A/N - I forgot to mention in the last chapter to remind you that Serene isn't actually from Thedas... So random thoughts like spider sense will pop up from time to time. I couldn't think of a better way to describe how a grey warden knows darkspawn are around. Though that kind of does explain it pretty good...
Serene drummed her fingers on the table as Morrigan refused to leave the inn. It had been quite the argument between the two women when they arrived at the Spoiled Princess at Lake Calenhad. Morrigan was being reluctant on going to the Circle Tower. At first she was curious about the tower, but now seeing it, she wanted nothing to do with it. Serene had already decided who was going to go, which included Morrigan, in case they encountered any problems. If any of them had learned anything about Serene by now, it was that she didn't take too well to changes in her plans.
"Fine, Morrigan. For someone who thinks the mages in the tower are idiots for letting the chantry keep them prisoner there, you sure as hell don't want to be near them." Serene said as she pinched the bridge of her nose. For ten minutes she had let this conversation go on with Morrigan. They were losing time. As much as she didn't want to, she would have to change around her plans.
"Hopefully we can find a mage much more pleasant so you won't have the bitch about us anymore." Alistair added. Serene gave him a pointed look.
"That's enough, from everyone. Since Morrigan insists on staying behind, Leliana would you mind joining us?" Serene asked. Leliana nodded.
"I've always wanted to see the inside of the grand tower." Leliana said happily.
"Of course you would, you airheaded twit." Morrigan mumbled under her breath. Serene sighed and stood up.
"Very well then. Alistair, Brandon, Leliana and I will go to the tower while you, Sten and Fawkes stay here. If no one else has anymore complaints about this, I'd like to leave now." Serene snapped. Alistair and Brandon quietly nodded and headed outside. Sten walked with Fawkes as the mabari followed his master outside to watch him leave. Leliana gathered her things and followed them as well. Serene turned to give Morrigan a look.
"I am not one of your charges, Warden. You will not order me around as such." Morrigan said.
"Then you may as well leave before we return. I'm tired of all the bickering between everyone and you seem to be the source of most of it. I am aware that you're probably only still with us out of curiosity. If behaving at least civil to everyone else isn't worth satisfying that curiosity, then just leave." Serene said.
"Twould not be what my mother…" Morrigan started.
"I don't care what Flemeth wanted. I need help fighting this blight and if you're just going to bitch and complain about everything I do and everyone we bring along, I want you gone. I've had enough people bring negativity into my life to last me until the end of days. I don't need some spoiled brat witch making me want to gouge out everyone's eyes because they don't seem to share her view of the world." Serene snapped. Her nostrils flared as her anger started to grow.
"You don't need to lecture me, Warden." Morrigan said. Serene closed her eyes and let out a long sigh, hoping to calm herself down.
"Would you rather I treat you like Brandon? I believe he still has a mark from his last confrontation with me." Serene snapped. Morrigan was taken back. Would Serene seriously even consider hitting her? The woman wasn't afraid to hit the male wardens, even though neither of them held a candle to her strength. The woman was also unaware of the dangers the qunari posed to the group, but still treated him as if he himself was a grey warden. If she wished to discover why Flemeth wasted her time saving these Wardens, Morrigan would have to cooperate with them and that would mean getting back on Serene's good side.
"Very well, Warden. I will consider what you've said while you are in the tower. Hopefully you will not be in need of me while you are there." Morrigan said. Serene nodded and turned to leave. Hopefully that would be the last time she would have that argument with Morrigan.
"Everything alright?" Leliana asked as Serene exited the inn. Serene nodded and sighed.
"I'm going to say this one last time, so you lot listen good. We're going to be civil to each other, at least outwardly anyway. If you have problems with anyone else in our little party, keep them between you and the maker." Serene said sharply as she stormed off towards the ferry. Alistair quickly followed after her and Brandon and Leliana followed suit.
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"I'm sorry, Gray Warden, but the tower is closed." Knight-Commander Greagoir said. Serene frowned and handed him the warden treaty.
"We're here to get the mages' help against the darkspawn." Serene said. Greagoir shook his head.
"Until we templars have control of the tower, the circle is in no condition to do anything." Greagoir said firmly. Serene sighed.
"What are you doing to regain control?" Serene asked.
"We've sent a request for the Rite of Annulment to Denerim." Greagoir said. Serene glanced over at Alistair, hoping he would clarify.
"It's a request to purge the tower of everything and everyone." Alistair explained. Serene looked back at Greagoir.
