" The knight responded.
"Then we wait. When they are too weak to lift their weapons, we'll send them to their final judgment." The lord said.
The spirits then dissolved. I shook the fuzziness from my head. The feeling that this place gave me remind me a lot of the Circle tower. The Veil had been thin there resulting in the influx of demons. I fervently hoped that we wouldn't encounter and be trapped by another blasted demon. I didn't know if I had the strength to deal with such a thing again.
"Wh-what was that? I felt a bit woozy there. I'm not mad, am I? You saw it too?" Levi asked.
"Yes." I said.
"How is that possible? This place is truly haunted!" He gasped.
"The Veil is thin here. The Circle Tower was that way too." I replied.
"The Veil?" He asked.
"That's what separates us from the Fade and demons." I said.
"I've heard an Orlesian ballad about something like this. A beauty trapped in a dream. In the song, Bellissa never wakes up." Leliana said.
He grew even paler. "D-demons? Thank Andraste you all came!" He stammered.
In the clearing where the spirits had been, I saw decayed corpses lying about all over the snow covered ground. Had we just seen the spirits that once belonged to these bodies?
No sooner had I thought that, the corpses began to rise up from the ground. Levi screeched in terror and went running behind a nearby tree.
Undead fiends? I thought. Prepare to die again!
I drew my weapons and charged at the oncoming undead warriors and archers. A couple of them were mages. The fiends weren't much more than skeletal remains with tattered armor and rusty weapons, and they possessed no true skill. It was easy to outmaneuver them and strike them down. I found that decapitating them was the best way to kill them; otherwise, they would just rise and attack again.
When the fighting was over, Levi came out from hiding. He was pale and shaking.
"This place truly is haunted!" He exclaimed.
Amidst the pile of carcasses, an old crossbow caught my eye. It was in surprisingly good shape still. I pried it from the corpse's hand and took it with me as we ascended the stairs leading up to the entrance of the fortress.
When we entered the fortress, I saw more spirits. One warrior woman in heavy black armor was in the center of the group, talking to her fellow Wardens.
"…morale is low and my spells are of no use." A mage wearing blue robes with gold trimming said.
"There's more to leadership than sorcery, Avernus. I will remind them that they are Wardens." The woman in the heavy black armor said.
She turned to the rest of her comrades. More Warden spirits gathered around her, while the mage stayed off to the side.
"Men, I won't lie to you. Our situation is grim. Our forces are outnumbered, our bellies empty and our hearts are sagging. But we are Wardens! Darkspawn flee when they hear our horns. Archdemons die when they taste our blades. Are we to bend knee to a mere human despot? No! I for one will never give up. I for one will never surrender, just to dance on Arland's gallows," She said. "So I propose here and now, in these hallowed halls where generations of our brethren stood vigilant against darkspawn and evil, that we send a message to that fat bastard! In this sacred place, proud men, strong men stood defiant and would rather die than submit to tyranny!"
The spirit Wardens cheered and slowly faded away, until they completely disappeared.
"So brave, even when starving, and my great-great-grandmother stood with them." Levi gasped, looking quite impressed.
"It sounds like there is greatness in your blood." I said.
Levi blushed a little. "Oh, well…er, that's kind of you to say," He said. "Generations of Drydens have said that our stock were lions. Fierce, proud and noble. But I've gabbed enough. Lead on, my friend." He said.
In the next chamber, there were three demons. In the chamber to the left, there were several corpse warriors. Between the seven of us, it wasn't difficult to plow through them.
Demons and undead. What a surprise…I bet there will be even more as we go on. I thought.
And of course, I was right. The first floor was laden with demons and undead. We slaughtered any that we came across with ease. Fighting demons in the Circle tower had taught me how to deal with these things. Our numbers alone probably would've allowed us to win anyways, even if we hadn't encountered demons beforehand.
In the archive, I found a badly burned book and we encountered spirits, after we cleared out the demons.
In the very chamber that we were standing in, spirits of Wardens were trying to block the door that we had just come through.
"This door won't hold, archivist." A young scribe said. She had red hair that was tied up pigtails.
"Almost done…the truth must be told." The archivist said as he wrote in a book. He was an elderly man with greying hair.
"What does it matter? We're dead." The young scribe said.
"Our grand rebellion is so close and to die here a stillbirth…" The archivist sighed.
"We never should've done it. Wardens aren't supposed to oppose kings and princes." The young scribe fretted.
"Should we stand idly by while—"The archivist responded.
The vision was ended when the enemy knights burst into the chamber.
"What's this about a rebellion? If only the book weren't burned…." Levi said.
