Chapter 11: Old Friends
Kingsway 13th, Evening
They had ridden for a full day without rest. Fallon sat in the front of the wagon with Bodahn, Sandal, and Alistair. The rest of the group was in the back, holding onto the sides for dear life as the cart raced on at incredible speeds. The wagon was lightened considerably. Everything except the essential food, water, and tents had been dumped. The dwarf merchant was fairly sad to see his goods tossed carelessly onto the West Road, but perked up when Fallon promised to pay for everything they had to leave behind. As they threw out exquisite pieces of heavy armor she knew the tab would be high.
Just as the stars began twinkling in the sky, the cart crested a hill and there was the Circle Tower. Majestic and frightening, the sharp spire scraped at the blackening horizon. It had been erected a few miles out into Lake Calenhad, with a dock and boat nearby acting as the only means to get there. The structure had a large ring of perilous rocks around it, another barricade for any escaping mages. Still, the abomination had been able to get through the defenses somehow.
"Did the ancient mages have something against convenience?" Alistair asked as Bodahn began slowing his horses.
"That and land. If there is one thing mages hate more than convenience its land." Fallon added, straight faced.
"Indeed. I learned this from my years as a templar in training. It's sad. They scream bloody murder at the sight of dirt." Fallon had forgiven him on the long ride. The first hour or so of their expedition was spent with both apologizing profusely and talking over the other. The second hour there was silence as everyone attempted to keep their food down with all the jostling. After that, there was much laughter and joking, much to Morrigan's dismay. Despite them racing to possible doom, it was one of the most laid back days the group had experienced. The site of the Tower had sobered them.
"Stay close Bodahn. We shouldn't be too long. "Fallon jumped down from the cart, a cloud of dust erupted from her landing. She didn't actually have any clue how long they'd take but she feared the dwarf would consider the lot too much trouble and take off. Although, he probably couldn't until he got his money. "Come on."
The troop marched toward the dock in near silence. Sten was a bit wobbly at first, but when Leliana offered to help him walk he simply gave her a dirty look and continued onward very slowly. "People weren't meant to move at such speeds." He muttered angrily. Dawson went to the back in an attempt to cheer him up.
The dock was manned by a mouse faced templar. His hair was a light brown and hadn't been brushed in a few days. He didn't even have a shadow of facial hair on his face, and his awkward demeanor caused Fallon to assume he was young, fourteen or younger. However the moment he spoke he had a man's voice, nasally but deep.
"Halt! No one is allowed to go across to the tower."
"We have business with the Mages. I'm the Grey Warden Commander."
"Ah really…. Well I'm the Queen of Antiva. You still aren't getting over there."
"Ser, this is very important. We heard that the Tower is in trouble and we came to offer our help."
"Very kind of you. Still can't allow you across. I have one job and this is it." He put his hands behind his back and stood up as straight as he could, letting his armor gleam in the moonlight.
"Is there any way we could work this out? We desperately need to cross." Fallon asked, with annoyance in her voice.
"Well… I like the looks of that redhead in the back. You could leave her with me for awhile…" Fallon took a step toward him, scowling angrily.
"Alright, let me stop you there. All of these people are highly trained fighters that aid the Grey Wardens. If you presume to disrespect a single one of them again I will just throw you off the dock. Now your options are these, take us across and be completely quiet while you do, or refuse and I'll steal the boat then complain to your superior officer when I meet him that you stood in the way of official Warden business. You have five seconds."
The row across was quite pleasant. The boat rocked in time to the waves, which broke against the hull and splashed them all in the face. Fallon had always dreamed of visiting Lake Calenhad. She dipped a hand in the water, feeling the coolness against her fingertips, That is, until Leliana began a story about a sea monster that lived there. Then she snapped her fingers back into the boat so quickly she splashed Alistair in the eyes. He looked at her with a devious grin that promised retribution.
Sten had volunteered to stay on the shore. He couldn't fit in the small vessel. While Dawson, who jostled around in the boat so badly they risked capsizing, refused to stay behind no matter how many times she commanded it. As Fallon crossed Calenhad with the Mabari in her lap, she realized why human intelligence in a dog was dangerous. Fallon turned to her companions.
