Author's Notes: I actually had to go on the Mass Effect wiki to look up exactly what the Cain was. I was surprised to find out it wasn't a nuclear weapon. Maybe I'm the only one who didn't know. But at least it's right in here.

It was slow going, especially with the unexpected traps. At least what ambushes may have happened were thwarted by Shepard's motion sensors. They were only a small group against a horde that was coming out of the very tower they were trying to ascend. As they proceeded, they did find one of the holes the darkspawn were using to get into the tower. Kasumi tried to use her flashbangs to blow off some debris to cover the hole, but it didn't make a significant difference.

"Beyond this door is the top of the tower. We're almost there," Alistair said, now taking the lead. He walked briskly down the hall and opened the door.

Then he promptly shut the door.

He walked back to the group. Shepard frowned. "What's wrong?"She whispered, starting to take steps away from the door.

"There's an ogre in there."

"What?"

"An ogre. A really, really big, muscular beast with horns. He's eating the corpses of the others for now, but it's going to be a tough battle. Any suggestions? Got any 'magic' that could help?" Alistair said the word "magic" sarcastically. Shepard thought he was definitely smarter than he let on.

"Well…" Shepard removed the Cain from her back. "It will destroy the top of the tower and maybe even set it on fire."

Alistair laughed humorlessly. "Two birds with one stone! We kill the ogre and light the tower at the same time! Who knew we could be so efficient?"

"Enough, Alistair," Shepard chided with a small smile. "I think this is a safe distance from the door. Do you want to open the door for me?"

"Will I get hit by your magic?"

"I'm going to count to five. When I say three, you open the door and start running back. When I say five, I want you to throw yourself to the ground and cover your head. Got it?"

Alistair nodded. "At three, open door and run. At five, throw myself to the ground and pray to the Maker I survive, got it."

"All right." Shepard turned to Samara. "Samara, get those two and Kasumi behind you and put up a barrier just in case. I'll be in front of you. Alistair, get to the door." She waited until Alistair was in position before getting down on one knee. Taking a deep breath, she began charging the Cain. "One…Two…Three…" Alistair flung open the door and started sprinting back towards them. "Four…Five…" Alistair threw himself on the ground and somehow managed to slide into Samara's barrier.

The Cain fired. The 25 gram slug hurtled towards the ogre who had abandoned his meal to inspect the noises he heard. The ogre was immediately consumed upon impact. Shepard, and she was sure everyone else was as well, starred in awe at the fiery mushroom cloud that blossomed from where the ogre's corpse probably was. The Cain never failed to amaze her. The amount of damage it could do in just five seconds was incredible. After the cloud cleared, the group ventured carefully into the ruined top chamber of the Tower of Ishal.

Alistair immediately looked at the fireplace where the signal was supposed to be lit. The fireplace was scorched but a strong fire burned inside it. "The tower is certainly lit…" he muttered.

The scout stared at the Tower of Ishal. A giant plume of fire had lit up the tower momentarily before dying down to a brighter than normal smolder. He couldn't be sure if the tower was properly lit or if it was a mage's fire spell gone wrong.

"Soldier! Has the tower been lit?" Loghain asked, testily.

"Uh, sir, I can't rightly tell, sir."

"It's a simple question: is the tower lit or is it not?"

"Well…I'd say it's lit, sir."

"Good. Sound the retreat."

"But…what about the king? Should we not—"

"Do as I command!" Loghain growled.

Ser Cauthrien hesitated briefly and then bowed her head. She walked back to the rows of soldiers behind them. "Fall out! All of you, let's move!"