"Perhaps there are more records around here." I said.
"We can only hope." He murmured.
Next, we went up to the second floor. I was surprised when we weren't accosted by demons and their undead servants right away.
We went up a small flight of stairs. What I saw next was rather bizarre. There was a circle of magical tiles on the floor, and behind them was a door shrouded with purple haze and lightning. Another vision appeared as we drew near. Wardens were fighting King Arland's men. The fighting was led by Sophia and Avernus.
"Make them pay for every inch, men!" Sophia cried.
She cut down an advancing enemy warrior.
"Hold the flank!" She said to her warriors, and then turned to the mage, Avernus. "Avernus! We need you!"
Avernus stepped on one of the magical tiles and started murmuring strange words. Moments later, demons appeared right out of the floor. Arland's troops panicked when they saw the advancing wave of demons.
"Andraste's blood! What…?" One of the enemy soldiers exclaimed.
"More Avernus! Whatever it takes!" Sophia ordered.
As commanded, Avernus continued to summon more demons.
"Press them! Press them now!" Sophia shouted over the cacophony.
More and more demons flooded into the chamber, attacking both Wardens and Arland's soldiers.
"No, kill the king's men!" Avernus said.
"Fool! So much death and suffering," One demon said, approaching Avernus. "The Veil is torn now. Your soul is mine, Avernus!"
"Acolytes, retreat now. The battle is lost." Avernus said, backing away from the carnage.
Avernus fled up the stairs behind him. Sophia screamed after him, demanding that he stay and fight.
The vision ended when Avernus disappeared.
"What just happened…oh no, more fighting!" Levi said.
Levi fled as soon as a demon popped up from the floor. Undead warriors appeared on the magical tiles, shooting some sort of spells at the demon. These undead fiends were no doubt aiding their demonic master, so I decided to get rid of them to make the fighting fair.
While my allies attacked the demon and the ones that flooded in with it, I went around and slayed the corpse warriors who were aiding the demons. By the time I finished them all off, the demons had been vanquished by my companions. Levi reappeared when the coast was clear.
"The Wardens summoned demons? I…I can't believe it. My own grandmother….she knew." Levi said.
"Wardens don't forbid blood magic. They do anything it takes to win." I replied.
"I believed my family was better than that," Levi sighed sadly. "More answers may lie up ahead."
We went up the stairs that Avernus had used to flee the fighting in the vision. As soon as we did, we were assailed by more undead warriors.
After clearing the chamber of the pesky undead, I spotted a door to my right. It was blocked by a magical barrier, much like the one Wynne had used to protect the children in the Circle tower. Since I was unable to use the door on the right, I opted for the one on the left.
Nothing could've prepared me for the ghastly thing that was behind the door. It was Sophia Dryden, but her corpse had been possessed by a demon. Her body was clearly rotten and it had festered lesions all over it. The corpse reeked horribly. I nearly gagged from the stench of the decayed flesh.
The possessed Sophia turned around and looked at us, undead eyes milky white and sunken in. It was such a hideous sight to behold. It took all my willpower not to retch.
"Step no further. This one would speak with you." The demon said.
I suppressed a shiver of revulsion. What manner of demon had possessed the old Warden-Commander's body?
"Why should I speak with you?" I demanded.
"Because this Peak is mine," The demon replied. "This one is the Dryden. Commander. Sophia. All of these things."
"G-grandmother?" Levi stammered.
The demon ignored him. It continued to look at me with its unearthly eyes. It seemed to know that I was the leader of this ragtag group.
"You have slain many of my demon ilk to get here. This one would propose a deal." The demon said.
"Levi, I'm afraid your grandmother has been possessed." Wynne said.
"That or she's really let herself go," He said. "I know my great-great-grandmother is dead. I don't know what that thing is."
"Is there anything of Sophia left inside of you?" I asked.
"This one has tasted her memories, seen her thoughts and hidden places. But she is food for this one, no more and no less." The demon answered.
"The Qun is quite clear in matters of demons. Destroy them quickly, efficiently. Enough talk." Sten snapped.
"Deal with me now warrior and you will thwart many of my kind. This one will explain," The demon said. "The Soldier's Peak traps me. This one sees so many tantalizing places in the Dryden's memories. This one would like to see the world for herself. For me to be free, into the old mage tower you go and destroy. In return, this one seals the Veil. No more demons, no more enemies. Your Peak would be safe."
"You can't be serious. There's nothing left of Commander Dryden. She's possessed!" Leliana said.
"The only deal I have for you is dying at the taste of my blade!" I snarled, unsheathing my blades.
