"Odd how quiet the castle looks from here," Teagan contemplated, his eyes far away. "You would think there was nobody left inside at all." He shook himself. "But I shouldn't delay things further. I had a plan to enter the castle after the village was secure."
He gestured to the windmill close beside them and continued, "There is a secret passage here, in the mill, accessible only to my family."
"Why didn't you enter in the first place?" Asleena questioned.
"I had no idea what lurked in the castle! And I couldn't abandon the people of the village! What if-," Teagan defended. His eyes widened as he whispered, "Maker's breath…"
"Teagan!" a woman cried out running towards the Bann. "Thank the Maker you yet live!"
What must have once been a beautiful blonde woman, now overcompensating for her age with make up, came up to them, panting to catch her breath. She was dressed in Orlesian finery, and her voice was thick with accent.
"I do not have much time to explain!" she rushed. "I slipped away from the castle as soon as I saw the battle was over. And I must return quickly," she looked down, nervous. "And I…need you to return with me, Teagan."
Asleena raised her eyebrow quizzically, "Be careful, this could be an ambush."
She could hear Leliana agreeing behind her. She could practically feel the tension radiating off of the new woman.
"What?" the blonde asked, glaring at Asleena. "I…who is this woman, Teagan?"
Alistair sighed from behind the young mage, "You remember me, Lady Isolde, don't you?" Asleena's eyebrows shot up just as far as Isolde's did.
"Alistair? Of all the—why are you here?"
"They are Grey Warden's, Isolde," Teagan reprimanded. "I owe them my life."
"Pardon me," she apologized. "I would exchange pleasantries, but…considering the circumstances…"
"Please, Lady Isolde," Asleena pleaded. "We had no idea anyone was even alive within the castle. We must have some answers."
"I…know you need more of an explanation, but I don't know what is safe to tell. Teagan, there is a terrible evil within the castle. The dead waken and hunt the living! The mage responsible was caught but still…it continues." She stopped, trying to calm herself enough to continue. "I think…Connor is going mad. We have survived but he won't flee the castle. He has seen so much death. You must help him, Teagan! You are his uncle, you can reason with him! I do not know what else to do!"
"What about Arl Eamon? Is he still alive?" the mage asked. She was anxious to know what sort of situation they were all in.
"He is. He is being kept alive so far, thank the Maker."
"Kept alive?" Teagan questioned. "Kept alive by what?"
"Something the mage unleashed. So far, it allows Eamon, Connor, and myself to live," Isolde explained. "The others were…not as fortunate. It's killed so many, and turned their bodies into walking nightmares! Once it was done with the castle, it struck the village."
Asleena sympathised with the woman at her pained expression, despite the fact that she still hated her for throwing out Alistair.
"It wants us to live, but I do not know why. It allowed me to come for you, Teagan, because I begged, because I said Connor needed help."
"Do you think this 'evil' could be a demon?" Asleena asked, dreading the answer.
"I…I do not know…Oh Maker's mercy!" the arlessa cried out. "Could it truly be a demon? I can't let it hurt my Connor! You must come with me Teagan! Please!" Isolde begged.
"Why must the Bann go alone?" Leliana spoke up, crossing her arms over his chest and glaring at her fellow Orlesian.
Isolde glowered at her, "For Connor's sake, I promised I would return quickly and only with Teagan." She turned her gaze to the man beside her. "Teagan, I know you could order your men to follow me when I return to the castle, but I beg you not to, for Connor's sake!"
Asleena inquired, "Why do I get the feeling you aren't telling us everything?"
"I…I beg your pardon! That's a rather impertinent accusation!" Isolde spat at the young mage.
"Impertinent for a mage, you mean?" Asleena retorted, her temper flaring like a fire.
"No! I did not mean…that is to say…please, stop this!" she cried. "An evil I cannot fathom holds my son and husband hostage! I came here for help! What more do you want from me?" She looked at Teagan once more with a pleading gaze. "Teagan, I do not have much time! What if it thinks I am betraying it! It could kill Connor! Please come back with me…must I beg?"