"Even the children?" Serene asked, sounding shocked.
"There are demons and abominations running lose through the tower. We must assume that the tower is lost and demons have possessed all within." Greagoir said. Serene shook her head.
"Even if I would begin to understand how that would help anything, it could take months to get a reply from Denerim. Apparently Loghain is trying to clean house. We need all the mages to fight against the blight. Is there nothing we can do?" Serene asked. Greagoir thought for a moment.
"If you truly wish to help, I could let you go into the tower and kill all the demons and abominations. Yet once you're pass our barricades, I will not open them for anyone other than the First Enchanter." Greagoir said. Serene nodded.
"Then we will go inside and find the First Enchanter. We can't let innocent people die unless it is absolutely necessary. Now let us through so we can find him and see what we can do about this mess." Serene said. Greagoir nodded and order the templars to let them pass into the next room. The group passed through the large doors and as soon as they were through, the templars slammed the doors shut.
"Lets hope we find the First Enchanter, no?" Leliana said. Serene nodded. She started towards the next room when she heard a commotion. She quickly ran into the room to see about ten children off to the side with a few young mages in front of them. The door way ahead of her had a protective barrier around it and there appeared to be an elderly mage fighting off a demon trying to get through.
"It seems that the children are safe for the moment. Hopefully we can find Irving before the Rite comes in." Brandon said quietly. Serene didn't really pay much attention to what Brandon had said. She was trying to figure out why the mage at the door way seemed familiar. The mage turned to face them and Serene immediately recognized the mage and jumped to hug the elderly woman.
"Wynne! You're alive!" Serene said as she wrapped her arms around Wynne. Wynne managed to keep herself on her feet as the impact of Serene almost knocked her over. The look of shock wore off her face when she recognized the wardens.
"My dear Serene, and Alistair and Brandon. It warms this old woman's heart to see you three are alive and well." Wynne said.
"It's good to see you survived as well." Brandon said politely. He didn't really get much of a chance to know Wynne like Serene had. Serene finally let the woman go and took a step back.
"I thought for sure you had perished at Ostagar." Serene said. Wynne smiled brightly at the young woman in front of her.
"It seems the maker still has a purpose for me." Wynne said.
"Do you know what's going on here, Wynne?" Serene asked.
"I'm not sure. I arrived just before this all happened." Wynne answered. Serene turned to one of the younger mages.
"Are all the children here?" Serene asked. The young mage nodded.
"All that haven't been killed or possessed by a demon." The mage answered.
"Good, we need to act quickly before the Rite of Annulment arrives." Serene said. Wynne sighed.
"Greagoir sent out of the Annulement already?" Wynne asked. Serene nodded.
"If we hurry though, we might be able to save the tower before it arrives." Serene said. One of the other mages laughed.
"What does it matter to you if we live or not?" The mage asked.
"There's a blight out there and I need all the help I can get to stop it from taking too many lives. I have a treaty here asking for assistance from the Circle to the Grey Wardens. If I need to save the tower in order to get that assistance, then so be it." Serene snapped.
"You've come along since the last time I saw you, my dear." Wynne said. Serene nodded and blushed slightly.
"Well, a lot has happened since Ostagar and I've had to put out quite a bit of fires in order to keep everything going." Serene said. Wynne nodded.
"If you're going to save the tower, then I'm coming with you." Wynne said firmly. Serene nodded in agreement.
"That is a good idea. We'll need your abilities as we go along, I'm sure. Leliana, would you mind staying behind to keep the children save in case something gets past us?" Serene asked. Leliana nodded and smiled at the children.
"But of course. Perhaps I can help pass the time by telling a few stories to them, no?" Leliana asked the children. The children looked expectantly at the older mages.
"It would keep them calm in the situation. Children cope better if they are distracted." Serene pointed out. Leliana nodded and gathered the children in a corner to tell them a story. One of the older mages approached Wynne.
"Senior Enchanter, are you sure you're up to this? Perhaps I should go with the gray wardens." The mage offered. Wynne smiled and shook her head.
"There is still life in these old bones yet. Besides, you are needed here to protect the children. Once the barrier is down, you'll have to be ready for anything to get through." Wynne said. The mage nodded and Wynne turned to Serene. "Are we ready?"
"Yes, lets do this." Serene said. Wynne nodded and took the barrier down. At that moment, Alistair was glad for his templar training and hoped that nothing too dangerous awaited them in the tower.