AN: I'm glad I finally got this chapter out. I don't know why I had such a hard time writing this one. I hope to wrap this story up before too much longer, I already have the ending planned and I'm eager to get it out there for you to read, I just have to fill in everything between now and then. I also have a couple other stories I want to write, both about Dragon Age (which I don't own). One will be a humorous crossover with someone from our world and time getting stuck in Ferelden and traveling with the Grey Wardens, and a female Cousland/Alistair romance because it's my favorite story line. :D This is first my fanfiction of any length. I feel like I've learned a lot as I've been writing this and about how and what I want to include in chapters. I hope you enjoy this (and I caught all the mistakes), and have/had a Happy Samhain and Halloween!
Malicefent looked down at Jowan's body laying on the cold, damp stone. She felt nothing, and there were more important things that demanded their attention. "Alistair, you take point. You're bettered armored, and you know the lay of the castle," Malicefent instructed him. That was all that was said. Alistair stepped in front of the women and led the way.
There were monsters in just about every room, but the closer to the main hall the Grey Wardens got, the more monsters there were. The basement area where they had come in was the dungeon, and was sectioned off from the rest of the castle. They dealt with the monsters as Alistair led them along, and considering the obstacles, they were making good time. Alistair led them up a narrow, tight, winding staircase to the main floor. "The main hall is in the front of the castle, we're at the far end now. On the other side of the kitchen is a small room. If memory serves, we should be able to enter the main hall from that room," Alistair told them. His memory did serve, but the door to the main hall was locked. Leliana tried to pick it, but something else was keeping the door from opening. Alistair frowned, "I should have known it wouldn't be that easy. We're going to have to take the long way."
He led them down a wider staircase that appeared to be the castle larder. They walked through to a staircase on the other end. Malicefent appreciated the lay of the castle. The dungeon was in its own secluded area under the castle. Unless a prisoner managed to get a signet ring, there was only way out, and the stairs could be held and retaken quite easily by the castle guard. The location of the dungeon would also dampen any noise the prisoners made, and not disturb the rest of those above – Malicefent approved. She also approved of the larder's location. Underground the food would keep longer in the cooler temperatures, and being sectioned off from other parts of the basement would help keep vermin and hungry hands out.
The stairs on the opposite end of the larder led to the courtyard. Leliana used her skills as an Orlesian minstrel to quietly slip along the edge of the outer wall to open the gate for Ser Perth and his men, who were waiting on the other side. As adept as Leliana's skills were, she did not go unnoticed. Every wall in the courtyard was lined with the demon's animated corpses. This time they weren't just facing the mindless hordes, a Revenant was commanding them. Alistair rushed forward. Wynne warded him with several protective spells. Malicefent began casting her fire balls and tempests on the parapet to keep the undead archers busy. Ser Perth and his men rushed in, each taking a monster. Leliana sang her Song of Valor, a soft violet light enveloped them, ancient battle cries echoed in the back of their minds and they fought with a new vigor. Wynne continued to concentrate on Alistair, who was on the Revenant, trying to kill and send the lesser monsters back into their unorganized masses.
Once Malicefent cast the spells on the parapet she turned to single casts of icy blasts, stonefist, and entropy spells. Leliana's song seemed to sustain itself. The red head loosed arrows like a woman possessed. She would loose, nock a new arrow, draw, and loose again, so fast her hands could barely be followed by the eye. Wynne cast a spell that sheathed their weapons in fire. Alistair bellowed a taunt at the Revenant, slammed the demon with his shield, stunning it. His sword was enchanted with a Lightning Rune, and swathed in Wynne's flames, it was sight from legends. Alistair took precise aim and drove the sword through the chest of the Revenant. Fissures erupted in its flesh, lightning and flames licked through the new openings they created. He bashed it with his shield as he twisted his blade. His plan worked, the demon died and its lessers fell into chaos. Ser Perth and his knights had cut through half of the corpses by the time their leader fell. Malicefent and Leliana had added to that number in between assisting Alistair. Wynne had been focusing all of her attention on helping Alistair, now she unleashed the power of a senior enchanter on the corpses. Then just like that, the fight in the courtyard was over. The Wardens, Leliana, and Ser Perth and his men stood a second with their weapons still poised for battle, before they realized the threat was momentarily eradicated.