"You are useless to this one. Die!" The demon hissed, drawing its longsword and shield.
Demon Sophia summoned skeleton warriors to aid her in combat. The demon itself attacked me first.
Unlike the demons I had faced before, this one actually did have skill; probably because it knew the memories of Sophia and knew her combat training. It lashed out at me with its heavy metal shield. I barely managed to sidestep her attack. I kicked the demon in the back of its leg, causing it to stumble. I seized the opportunity and slid my dagger between her ribs.
The wound wasn't fatal enough, apparently. She spun around and smacked me upside the head with her shield. I was sent flying into the wall. The force of the impact left me stunned.
The demon loomed over me, raising its sword to strike me. I threw my dagger at it, hitting it right between the eyes. The demon shrieked and blood streamed down into its eyes, blinding it.
It stumbled right into Alistair, who sliced its head right off from its shoulders. The possessed Commander's body fell and its head rolled across the floor, stopping at my feet. I kicked it aside. It was unnerving to have dead eyes stare at me.
Dear Maker, you have a terrible since of humor. I thought.
I sheathed my weapons and climbed to my feet. The ring leader of the demons was conquered. Now it was time to see what lied up ahead.
We returned to the door that had previously been blocked by a magical barrier. Now that the demon was dead, the barrier was gone. We went through the doorway, which lead outside to a bridge. There was a howling blizzard raging now and the bridge was slick with ice.
Knowing my luck, I'll slip and plummet to my death! I thought.
There were six skeleton warriors on the bridge. When they attacked us, we shoved them off the side of the bridge. They screeched as they plummeted to their deaths. I laughed as I imagined them shattering against the rocks below. Alistair looked at me like I was insane, which made me laugh even more.
On the opposite end of the bridge was another tower. We battled through another group of undead warriors, and then came across what appeared to be someone's personal study. There was a large oak desk with books and scrolls piled upon it haphazardly. Beside one of the books was a noxious concoction inside a flask.
I picked up one of the books. On its pages were the old research notes of the mage Avernus. Series of experiments were detailed in terse, clinical handwriting. I read the notes aloud to my companions:
"Day 32: The subject is not responding to stimuli. Testing the pain threshold has uncovered nothing. Only three subjects are left.
Day 82: If only I could reproduce last night's extraordinary success. Electricity is only a catalyst. The blood is the key.
Day 97: Energy and blood. Repeated applications have duplicated the results. I conjecture that success can be induced alchemically. But there are no more test subjects left. If only I had one more or a dozen. The things I could do!"
I put the book down and faced my allies. Alistair, Leliana, and Wynne looked appalled. Sten and Morrigan didn't have much of a reaction. I wasn't sure that had even been listening.
"He…tested on them? His fellow Wardens?" Alistair spluttered.
"There must have been some sort of purpose to those experiments…I hope." Wynne said. She said.
"Let us move on. Answers may lie ahead." I said.
We went through the door to the left of the desk. The next chamber was large and spacious, and had dried blood and carcasses everywhere. This must have been the experimentation chamber. Cages and grisly torture tables lined the chamber.
"I hear you…don't disturb my concentration." A feeble voice came from somewhere.
I put my hands on the hilt of my blades when I saw someone leaned over a desk on a platform at the opposite end of the chamber. The man was a mage; he had a staff and wore blue and gold robes. I gasped when it dawned on me: it was Avernus!
What in the name of Andraste? The years haven't been kind to you! I thought. How are you even alive?!
"Even now the demons seek to replenish their numbers. Are you to thank for the welcomed but temporary imbalance?" Avernus said.
"Avernus? You're still alive?" I asked.
"Only just. I have but a short time to live." He replied.
"Careful. This... man has dabbled in matters forbidden by the Maker. He may look frail, but don't trust him." Leliana whispered.
"So the Maker told you that, did he? Short-sighted men have foolishly forbidden such magic, not any god." He scoffed.
Leliana opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off. "Enough! Why are you here? What is your intent?" He demanded.
"I am here to recover this base for the Grey Wardens." I said.
"An admirable goal," He said. "But in order to achieve this, the demons must be cut off forever. Soldier's Peak must be rid of its plague of demons."
"I have seen your experiments, Avernus. What do you have to say for yourself?" I asked.
"They were necessary. Any tool, any iota of information that could defeat the fell demons was justified. As a Warden, you should know that." He remarked.
"Necessary? Having to relieve yourself after an eight-hour ride is necessary. But there's no excuse for summoning demons." Alistair said.
"How charming." Avernus scoffed.
"I want some answers." I said.
"To what, I wonder?" Avernus said.
