A/N: I would like to thank everyone who has given a review so far. It has been ecouraging me to continue along the insane path my mind and characters have created. The conversation with Greagoir in the game always had me getting angry over the pointless suspicion over the mages and the blatant hatred. Now I get some revenge with Alriana. Enjoy.

Chapter 10: Into the Tower

It took time but they made it to Lake Calenhad early enough to find a campsite. Alriana decided to inquire at the docks about the tower and go to the tavern to get some supplies. She was going to go alone but Alistair asked if he could go and since he wanted to go, Taryn wanted to go. Alriana was on the verge of saying she would be fine but she could not refuse the look that Alistair was giving her nor could she deny that his logic about it being safer to go in numbers since they were wanted criminals. Sighing she said, "Alright come on. Leli gave me a list anyway and there is no way I'm going to be able to carry it all by myself."

When they came over the swell, Alriana was awed by the sheer size of the tower. It looked like it rose all by itself out of the lake. "So that's the tower you were telling me about?"

"Yes. It's the home to all the mages of the Circle here in Ferelden."

Alriana scrutinized the tower. She could make out an occasional window but for the most part there was hardly anything to indicate life there. She said, "Looks like a prison to me." She then continued to walk down the hill towards the tavern.

Alistair looked after his companion and then down at Taryn who merely cocked his head and followed his mistress. To Alistair it made sense but he could see that Alriana was not convinced even after he had explained about the Circle. He was not going to try to convince her to his ways or the Chantry's, unless he wanted to be on the receiving end of her nerve attack or her arrows. He would be there if she needed information and he would give it freely so he followed her down the hill.

The Spoiled Princess was a wealth of supplies. Alriana was able to trade what they did not need for things that they did. She was surprised when Alistair traded coin for a book. It was nothing they needed and they could only carry so much on the road. She asked, "Why the book?"

Alistair looked at his companion with an inquiring brow. He replied, "Something for the evenings."

"But it is nothing important to survival so why buy it?"

"Why do you work on your furs at night?"

Alriana frowned at the question, "That is different. They are for the mountains. You mentioned the Frostback Mountains are covered with snow. It is practical. I don't see the practicality of a book. Please explain it to me."

Alistair ran a hand through his hair trying to figure out the best way to explain it to her. He then said, "Sometimes one needs to get away from practicality. If you are serious all the time, it makes life fairly dull. At least to me. This just happens to be a copy of one of the stories I grew up with in the Chantry. Don't you have stories?"

Alriana pondered his words for a moment. They did make sense but even in her clan when the stories were being told, some of her people were working on things that were needed. Was she too absorbed in her duty? It was confusing. She answered, "We don't have written words. The lore master would tell us stories that were thought to be lost. Some of the adults would be working on things for the hunters while they were listening. Is it normal to just listen without working?"

"It's called relaxing," Alistair replied grinning. "Now I know you know that. Working with your furs is practical but also relaxing for you. I noticed that."

"I… I guess so." Alriana was still not sure but she was willing to accept that. She also felt a strange sensation at the thought that he had been watching her work on the furs. Brushing it aside, she asked, "What story did you like?"

Alistair handed her the book. She took it carefully and traced the letters, feeling the embossing. She had held scrolls before but never a book. Ashalle had taught her and Tamlen to read even though Tamlen thought hunting to be more entertaining than learning the words of the shemlen. She traced the letters reading the title. "The Lord of Oiche?"

"A legend of sorts," Alistair explained. "You can borrow it."

Alriana was tempted but she had nothing to trade for that at the moment. She handed it back as gently as she had taken it. "Maybe I will."

Alistair accepted the book back and placed it with the sack that their goods were in. He slung it over his shoulder and said that he would wait outside while she settled everything. Once he was gone, Alriana looked at the books the owner still had. Maybe it would not hurt. It was only one thing for herself. She ran her fingers along the bindings, reading the titles until one caught her eye. She pulled it off the shelf and added it to the pile. The owner looked at her with a raised brow and she returned it with a defiant stare. She then put the book in her pack and gathered her change and the bag of food and walked out the tavern

"So… you want to tell me how you became a Grey Warden?" Alriana looked across at Alistair as they sat eating their midday meal on the hill. She pulled out the copper, "For a copper of course."

Alistair grinned at her and caught it as she flipped it to him. "Same as you did. You drink some blood, you choke on it and pass out. You haven't forgotten that already have you?"

"Been trying to. Believe me," Alriana replied smiling, "But I meant before that."

Alistair sighed wondering why she was so interested but he indulged her, "Let's see, I was in the Chantry before. I trained for many years to become a templar in fact. That's where I learned most of my skills."

"But you don't seem the religious sort and I thought templars were."