"We don't quite know what could be inside but we all got a little taste with that abomination. Remember, aim for its heart and get out of there as soon as it falls." She held up her burned arm as an example. They had used a health poultice to heal it but Fallon needed some healing magic. She looked at the burned skin and added it to the list of scars she'd acquired since joining this profession. "Stay on your toes and never ever get separated from the rest of the group. I don't care if you're within yelling distance; if I can't see you then you are too far away. Everyone understand?" They all nodded. Fallon ran over the battle plan in her head once more. Alistair could dissipate magic with his templar skills and he has a shield so he was going in front with her. Leliana would be behind them, with a bow and arrow, picking off anyone she could and protecting Morrigan who would be at the very back. It could work, but since this would be the first time they would all be in a true battle situation it was nerve-wracking.
"And here we are. Please get out safely, wouldn't want you to slip." The Templar spoke with blatant sarcasm as he helped Fallon out of the boat. She smiled at him.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to tell the Knight Commander how helpful you were." It wasn't sarcastic. She was being honest.
"Oh… well… Thank you. Here, let me help you all up the steps."
The entrance hall of the Tower was filled with Templars. Some were running around with important objectives or searching for something to do. Some stood in silence, looking frightened or sad, and others were howling in pain on the floor. A minute after they entered the building a man with heavy burns all over his body died, despite medics attempts to heal him. Fallon blocked out the symphony of other howls, knowing that could be their fate as well and instead set her sights on the leader, a bearded man issuing orders. Alistair whispered the man's name into her ear as she approached.
"Knight Commander Greagoir, I'm Fallon Tabris of the Grey Wardens. We came to the Mages Tower in search of aid for the Blight, but it seems you need our aid more."
"Wardens? Well I'm afraid you won't find any assistance here. The Tower has been lost for awhile now. As for your aid, I doubt it would do much good. I appreciate your concern." He began to turn away from them. Fallon stopped him.
"Please ser. I don't think the Rite of Annulment is necessary. Surely there are survivors in the Tower..."
"If there were survivors when we retreated they have long since died. The Circle is overrun with demons and abominations. There is no hope for them and none for you if you attempt a rescue. I'm sorry." He began turning away once more. Fallon took out a piece of aged parchment.
"Knight Commander,it is our right to do what we must to recruit help for the Blight. This treaty forces the mages to comply. I'm sorry but I cannot allow you to stand in the way of us rescuing very important soldiers for the upcoming battle. Now if you help us, perhaps we will all be able to get what we want, restoration of the Mages Circle." Greagoir looked her over for a moment before nodding.
"It happened when the mages returned from Ostagar. There was a meeting with the Enchanters and something happened. When I was roused from sleep everything had already fallen apart, blood mages had already called demons, and abominations were showing up everywhere. I ordered my men to retreat." He shook his head sadly. "If you go in we will have to lock the door behind you. I won't open it again until you have Senior Enchanter Irving to say everything is alright."
"And what if the Senior Enchanter is already dead?" Fallon asked tentatively.
"I'm afraid you'll suffer the Rite of Annulment along with all the others."
The silence was eerie and deafening. The minute the stone doors had thud shut behind them there was nothing but empty quiet. Fallon didn't know what the Tower had looked like before but she assumed it had been in much better condition. Rooms showed signs of having their doors ripped off its hinges and piles of wood encouraged the theory. There were burn marks and blood on many walls though no sign of people. She had expected to find some dead bodies but there weren't any, just piles of debris they had left behind. After the tenth room filled with nothing but books and a single vial of poison, Morrigan stopped Fallon and took her aside.
"I have been meaning to speak with you since we entered the Tower. Long ago, my mother lost a great book of spells to a particularly tenacious templar. She has often lamented its loss, but now that we are here…."
"Why do you want it?"
"My mother is ancient and her knowledge is vast, but she hordes it. If I could get the grimoire I believe my abilities would increase significantly."