"Sophia's great-grandson brought me here. Levi, go ahead." I said, nodding towards Levi.
Levi nervously stepped forwards. "Master mage…uh…ser. My family name has been worth less than dirt for over a century. Do you have any proof that Sophia was a hero?" He inquired.
"The boy who braved the mists. So you heeded my call." Avernus said.
"Your call?" I asked.
"He was but a boy when he entered the tunnels below the Peak. His heart pure, his character certain," Avernus explained. "In dreams I gave him the keys he would need. He would be my deliverance."
"Just answer his question." I said sharply.
"Your great-grandmother was the best of us. Brave, charismatic, fiery and utterly devoted to the fight; but still, we lost. We had fought a tyrant, you know? So full of vigor then. So blind to consequence. But proof? There's none to be had." Avernus said.
"I'm sorry, Levi." I said.
"I…I had hoped…thank you, Aveline." Levi sighed.
"How have you survived these many years, Avernus?" I asked.
"The Chantry foolishly forbids blood magic, but there are so many secrets to uncover. As my body decayed, I found ways to extend it. But that can only go so far." He responded.
"What was the purpose of your experiments, then?" I demanded.
"To stop the demonic tide. To correct the miscalculations of the past," He said. "Blood magic comes from demons. They could counter every bit of lore I knew. But the darkspawn taint is alien to them. And it has power."
"What power?" I inquired.
"The Wardens use it merely to sense darkspawn; a triviality. My research has discovered so much more…hinted at even greater heights! This knowledge could not only save Soldier's Peak but also, make the Wardens even more powerful." He exclaimed.
The ferocity in his eyes was quite unsettling. This was a man who passionately believed that what he had done was a good thing. I, however, didn't agree. Experimenting on comrades was unforgivable and wicked behavior. Experimenting on any living thing was immoral.
"This is wrong. You're no better than the demons." I said.
The fire in his eyes died out, replaced by guilt. Deep down inside, he knew that what he had been doing was wrong, but he had believed it to be a necessary evil. Perhaps he only resorted so such heinous crimes because he was that desperate to see him dead.
"I have done what I must but…let me undo my greatest of follies. Let me cleanse this place then…then I will accept whatever justice you feel I merit." He said.
"Tell me what happened here." I said.
"What use would storytelling serve? The tyrant Arland is long dead, as is all of our noble co-conspirators and the grand rebellion. Sophia's corpse may walk and talk, but she too is long dead." He replied.
"How was Arland a tyrant?" I asked.
"He ruled with fear and poison! His treachery pit noble against noble in terrible battle. We thought him a monster! We gathered allies to rebel…but the toll of the years has erased our failure, hasn't it? It seemed so pressing then, but the kingdom lives on." He said.
"The time for questions is over." I said. I was tired of standing here conversing about a failed rebellion and a foolhardy mage's mistakes. The Veil needed to be sealed and quickly.
"So be it. My only request: if justice or vengeance drives you, stay your hand until the demons are dealt with." He said.
As much as I wanted to smite him where he stood, I knew it would be asinine to. If we were going to seal the tear in the Veil, we would need him to do so. I doubted even Wynne and Morrigan knew how to seal the Veil.
"Until the demons are dead, we are allies." I responded.
"That will do for now," He said. "I warn you: there will be peril. The demons will fight us every step of the way. Come now. We must go to the great hall. I will repair the damage I caused so long ago."
I allowed Avernus to lead us back to the great hall, where he had summoned the demons over a century ago.
When we returned to the great hall, the place was still shrouded with purple haze and lightning. The tiles on the floor were still swirling with magical energy as well.
"The demons are clawing on the gates," Avernus said. "I will unravel the summoning circles I drew long ago. Waves of spirits and demons may come through, so dispatch them."
"I'm ready when you are." I said.
"I will begin. First, I must summon the magical energies." He said.
The old mage went over to one of the magical circles and began chanting something in a strange tongue that I didn't understand. Magical energy swirled around him.
The first wave of demons came through. There were three of them; to me, they looked like amorphous blobs of lava with hands and evil eyes. Between the seven of us, we were able to dispatch them almost as soon as they appeared.
The magic circle beneath Avernus disappeared and he moved to another one. He chanted some gibberish and another wave of demons appeared. This time, they looked more ethereal than the previous ones had. We cut down them as well, though it took a little more work.
This pattern continued until all the magic circles were unraveled and the demons were vanquished.
At last, the Veil was sealed. No more demons, no more undead fiends lumbering about. Soldier's Peak had been reclaimed in the name of the Wardens.
"It's over. The Veil is strong now…stronger at least," Avernus said. "I said I'd submit to judgment and so I shall. May I be left to experiment in peace?"