"You're telling me. I was banished to the kitchens to scour the pots more times than I can count. And that's a lot; I can count pretty high."

"Punishment for not believing? I don't think that's right," Alriana replied puzzled.

"Well…" Alistair was not sure what to say so he continued, "Anyway the grand cleric didn't want to let me go. Duncan was forced to conscript me actually and was she ever furious when he did. I thought she was going to have us both arrested. I was lucky."

Alriana could see that this would be a sidestep from her earlier inquiry. She was asking difficult questions but only to understand. She could only hope that Alistair understood that. "I guess she didn't want to give anything to the Grey Wardens. Seems like we're on everyone's bad side."

"The Chantry didn't lose much. And I think I can do more fighting the Blight anyhow rather than sitting in a temple somewhere."

"I can't imagine you in a temple."

Alistair smiled at that. "I'll always be thankful to Duncan for recruiting me. If it hadn't been for him then…" He got quiet.

Alriana realized what had happened and said, "I shouldn't have even asked. He was a good man." She bit her lower lip hoping that she did not undo everything she did in Lothering. She was aware that it would hurt more than anything.

Alistair looked at her and noticed her chewing her lowered lip with an expression of regret mingled with… fear? He said, "No…it's fine. You didn't do anything wrong."

"I shouldn't have said anything. I ask too much. Abelas," Alriana replied as she tossed aside the core of the fruit and packed what was left in her pack. She slung it over her shoulder and grabbed the sack. "Come on let's go. We have to get to the tower." She then headed back to the camp, tugging the sack with all her strength.

Alistair tossed the remnants of his lunch aside and hurried to catch up. He took the sack from her gently and slung it over his shoulder. He did not expect her to say anything and she did not. She only looked at him and then nodded in understanding. Alistair thought he understood her better but he realized that he had only scratched the surface and it made him want to know more.

The tower made Alriana feel small and insignificant now that she was standing beside it. After haggling with the foolish templar at the docks, they were across with the exception of Morrigan, who refused to set foot in the tower. Alriana could not blame her since to the shems, she was technically an apostate, an illegal mage. At least that was how Alistair explained it. So with Alistair, Taryn Sten and Leli, they set across the lake to the see the Circle of Magi. Taking a breath, she pushed open the door and walked in.

The inside felt colder than the outside and right away, Alriana could tell that not all was right in the tower. The hushed air of the bucket heads and the way they looked cautiously around as if something would jump out at the shadows at them. Something definitely was not right. She looked around for the telltale sign of the templar in charge. She walked up and waited a respectful distance while the Knight-Commander finished issuing orders, "… and I want two men stationed within sight of the doors at all times. Do not open the doors without my express consent. Is that clear?"

"Yes ser."

Knight-Commander Greagoir nodded and sent the templar on his way. He then turned to see who had entered. He was surprised to see an elf standing at the head but years of experience had taught him to keep his expressions neutral. He said, "We are dealing with a very delicate situation. You must leave for your own safety."

Alriana crossed her arms. "The doors are barred. Are they keeping people out or in?"

Greagoir replied, "We are handling it. Now you must leave."

Alriana stood her ground. "I seek the mage's help to defeat the darkspawn. Perhaps you can tell me what is going on here?"

Greagoir sighed. He had a suspicion that the elf was a Grey Warden but he could neither confirm nor deny it until she said anything. "I am weary if the Grey Warden's ceaseless need for men to fight the darkspawn but it is their right. Note that you'll find no allies here."

"Seems to be the case everywhere."

"The templars can spare no men and the mages are… indisposed." Greagoir noticed that the elf was going say something and added, "I shall speak plainly. The tower is no longer under our control. Abominations and demons stalk the tower's halls."

"That is why we cut the tongues from mages in Par Vollen."

Alriana whirled around to look at Sten with a glare that would have melted the snow in the Frostback Mountains. It did not help when the Knight-Commander stated that he agreed with the Qunari and commented that the Qunari people would not have allowed themselves to be caught in that situation. She turned back on her heel and gave a glare at the templar. Her hands were clenching and unclenching in fists. She disliked the implied hatred in their tones and was doing everything in her power to not lash out. She said in a cold calculating voice, "How did this happen?"

Greagoir was not easily intimidated and he had their group outnumbered if they started something. He replied, "We don't know. We only saw demons, hunting templars and mages alike. I realized we could not defeat them and told my men to flee."

Alriana folded her arms across her chest, her temper still flaring. "Why not return the favor and hunt them?

"Haven't you been listening? They are demons and abominations!"

"If they bleed then they can be killed. You just have to be smart about it. But I see that it is pointless to discuss this. What do you plan to do?"