"I'll have everyone keep an eye out…"
"No. I need it to be just you and myself. I don't trust the others with this knowledge." Fallon nodded, she understood why Morrigan was so hesitant. Living with only one emotionally abusive person your whole life, while all your visitors are templars attempting to kill you, would make anyone wary. "It would be an important book so I believe the best place to search for it is in the First Enchanter's office." Fallon nodded again, promised Morrigan she'd find it, then motioned for everyone to move out.
Not two minutes later, they encountered a group of survivors. Five or six mages with several children of varying ages sat huddled in a large room, protected on one side by a blue wall of light. The shimmering wall was beautiful, and slightly transparent. As they entered the room, the mages turned hostile, pointing their staffs at the group, frightened and desperate.
"Well this isn't the greeting I was expecting." Alistair muttered.
"The poor things are frightened." Leliana added, voice dripping with compassion.
"What are you doing here? I thought all the Grey Wardens had died at Ostagar." The speaker was Wynne, whose staff wasn't trained on them but looked agitated and tired none-the-less. Fallon was excited to see the woman she had only met briefly, friendly faces were always welcome.
"Wynne! It's good to…"
"I do not care who you are. I need to know what you are doing here." The old woman stood proud and defiant as she cut down Fallon's comment.
"The Knight Commander let us enter so we may rescue any mages left alive. If we don't return with the First Enchanter he intends to use the Rite of Annulment." Gasps and inaudible shouts ricocheted around the room; one of the older children began crying. "Let me through that barrier and I promise I will find a way to rescue you all."
"Your words are brave, Warden, but have you ever battled an abomination? Or a demon? Have you ever been through the tower on a regular day? No you need help. I'll go with you."
"Wynne, is that wise? You were so badly hurt earlier?" A woman with brown hair asked.
"I am fine. I need you to keep the children safe, I will be back shortly with Irving." She moved toward the barrier, Fallon stopped her.
"Wynne, I don't think it's a good idea that you come with us. We have…"
"…never been in a real battle before. I do not mean to undermine your authority Warden, but you need me, and I need to protect my students. Either I come with you or the barrier isn't coming down." The way Wynne spoke made Fallon feel like a child. She attempted to piece together what was left of her pride.
"If you promise to obey my orders, I promise that I will listen to your counsel." Wynne nodded, and moved toward the barrier. A thin sheen of sweat developed on her brow as she focused her attention on bringing it down. Her staff rose and she began speaking words and incantations that Fallon couldn't understand. The color of the shield began fluctuating as it died slowly. In a matter of seconds, it blinked out of existence completely.
"I'm surprised I was able to maintain it for that long… marvelous." Wynne mused to herself as she led the way through the door way. Fallon's companions looked at her and she nodded, telling them silently to follow the enchanter.
That was when they started seeing the bodies. Just on the other side of the barrier there were dead people and parts all over the place. A woman not much older than Fallon leaned against one wall, while her lower half was leaning against the opposite one, a trail of organs and blood connected them. Fallon thought she'd lose her dinner, before remembering she hadn't eaten in awhile. Still her stomach lurched at the grisly sight.
"Do you know what happened here?" Fallon asked Wynne, who shook her head before speaking.
"I was teaching the children astronomy. We were heading to the top of the tower to chart stars when fighting erupted in the halls. Blood mages have taken over the Tower."
"I've heard others say this as well. What is wrong with blood magic?" Fallon asked, painfully aware of her naivety. Alistair answered her.
"They use blood to power their spells, not lyrium like most mages, but it doesn't have to be their own blood. And they can take away your free will. Blood mages are able to get inside your head, make you do things you don't want to do." Fallon wondered how many of those fighting originally had actually wanted it, she imagined how it would feel to have no control over what your body did but still be forced to witness the atrocities.
"I apologize for earlier, Fallon. I did not know if you were friend or foe. Any number of things could have happened since Ostagar."
"I understand, but how did you escape?"
"Mages are staged far from the battle. When everything seemed lost, we left. It was terrible to see so many people perish."
"Did you see what happened to the Grey Wardens?" Alistair asked, his voice sounded conflicted.