After all this, you still want to experiment? I thought, astounded. No! I shall not let such vileness continue! This ends now.
"For your crimes, death is the only verdict." I said.
"You went too far, Avernus. Warden or not, blood magic is forbidden." Alistair added.
"So be it." Avernus said.
I unsheathed my dagger and plunged it into his heart, killing him instantly.
"You've done it, Aveline. Soldier's Peak is safe again," Levi exclaimed happily. "A good thing you took care of that Avernus. A blood mage! In the Wardens! Common folk should never hear of that. Some still distrust the Wardens, even in a Blight. Crazy buggers….but…there's no proof to redeem my family."
"The past won't offer redemption. Try the future instead." I said.
"For so long, I was focused on the past…on answers. But I think I would've been better off had I stayed at home….enough of that, though. I find myself at a loss now," He murmured. "You've got a whole fortress now. I suppose I should start plying my trade again."
"I'm glad I could help you, even though you didn't get the answers you wanted. It was a pleasure helping you, Levi." I said.
"An honor. If you ever want to talk again, I'll be here. And I'll have my wares to sell!" He said.
"Looks like we're done here," Alistair said. "A demonic invasion thwarted, a Warden base safely recovered. We do good work."
I would have suggested for us to pack up and move on, but it was already late. The sun was setting, and I knew everyone was exhausted and famished. I decided for us to stay here for the night, despite the eeriness and grossness of this place. We all brought out our bedrolls and slept on the floor.
It's hard to believe that this place was once a thriving and well-known base for the Grey Wardens of Ferelden. I thought. The Wardens got their bad reputation from the last inhabitants of this place…after they had attempted to overthrown King Arland and failed, the Wardens were exiled from Ferelden.
While everyone started to settle down for the night, I explored some more around the base.
First, I decided to visit the archive. It was highly likely that there were old tomes dating back to the days where Wardens prospered in Ferelden. It was worth a look, anyways.
I shifted through the rubble, looking for some books that were still in decent shape. I came across a book called "The History of Soldier's Peak" that piqued my interest. I sat down and opened the book. When I turned the pages, they made a cracking noise. The pages were yellowed and in poor condition, but still legible:
The Grey Warden base at Soldier's Peak was built in the middle of the Glory Age, several decades after the second Blight was ended. Before then, Grey Wardens in Ferelden would take up residence in castles and forts that belonged to generous nobles.
Warden-Commander Asturian desired a fortified headquarters where his forces could train and live. He planned that Soldier's Peak would be a city unto itself. Since the defeat of the darkspawn and the archdemon Zazikel was still fresh in the minds of Ferelden people, many were willing to donate gold to build Commander Asturian's fortress.
Soldier's Peak was fully completed within ten years and dedicated to the Maker in 9:34 Glory.
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As he approached his 60th year, rumors swirled that the corruption in Warden-Commander Asturian's blood was beginning to take its toll. According to reports from that time, the commander experienced terrifying waking dreams and heard his name whispered from the dark corners of Soldier's Peak. It is said that Asturian would spend hours locked up alone in the Great Hall of the base, muttering to himself, though no one was ever able to make out what he was saying. Many also believed that as Asturian began, in secret, to draw up plans to expand his fortress, adding hidden passages and alcoves, to protect himself from the shadows that pursued him.
No one knows whether Asturian was able to complete his project, for his deterioration had become obvious to anyone who spent any amount of time with him. He was quickly replaced by Warden-Commander Frida Halwic. Asturian was taken to Orzammar, where he submitted to the Calling, the last rite of the Grey Wardens, and went to his death with honor.
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After Asturian's death, the rumors and theories became increasingly outlandish. One of the more ridiculous rumors told of Asturian's infatuation with an elven princess of lore, whom he was trying to resurrect in a secret ritual chamber through the use of blood magic and the princess's favorite food, raspberry jam.
Warden-Commander Frida Halwic launched a thorough investigation into Asturian's 'secret plans' but was unable to uncover any evidence that anything in Soldier's Peak had been changed. Commander Halwic declared that the rumors about Asturian were a slight on his memory and anyone found repeating them would be harshly punished. The stories were thus silenced.
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There was one mystery, however, that persisted, and this mystery perplexed even Commander Halwic herself. When Commander Asturian went to his Calling in the Deep Roads, he didn't have in his hand his sword, Asturian's Might, forged for him by dwarven smiths and presented to him upon the completion of Soldier's Peak. Nor did he pass the sword on to his successor, or to any other Grey Warden.