"Tell me about this mage you mentioned." Asleena asked.
"He is an…infiltrator, I think—one of the castle staff. We discovered he was poisoning my husband. That is why Eamon fell ill."
Bann Teagan looked shocked. "Eamon was poisoned?"
Isolde nodded. "He claims an agent of Teyrn Loghain's hired him. He may be lying, however. I cannot say."
Asleena spoke firmly over Alistair's angry outburst. "Enough questions. We need to decide what to do."
Teagan sighed. "The king is dead, and we need my brother now more than ever. I will return to the castle with you, Isolde."
"Oh, thank the Maker! Bless you Teagan! Bless you!"
"It seems you have little choice," Asleena commented.
"I have no illusions of dealing with this evil alone," the bann smiled, wryly. "You, on the other hand have proven quite formidable. Isolde, can you excuse us for a moment? We must confer in private before I return to the castle with you."
The arlessa nodded, "Please, do not take too long! I will be by the bridge."
Teagan turned back to the little group and looked at Asleena, "I think it would be best if you entered the castle using the secret passage. My signet ring unlocks the door." He took a deep breath. "I'm…hoping that I'll distract whatever evil is inside and increase your chances of getting in unnoticed."
Leliana sighed. "I suppose this will be the best way, won't it?"
The bann nodded bitterly. "Yes, I believe so. I would prefer to go with you, but I'm afraid I have no choice in this matter."
"We understand," Alistair stated. "It's your brother and nephew at stake."
"Yes," Teagan smiled, though it was strained. "But whatever you do, Eamon is the priority. If you have to, just get him out of there. Isolde, Connor, me…anyone else…we're expendable.
Asleena shook her head defiantly. "I don't believe that. We'll make sure everyone is safe."
"You're a good woman. The Maker smiled on me when he sent you to Redcliffe," he praised her before running off toward the bridge Isolde had mentioned earlier.
Asleena called to the group, "Let's go then." And together, they entered the windmill and located the bann's secret passage. Uncertainly pressing the face of the signet ring to a nook in the trapdoor, Asleena jumped back as it sprang open. They all coughed as a large cloud of dust ascended from the hatch. Using the dagger she always kept on her person, she pushed cobwebs away from the entrance and led the way into the dark tunnel. Illuminated only by the small torches, the tunnel was damp and mouldy. Near the staircase, they were intercepted by a group of undead. Hacking them to pieces before they could be reanimated, Alistair gasped.
"These are wearing the guard uniforms!"
Asleena bent over the corpse she was dismembering. It was a young man, his skin dark grey and torn in places. His eyes were black and hollow. In places, parts of his skeleton showed through the rips in his flesh. Disgusted, she tore her gaze away and bit her lip, trying not to pay attention to what she was doing.
The dungeons of Redcliffe held many horrors, but the most horrifying of all was the presence of the one person she thought she'd never see again.
"Hello? Is someone out there? Who is it?" A disembodied voice echoed out of one of the cages. "By all that's holy, y-you! I can't believe it!"
"J-Jowan?" Asleena asked disbelievingly.
"Maker's Breath! How did you get here? I never thought I'd see you again, of all people." His robes were torn and bloodied and his skin was too pale to be healthy.
"Jowan… what have they done to you?" she whispered.
"What they'd do to all traitors and would-be assassins. I wouldn't be surprised if they sent you to finish me off." Jowan remarked bitterly.
"I'm not going to kill you, Jowan." Asleena said sadly. Inside, a vengeful, angry and violent monster twisted and writhed for control. That part of her wanted to kill him for betraying her.
"You might change your mind once you hear; I poisoned the arl. For all I know, he's dead already."
"He's not dead – at least not yet." She said coldly.