"I have sent word to Denerim, calling for reinforcements and the Right of Annulment."

Alriana frowned. She had never heard of this before. She tried to recall everything Alistair had told her of the Circle and the Templars but nothing came to mind. "What does that mean?"

Alistair knew he was risking her wrath but he had to explain to her. If the Knight-Commander did, the repercussions might be worse. He would rather have her angry at him than risk getting killed over it. He touched her shoulder gently and explained in quiet tones, "The mages are probably already dead. Any abominations in there must be dealt with no matter what. That is what the Right of Annulment is for; to destroy everything in the tower."

"The mages are not defenseless. Surely there are survivors?" Alriana was starting to see the implications and she did not like it where it was going. She was grateful for the reassuring hand for it cooled her temper but she still could not accept the situation that the templar shem was trying to put before her.

"If there are any alive, the Maker Himself has shielded them. No one could have survived those monstrous creatures," Greagoir replied.

"So this Annulment is a sanction for murder?"

"There are no survivors!"

"There won't be since you shut them in there."

"And what would you have me do? Leave the door open as abominations poured out?"

"Alriana, he...he's right. All Circles have doors like these to prevent abominations from getting loose."

Alriana listened to Alistair's words and she turned to look at him. She knew that he trained to be a templar and he was only going by what he knew. It stung worse than an insult but she could also see the regret in his eyes. She sensed that he was not overly pleased with the situation either. It was something to think about. She replied, "People in there might need help. Templars and mages. We cannot abandon them."

Greagoir chose this moment to put some sense in this elf, "It is the innocent folk of Ferelden who matter. I would lay down my life and the life of any mage to protect them. No abomination must cross this threshold."

"Which 'innocent' folk do you speak of ser? The ones who look down their noses at my people like we were dirt? The stupid Chantry who curses mages for their 'Maker-given gifts'? The dutiful templars who watch with their hands on their swords waiting for so much as a chuckle at a prank? Hardly anyone is innocent except for children who have yet to learn such things. You claim to protect yet you abandon those who may still be alive. We Dalish have a saying. We leave no one behind and it pained me dearly when I was forced to do that by one of you shemlen." Alriana had spoken with a calm she did not feel for her anger was great. Still she managed maintain composure if only to not disgrace herself or her clan. "Since you are willing to leave them to their fate, let me pass and I will try. It is the right thing to do."

Greagoir realized he was not going to get anywhere with this elf. He now understood why it appeared as if she were stupid. She was Dalish and for the most part, they stayed away from their cities, preferring to wander the Brecilllian forest. If he wanted to admit it, he would have said that she had shamed him at that moment. She did not say it outright but she implied him to be a coward. He could give her a chance and he dared to hope. "Alright. I will let you pass but a word of caution…once you cross that threshold, there is no turning back. The great doors must remain barred. I will open them for no one until I have proof that it is safe and I will only believe it is over if the first enchanter stands before me and tells me so. If Irving has fallen…then the Circle is lost and must be destroyed. Is that fair enough?"

"Not to my liking but I accept your terms since you have claimed to already sent for your murder sanction," Alriana agreed.

"May Andraste lend you her courage."

Alriana nodded and took her leave of the Knight-Commander. She waited until they were in front of the door and came to a stop to stare at it. She looked at it for what seemed like an eternity, taking in the details and in the end equating it with that of a fancy jailer's door. She looked at Alistair and noticed he had a concerned expression on his face. She said, "I am not angry with you. I just don't want to talk about it right now." She then walked up to the door and pushed it open and walked through.

Once they were through, Alriana turned to watch the templars pull the door shut. There was no turning back now. Press forward. Always, always we must press forward. Alriana smiled slightly as she remembered Duncan's words to her. If this was anything comparable to the odds she and Alistair would face when they went after the archdemon, then they would have a challenge but there was always a way forward. Taking a breath, she led the way forward, scoping out the various rooms for any signs of the abominations or demons. Finding none, they moved on through a door that was closed and Alriana was in for a surprise.

Some creature had made its way through a barrier. Alriana had seen nothing like it. It looked like its body was completely made of fire. It surged forward scattering children towards them. The creature did not get far for one of the mages had taken her staff and summoned a spell that killed the creature. Alriana recognized the mage at once and felt a surge of relief that there was someone who survived Ostagar. She led her party forward.

Wynne turned to see the newcomers. She recognized two of them and she felt surprise and joy but it was mingled with suspicion. "It's you! No… come no further. Grey Warden or no, I will strike you where you stand."

Alriana could understand the suspicion. She raised her hands to show the mage she meant no harm. "Wynne, it's me. You spoke to me at Ostagar. You were telling me about the Fade. You also told me your thoughts of the king." She used memories that she and the mage would know, hoping that it would convince her she was who she said she was.