While some maintained that Asturian had simply destroyed the sword in his dotage, others believed he had stashed it away somewhere in Soldier's Peak. One young Warden claimed that Asturian had grabbed him by the shoulders, fixed him with an unwavering gaze and said "The sword will remind you what it is to be a Warden. Speak your oath to me, when the shadows come. You must speak the words."
What this was supposed to mean was never made clear…
At some point I must have dozed off because when I woke in the morning, I was slumped against one of the bookcases with the Soldier's Peak book still in my lap. My neck and back ached from the terrible position I had slept in.
Not too long after I had awoken, Alistair entered the archive. He looked relieved to see me.
"Oh, there you are. I wondered where you had gotten off too," He said. "I got worried last night…I…saw you leave but you never came back."
I stood up and stretched. "I got curious and decided to have a look around. There are still some books here that have survived the years." I said, yawning a little.
I looked at the book I had read last night. Somewhere here in the Peak, there was a Warden-Commander's sword stashed away. I wanted to find it! I thought. An old Warden-Commander's blade is an invaluable weapon
"There were some things in this book that…interested me. One thing in particular was a sword that belonged to a Warden-Commander named Asturian. According to this book, it could be somewhere around here!" I said.
"And I suppose you want to find this sword, then?" He asked.
"Why would I say anything but yes?" I laughed. "Come with; it would be great to find an ancient Warden relic."
He wasn't nearly as excited as I was. He looked at me dubiously. "Do you think it's a good idea to go treasure hunting? We have a lot to do." He said.
"It won't take long. I have an idea of where to look." I replied.
He still looked hesitant, but I didn't give him time to protest further. Regardless of how he felt, I wanted to at least attempt to find the sword. It was of dwarven make, which meant that it most likely was designed to combat darkspawn. It could be an excellent weapon.
I left the archive and went back up to the second floor. I went to the great hall, where the magic tiles had once been. To the right of the great hall, where we had fought demons just the day before, was a hearth with a portrait above it.
I went up to the portrait and looked at it. The portrait was of a man in black armor that had the Warden's crest on it. The man looked proud and gallant, brandishing a wicked looking sword that had a polished onyx blade with a purple hilt. He was in the middle of a battlefield, scores of darkspawn lying dead beneath him.
Asturian's words echoed in my mind as I stared at the portrait. "The sword will remind you what it is to be a Warden. Speak your oath to me, when the shadows come. You must speak the words."
"What is the Grey Warden motto?" I asked.
"In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice." Alistair said.
When he said that, a small opening appeared beside the hearth. A strange chest slid out. I knelt down and opened the chest. Inside there was the black bladed sword, Astruian's Might.
"Maker's breath, you were right." He gasped.
I picked up the sword and examined it. Even after all these centuries, the sword was in spectacular shape. Its blade was like polished onyx and there were runes carved in it. This was a truly marvelous blade.
I moved the Cousland family blade, so that I could make room for Asturian's Might. Now I had two longswords, two daggers, and a crossbow. I felt rather pleased with my arsenal.
"Well I suppose we should get going. We need to reach Redcliffe as soon as possible." I said.
Alistair didn't say anything. He remained where he was standing, glaring at me.
"What?" I asked. It was awfully strange for him to be looking at me like that. It was as if I had offended him and he wanted to slap me.
"Don't you think you have enough swords?" He asked.
I blinked. How did he even know how many weapons I had? And why did it even matter.
"One can never have enough swords!" I chuckled.
I thought he was going to laugh with me, but he didn't. He crossed his arms angrily and continued to scowl at me. Evidently he wasn't in the mood to laugh at my pathetic jest.
"What? Don't you have something against my arsenal?" I asked.
"No…but all I have is the sword and shield that I was given during my templar training." He said.
Stop looking at me like that, damn it! One would think that you were planning to chop me to bits. I thought. What is that he's mad about? He was fine before…oh wait…I think I know what this is about.
"You want the blade, don't you?" I asked.
"Yes." He said.
But why should I relinquish it? I was the one who found it! He didn't even know it was here until I told him! I thought. Oh well. Perhaps I can find another blade that's better at some point. We'll have to travel all over Ferelden to gather our allies. I'm sure there will be more treasures and such to be discovered along the way.
I unsheathed Asturian's Might and, with a heavy heart, relinquished it to him. He happily took it.
"Next time I find something, I'm keeping it." I said.
He smiled impishly at me, which made it hard for me to stay mad at him. I bet he knew that and was using it against me.
"Let's go before I kill you." I said, playfully punching him in the arm.