"He's not? That's a relief, I can't tell you how much. Please, I know how it seems. Poisoning the arl was… a terrible thing. But I'm not behind everything else happening here, I swear!" Jowan sighed. "Before I say anything else, I need to ask you a question. You can do whatever you feel you need to afterward, but I need to know… What became of Lily? They didn't hurt her, did they? The thought that she might have paid for my crime…" He trailed off.
"The Chantry sent her away, I don't know where."
"Oh, my poor Lily. She must hate me now, if she even lives. What have I done?" Jowan gasped dolefully.
The conversation quickly went downhill, Asleena getting angrier and angrier. Eventually, she released her old friend, telling him to run, despite Alistair's protestations. A mistake.
They ascended the next staircase and found themselves surrounded by the undead. They fought their way through the castle to the courtyard, where they opened the portcullis to allow Ser Perth and his knights to assist them in battling a revenant and a small army of skeletons. They raced into the castle as soon as they were dispatched, and scooted around a corner to see the main hall. At the sight before her, Asleena gasped.
Teagan was performing tricks for a small redheaded boy. He executed tumbles and handstands that he certainly couldn't do, were he not possessed.
"Marmalade!" He sang, nodding pleasantly at the group of adventurers that had just entered.
Connor was clapping along with Teagan's dance. Isolde just stood there, head lowered in defeat. Connor noticed the group as they entered and as Teagan finished his performance the boy motioned for his uncle to sit on the floor at his feet.
"So, these are our visitors? The ones you told me about, Mother?" Connor's voice didn't sound normal.
"Y-yes, Connor," Isolde answered quietly, head hung and shoulders shuddering in defeat.
Connors eyes glared at the four of them. "And this is the one who defeated my soldiers? The ones I sent to reclaim my village?" His eyes shifted to focus on Asleena. "And now it's staring at me. What is it, Mother? I can't see it well enough."
"This… is a woman, Connor. Just as I am…" Isolde's eyes betrayed the hopelessness she felt. Connor sneered at his mother.
"You lie! This woman is nothing at all like you! Why, just look at her! Half your age and pretty too! I'm surprised you don't execute her in a fit of jealousy!"
Although his comments obviously hurt Isolde, she managed to keep her composure. "C-Connor, I beg you, don't hurt anyone!"
The boy's hand went to his forehead and he bent double; as he stood his voice seemed to change. "M-Mother, what… what's happening? Where am I?"
"Oh, thank the Maker! Connor! Connor, can you hear me?" Isolde begged, falling to her knees in relief.
Connor's voice went back to the original tone. "Get away from me, fool woman! You are beginning to bore me."
"Grey Wardens… please don't hurt my son! He's not responsible for what he does!" Isolde pleaded.
"You've been protecting him this entire time?" Alistair shook his head in disbelief.
She turned to face him and continued. "Connor did not mean to do this. It was that mage, the one who poisoned Eamon—he started all this! He summoned this demon! Connor was just trying to help his father."
"It was a fair deal!" the Connor snarled. "Father is alive, just as I wanted. Now it's my turn to sit on the throne and send out armies to conquer the world! Nobody tells me what to do anymore!"
Teagan threw his head back and sang, "Nobody tells him what to do! Nobody! Ha-ha!"
Connor was enraged. "Quiet, uncle. I warned you what would happen if you kept shouting didn't I? Yes I did. But let's keep things civil. This woman will have the audience she seeks. Tell us… woman, what have you come here for?"
Asleena stepped around Alistair. "I need to see Arl Eamon."
"So you're a concerned well-wisher. Why didn't you say that in the first place? All this sneaking around and killing is so unnecessary. But father is so very ill. We really shouldn't disturb him. Isn't that right, Mother?"
"I… I don't think…" she stammered.
"Of course you don't!" Connor roared maniacally. "Ever since you sent the knights away, you do nothing but deprive me of my fun. Frankly, it's getting dull. I crave excitement! And action! These people spoiled my sport by saving that stupid village and now they'll repay me!"
At these words, Teagan and his knight jumped to life, attacking them. Asleena moved to a battle stance and prepared herself to fight.