"I did, but I don't think it's best that I repeat it, especially in our current location." She gestured to another mangled corpse in the hallway as they walked.
"Did any of them survive?" Alistair continued. Fallon saw the glimmer of hope and denial in his eyes, but she desperately wanted Duncan to be alive too. Wynne nodded.
"You two survived and I count Ferelden very lucky that you did. I…" Wynne stopped speaking, and put a finger to her lips, the others quieted immediately, even Dawson quit panting. Arguing could be heard in the next room, three or four different voices bickering back and forth. Only a few sentences were audible, but enough for the group to realize blood mages were on the other side of the wall.
"Uldred promised…"
"Freedom, and if we don't get out of this tower we won't be free. They'll kill us just like…"
"How can you even say that? Look at what he did! We can't leave yet. We need to…"
"…I'm not staying another second, you know what they do to maleficar."
"Perhaps we should just…"
"Shshh, I heard something." One of them finished quite audibly. It was time for an attack. Fallon turned to her group, just as Alistair shield bashed her out of cover. The blood mages began yelling as Fallon tumbled into their midst. There were six, she had estimated incorrectly. Fallon stabbed the first one through the heart before he had a chance to conjure anything. She sliced the wrist of a second mage down to the bone before realizing the woman could use the wound to augment her power. The mage sent Fallon sprawling again, knocking her back with a wave of invisible energy. She felt her ankle twist beneath her and something inside her leg tore, ribbons of pain enveloped the area. Then, just as quickly, a soft blue light attacked her ankle. At first Fallon panicked, but the light brought relief from her pain. She could feel tendons and bone knitting back together painlessly. Fallon turned to see where Wynne was only to be punched in the face by a mailed fist. Blood exploded from her torn lip. She swung her sword blindly, hoping to knock down her opponent, only to pull it at the last moment. The assailant was Alistair.
She had assumed him bashing her was an accident but it was obvious now that something was wrong. She jumped away as he attempted to shield bash her again. An expertly shot arrow lodged itself in Alistair's shoulder. He didn't scream in pain, but the projectile clearly agonized him. As he turned on Leliana, a jolt of magic paralyzed him, sending the man sprawling to the floor. Morrigan laughed as he collapsed. Fallon was forced to leave him behind, turning back to the five remaining mages.
Dawson distracted one of them, ripping at its robes and exposed flesh until it sent him flying with a fireball. The dog landed hard, fur singed slightly. The mage brought a knife from inside his robes and went to slice his wrist, intending to make it bleed more profusely, when Fallon sent two mirrored slices across his unarmored chest. The man made a noise, then went down.
An arrow riddled the mage corpse beside Fallon, but the others had grown wise and erected barriers. Both Morrigan and Wynne were concentrating on breaking them down. They bombarded one barrier with fireballs and rock projectiles until it broke. Fallon moved in quickly to dispose of the man, before Alistair tackled her. Her fellow Grey Warden was almost twice her size but seemed conflicted about whether he wanted to pin her down, so Fallon was able to get an arm loose and punch him in the ear. The blow disoriented him, knocking him sideways off of her. Fallon jumped to her feet, blocking with both swords as Alistair swung at her. She looked to Leliana, hoping she'd distracted Alistair again, only to find the former sister pointing her weapon towards Fallon. She dodged just in time and the projectile hit the mage lacking a barrier, distracting her long enough for Dawson and a wolf shaped Morrigan to attack.
Fallon ducked as another arrow came her way. Alistair swung at her, getting a glancing blow that caught on her armor but still managed to knock the wind from her lungs. She turned on him and bashed him in the face with the pommel of her sword, he stumbled back, nose broken. Then Fallon turned on the remaining two mages, an older man and a dark skinned woman with a wrist injury. Wynne had removed the barrier of the man. Just as Fallon went to attack, the woman behind him dropped her own barrier, grabbed a knife from her sleeve and stabbed him in the back, before collapsing on the floor. The elf heard a groan behind her, and turned to see a conscious Alistair attempting to get to his feet. She rushed to his side since the threat was now over.