Wynne remembered the Dalish elf. "Yes I remember. More importantly, why are you here? The templars would not let just anyone by."

Alriana tried to use the explanation that would cause the least amount of problems, "I… came here seeking the aid of the mages only to be told that the Circle was in no shape to help. So…I'm here to investigate."

Wynne suspected the Dalish was not telling her everything but it was an honest answer. She replied, "That is so? Do the templars plan to attack the tower now?"

Alistair stepped in, knowing that Alriana would not call the Right by its proper name, "She convinced the Knight-Commander to let us in to help before the Right of Annulment arrived."

Alriana muttered, "A sanction for murder." She shot a look at Alistair. The old one was right. Names are pretty but useless.

Wynne heard the Dalish's mutterings and wisely said nothing, feeling rather thankful that she did not approve of its use. "So Greagoir thinks the Circle is beyond hope. He probably assumes we are all dead."

"He did. As my fellow Warden said, I convinced him to investigate the tower before that thing arrives. I understand that if it is invoked you won't be able to stand against them," Alriana replied. She then looked at the survivors. There were some older apprentices and a few children. She could only imagine the fate of those that did not make it this far. The ones there were scared. She knew that look all too well. "What did happen here Wynne?"

Wynne watched the Dalish and she saw her fellow Warden watching her. It was something to ponder on but for now the situation must be dealt with. She explained, "Let it suffice to say that we had something of a revolt on our hands led by the mage Uldred. When he returned from Ostagar, he tried to take over the Circle and as you can see, it didn't work out. I don't know what happened to him but I am certain that this is his doing and I will not lose the circle because of a man's pride and stupidity."

"What do you intend then?" Alriana had fished out some of her bread rations and handed them out to the children. It was the least she could do.

"Once Greagoir sees that we have made the tower safe, I trust that he will tell his men to back down. He is not unreasonable."

"He wants reassurance from the first enchanter."

Wynne nodded. Even though Irving and Greagoir seemed to be at each other's throats over some issue or another, they got along quite well. "Then our way is set. I will join you and we will rescue Irving."

"And the children?"

"Petra and Kinnon will watch them. If we slay all the fiends we encounter none will get by to harm the children."

Alriana nodded. "If you permit, Sten and Leli can stay with them. Just in case."

Wynne nodded. "Petra, Kinnon…look after the others. I will be back soon."

The girl named Petra voiced concern for Wynne but the elderly mage brushed it off stating that the others needed protection and told them to keep them safe. Alriana could see the fear and doubt. She did not understand completely the situation regarding abominations but she could see that they were something to be feared if the mages feared them. She said, "Have faith. We will not fail."

Wynne smiled at the elf, "Your confidence is refreshing though you should make sure it does not blind you to your weaknesses."

"Wise words."

"If you are ready, let us go end this."

Alriana nodded and turned to Leli and Sten. She said to them, "Stay with them. If any get past, do what you have to and protect the children, and that doesn't mean what you said earlier Sten." She glared at the huge Qunari straight in the eye, refusing to be intimidated by the look he gave her back.

Finally Sten said, "I will follow."

Alriana nodded and beckoned Alistair and Taryn to follow. Alistair asked, "Are you sure about this?"

"It makes me reassured that all measures were made possible," Alriana replied. "I can't imagine what happened to the others. I want to make sure the ones here stay alive. They made it this far." She then checked her bow and quiver and her weapons.

Alistair said, "You're probably right. I'll stand by you on this."

"Ma serannas." Alriana gave a small smile before turning to Wynne and said, "I'm ready."

Wynne led them to the barrier. "Here we are. I am somewhat amazed at myself for having kept it in place this long."

"You did what you had to."

Wynne looked at the Dalish who was studying the barrier with interest. "It made me very weary at times but I had to stay strong to keep us safe."

"I guess that's what it means when you have to lead," Alriana mused. "I think you did right by the others Wynne. Now let's see if we can fix this."

"I admire your dedication. I will remove the barrier now." Wynne raised a hand and concentrated. The barrier came down revealing an open doorway. "Be prepared for anything. I do not know what manner of beasts lurk beyond this point."

Alriana looked at the mage, "Then we will deal with them as we come. Press forward. Always, always we must press forward."

Alistair glanced at Alriana. He remembered Duncan telling her that after the Joining. He thought it was a means to reassure her at that time but hearing them now, it was an encouragement. Once again she was telling him that it will be all right, even though her comment was addressed to the mage. It will be okay. They could do this. "We are ready."

"Alright. Be on your guard, all of you," Wynne told her new companions. They passed through and into the tower.