XXXXX
Everyone was gathered in the great hall. I looked at each of them closely. It would be in my best interest to only take a portion of them with me; everyone else would have to stay here and help renovate.
Well, Sten and Morrigan aren't exactly known for their tact and they frighten people. I thought. So I suppose I will take Alistair, Wynne, and Zeke. Leliana will have to stay behind, I'm afraid. Hopefully she can keep Sten and Morrigan from killing the Drydens when they get here.
I departed with Alistair, Wynne, and Zeke as soon as possible. We had a lot of ground to cover and we needed to make haste. If the arl really was on his deathbed, it would be important to get to him. Of course, I had said that before heading up here to Soldier's Peak.
Before I was able to leave, Morrigan accosted me. I was worried that she was going to burn my face off for leaving her behind again, but she didn't. She had something else on her mind.
"I have a thought." Morrigan said.
"Oh? What's on your mind?" I asked.
"We have an opportunity that I believe we should take advantage of," She said. "To the point: my mother was once divested of a particular grimoire by a most annoying templar. It occurred long before I was born, but even today, Flemeth speaks of the loss with great rage. The Circle of Magi has been in such disarray lately, so it occurs to me that this might be the perfect time to recover the tome from their possession, for surely it eventually ended up in their hands."
I thought for a moment. Didn't I procure a curious tome back when I was in Irving's office? Could it be possible that it was the very same book she sought?
I dug into my backpack and pulled out the hefty book. Morrigan's eyes lit up when she saw it.
"What? You found Flemeth's grimoire? I didn't truly hope…ah, but this is a most fortuitous event!" She exclaimed.
I handed her the book. When she took it, her eyes glowed with exhilaration. It was oddly rewarding to see her like this. Probably because she was always so glum and bitter, and it was nice seeing her displaying positive emotions.
"You're welcome." I said.
"I don't intend to squander this opportunity to learn more than Flemeth wished me to know. This should be…interesting." She said.
I left Morrigan with the book and exited the fortress. On my way down the stairs outside, I saw the Drydens pulling their wagons full of wares into the clearing. Behind them was none other than the dwarf Bodahn Feddic and his son, Sandal. I couldn't believe my eyes. The last time I'd seen them was in Lothering. I hadn't expected to see them again.
As much as I wanted to stay and talk with them, I was unable to. I told Bodahn that he was welcome to ply his trade here along with the Drydens and that I was glad to see him and his son were still alive. After the brief conversation, I departed from Soldier's Peak.
XXXXX
Once again, we were on the Imperial Highway, walking under the blistering sun. Now that we were fewer in number, I feared bandit attacks. Since Sten and Morrigan weren't travelling with us anymore, I imagined that potential bandits wouldn't find me and my companions so threatening anymore. I had a feeling that they had mostly stayed away beforehand because of how terrifying Sten alone looked.
As we walked down the sun-parched Highway, I listened to the occasional chatter between Alistair and Wynne.
"So tell me, you have any children? Grandchildren? I don't know, great grandchildren?" Alistair asked.
"What would make you think I have any children at all? You have to know I've spent most of my life in the Circle of Magi." Wynne replied.
"You just seem like the grandmotherly type to me, I don't know." He said.
"I suppose I'll take that as a comment on my demeanor and not my age." She said.
"Mages aren't forbidden to marry or anything, are they? It's not such an outlandish question." He said.
"Isn't it? What sort of man would marry a mage, do you think?" She asked, raising her eyebrow.
"How about another mage? There are just as many men as there are women within the Circle, as I recall." He responded.
"That sort of union is... not encouraged. Although that does not stop us from seeking out each other's... company from time to time." She said.
"I... all right, suddenly you don't seem quite so grandmotherly to me anymore." He muttered.
"Good. I would hope not." She chuckled.
When the sun began to set, we set up camp beneath the Highway. I took the first shift of watching over the camp. It was quiet and peaceful at this time of night. I paced back and forth, mind buzzing with various thoughts.
I have no doubt that Howe and Loghain know that Alistair and I are still alive. Loghain had sent his lackeys to slaughter us back in Lothering but that failed miserably. It will only be a matter of time before Howe makes an attempt to take me out, seeing that he failed in Highever. Perhaps at some point, they will combine their efforts in cleansing Ferelden of its 'traitorous Wardens'. Humph! Well now that I think about it, they probably are already working together. It is highly likely that they have been all along. Perhaps even Uldred too? I wondered.
The thought of Uldred, Rendon Howe, and Loghain being co-conspirators made my head spin. It was a very frightening thought to me, because it actually made so much sense. Perhaps Loghain had promised Howe a substantial reward if he had taken over Highever and offered Uldred his own reward if he took over the Circle. But then again, why would Loghain even care about the Circle? Maybe he thought that by giving Uldred what he wanted, he could gain another strong ally?