" I am so sorry. I am so so sorry. Please forgive me Fallon, I never meant to hurt you." Alistair said, wrapping his arms around her when she helped him up. She returned his embrace, glad to have him back.
"I didn't mean to hurt you either. All you gave me was a bruise; I gave you a broken nose." She said, extracting from the hug to inspect his face. Blood ran down it, and his formerly straight bridge was now crooked. He touched her own face where bruises were starting to form. She could feel her cheek and eye beginning to puff up. He smiled.
"I guess that answers the question of which of us would win in a fight." He laughed, followed by a wince as he began feeling the pain in his face.
"Hold still both of you. Let me heal you." Wynne said as she approached with a shaken Leliana and a freshly dressed Morrigan.
"I can't believe that happened. I'm so sorry Fallon. I did not mean to shoot at you."
"Blood magic is powerful. There is nothing the two of you could have done. We just need to be thankful that no one was hurt." Wynne healed Alistair as she spoke.
Meanwhile, Fallon wandered a few steps away to loot the dead bodies. She hated that this had to be done, but her debt to Bodahn wouldn't pay itself. She walked up to the body of the mysterious mage who killed her own companion, reached into the pocket of her robe. There wasn't much there, just a few coins. As she withdrew her hand fingers wrapped around her wrist, a vice grip, from a person Fallon assumed was dead. The woman held Fallon there with her right hand, removing her hood with the left. The woman had dark skin, beautiful and smooth, and hair as white as an old man, but she was young. She had the pointed ears of an elf and bright silver eyes. Fallon recognized her instantly. Zetheria Surana, her friend.
"One of them is alive?" Leliana asked as she approached Fallon, who wrenched her arm away from Z and stood up.
"Apparently." She was trying to decide what she should do with the woman. Originally intent on rescuing her, but Zetheria was a blood mage now. Life just grew more difficult all the time. The other three joined them. Alistair's nose was straight once more.
"Please let me live. I just want freedom that's all." Z said as she struggled to get her feet beneath her.
"The people you killed didn't want to die either."
"I didn't kill anyone, except Adem. And I only did that to release your friends. I didn't want this. Uldred lied to us."
"And what did he say?"
"Uldred told us that the Circle would support Loghain and Loghain would help free us from the Chantry. You don't understand how terrible it is, to never be free, to be denied basic things others enjoy daily."
"And blood magic is the only solution?"
"The minute I realized what he was doing I stopped supporting him. That's what we were arguing about when you came in. Listen, Uldred accepted help from a demon, he's an abomination now. He took a bunch of mages up to the Harrowing Chamber. Please let me help stop him, it's the least I can do."
"She's a blood mage. They're dangerous. You saw what she did to me and Leliana." Alistair said still bristling from the mention of Loghain. Leliana nodded.
"Maleficar are dangerous. You cannot inflict another one on Ferelden. It would be more merciful to kill this woman now." Leliana added.
"This is what happens when mages allow themselves to be corralled. Eventually they turn against their masters. You circle slaves are disgusting." Morrigan finished with crossed arms and a scoff.
"Please. I won't kill anyone. I just want a chance to fix this. Wynne, you know me, I wouldn't have done this if there was no other choice."
"Do not tell me that, Zetheria. There is always another choice. I have seen what your kind has done. The hall is strewn with the blood and bodies of their choices."
"Theirs, not mine. I have seen the bodies too, and I just need a chance to fix this. Give me a chance to redeem myself."
"I'm not going to kill her." Fallon spoke up. Z let out a sigh of relief. "She will get her chance to atone."
"Fallon, that isn't wise. She is a blood mage. One almost used Alistair to kill you." Wynne spoke in a soft voice, but the concern couldn't be hidden in the words.
"A different one, not this one. We cannot hold her accountable for their sins." She offered a hand to the white haired mage, and helped her up. "I'm going to let you redeem yourself, but you will still have to submit to the Templars after this is over."
"I understand. Thank you stranger, you are too generous." Fallon nodded at the compliment. Either she was too generous or too stupid.