Well too bad, bitch. You think my days are numbered? Your ass is mine as soon as I gather enough allies to aid me! I thought. Eamon will certainly want to help me against you as well. He'd much sooner support Alistair and me than you!
Sometime after midnight, I roused Alistair so he could take the next shift. When he got up, I was expecting to be able to lie down. I was quite exhausted; I had guarded the camp a little longer just so he could get more sleep. Instead of letting me lie down, Alistair decided that he wanted to talk.
"Can we talk for a moment? We're going to Redcliffe next, right? So…I have something that I need to tell you…something that I probably should've told you earlier." Alistair said.
"What's on your mind?" I asked.
"I told you before how Arl Eamon raised me, right?" He said.
He didn't wait for me to answer, however. He just continued talking. I suppose it was a good thing, since I didn't really remember if he had told me his connection to Arl Eamon or not.
"My mother was a serving girl at the castle and he took me in. The reason he did that was because…well…my father was King Maric…which made Cailan my half-brother, I suppose."
I blinked. I was utterly shocked by what he had just said. I never would've guessed in a million years that he was the son of the late King Maric and heir to the throne! What was I supposed to say, or even think, about that?
"So…doesn't that make you heir to the throne, then?" I said.
"Maker's breath! I hope not! I…I don't think so," He exclaimed. "I'm a bastard and no one even knows about me."
"Why didn't you say anything about it before?" I asked.
He sighed heavily, looking quite distressed.
"I would've told you sooner…but…it didn't mean anything to me," He responded. "I was always inconvenient and a possible threat to Cailan's throne. They kept me secret and I never talked about it to anyone. Anyone who knew either resented me for it or they coddled me... even Duncan kept me out of the fighting because of it. I didn't want you to know, as long as possible. I'm sorry."
It sort of stung that he had kept such a secret from me. But then again, I couldn't blame him. If I was in his position, I'd want as few people as possible to know. He and I didn't even know each other that well so it only made sense that he wouldn't want to divulge such information to me, unless he thought it was absolutely necessary. I suppose he thought now was the time to tell me about it, since we were heading into Redcliffe.
"I think I understand." I said quietly.
He smiled a little. "Good. It's not like I got special treatment for it anyhow," He said. "When Arl Eamon married a young woman from Orlais, my welcome in his castle became wore out anyways. There were rumors that I was Eamon's bastard son…the rumors weren't true, of course. The arl didn't care but she did. The arlessa despised me so…I was packed off to the nearest monastery at the age of ten."
"What an awful thing to do to a child." I gasped.
"Maybe. She felt threatened by my presence. I can see that now. I can't say I blame her, though. She wondered if the rumors were true. It seems she believed they were." He sighed.
I looked at him sympathetically. My life hadn't been all sunshine and roses growing up, but it certainly seemed that way compared to Alistair's life. I had grown up in a castle with my parents and brother. My parents had been nobles and owned all of Highever. Plenty of men had started to try to woo me when I came of age and my parents had allowed me to train as a warrior, so it wasn't like I ever got ignored and I certainly didn't ever do without. Alistair, on the other hand, never knew any of his family. He was shoved in a monastery and forced to train as a templar. Now I understood why he had been so eager to become a Grey Warden.
"I remember I had an amulet with Andraste's holy symbol on it. It was the only thing I had of my mother's. I was so furious at being sent away, I tore it off and threw it at the wall. It shattered…" He sighed heavily. "Stupid, stupid thing to do. The arl came by the monastery a few times to see how I was, but I was stubborn. I hated it there and blamed him for everything. Eventually he stopped coming."
"It's alright. You were young." I said.
"And raised by dogs! Or I may as well have been, the way I acted. But maybe all the young bastards act like that. I don't know. All I know is that the arl is a good man and well-loved by the people. He also was King Cailan's uncle, so he has a personal motivation to see Loghain pay for what he did," He murmured. "Now can we move on? I'll just pretend you still think I'm some…nobody who was too lucky to die with the rest of the Grey Wardens."
"That's not really what you think, is it?" I asked.
"Well…no. What I really think is that I was lucky enough to survive with you." He said softly.
I blushed. Fortunately, it was too dark for him to be able to tell.
"I won't keep you up any longer. I know you must be exhausted," He murmured. "Daylight is just a few hours away. Try to get some sleep."
I happily lied down in my bedroll. I never did bother to set up my tent; I was too exhausted to. I rolled out my bedroll and went to sleep almost immediately.