"I know what we face now," Wynne had everyone's undivided attention with this announcement. "We face either a desire or pride demon. The revenant was the demon taking control of a corpse, only desire and pride demons have those abilities. We must be getting close if it extended itself this far."
"It's not dead?" Leliana asked.
"No, I'm afraid it's not that easy," Wynne replied.
"When is it ever?" Alistair muttered.
"The demon will be weakened for now. I cannot say how long until it recovers the power lost projected the revenant, but it is not weak either. Be wary," Wynne counseled.
Surprisingly the main doors to the castle weren't barred. Alistair continued to lead the way, Ser Perth and his men following closely behind so that a walking wall was formed around Malicefent, Wynne, and Leliana.
It was waiting for them when they entered. The demon had control of Connor. It stood in front of a fireplace at the end of the main hall. The fireplace was so big that four grown men could walk, shoulder to shoulder, into it. It was where the arl and arlessa would sit when they saw petitioners. Isolde stood there beside the puppeted body of Connor, looking dejected, tired, and worn. To Connor's left sat Teagan. Teagan looked to be in one piece but his expression was odd.
The demon spoke through Connor. It threw insults and jabs. Aside from tormenting her with her child, the demon seemed especially partial to tearing Isolde down by preying on her vanities. Teagan spoke gibberish and capered about like the court jester, until the demon scolded him, which caused Teagan to cower at Connor's feet. Malicefent and Wynne moved in front of everyone else, just within a few scant feet of the demon. They weren't drawn in - they were moving in close for a better examination.
The arlessa saw them. She begged them not to hurt her son, saying it wasn't his fault, that it was Jowan's. The demon thought this made it look weak. To counter this it tried to intimidate them, saying it had kept Arl Eamon alive because that's what it wanted, and now it would control the armies and conquer the world. Then it became petulant saying, "Nobody tells me what do anymore!" It regained its composure, asking Malicefent what she wanted. The demon saw Malicefent as the biggest threat in the room.
"To stop you, of course," Malicefent replied, the picture of calm.
"I'm not finished playing! You can't make me stop! I think it's trying to spoil my fun, Mother!" The demon screamed. It hurled more insults, then decided Malicefent was to blame and tried to seek its revenge. The rescuers were on their guard, but they weren't prepared for Teagan to lead the charge of a handful of knights that had accompanied them in, against them.
Connor fled. The Wardens and knights were doing what they could to keep from harming their possessed friends. Alistair and Ser Perth were hitting with the flat of their blades, but the edges were sharp and some cuts were unavoidable. Leliana tried to pin the knights down with arrows. Malicefent and Wynne wove spells to incapacitate but not hurt. Teagan and the possessed knights pressed on, becoming more violent, striking to kill. Alistair blocked with his shield, the knights deftly deflected the blows with their swords. Fortunately they did not have to fight long. The demon was weakened from the battle in the courtyard, and its powers could not extend so far. It must have gone too far from what it was attempting to do, Teagan and the knights collapsed on the floor.
No one moved. Everyone waited. Gradually Teagan and the knights got up…slowly. They would be sore, but nothing that would last more than a few days. Alistair held out his hand and helped Teagan to his feet. Teagan shook his head trying to clear the last of the haze from his mind.
Isolde proceeded to continue her vexation of Malicefent, flinging herself at the blonde mage and continuing to beg for her son's safety. Malicefent swatted the lady's hands away. "I do not intend to harm the child," Malicefent snapped at her. "This is what you hid form us, what you didn't want us to know."
"I…yes. I didn't tell you because I believed we could help him. I still do," Isolde admitted ashamedly. Teagan pointed out to her that demons did not listen to reason. Isolde continued to plead her case, "He is not always the demon you saw. Connor is still inside him, and sometimes he breaks through. Please, I just want to protect him!"
Teagan rounded on the arlessa, his voice scornful. "Isn't that what started this? You hired the mage to teach Connor in secret…to protect him."
"If they discovered Connor had magic, then they'd take him away! I thought if he learned just enough to hide it, then…"
Wynne scolded Isolde, "Don't you know that Connor's ability will grow as he does? He may never be very powerful, but his power will continue to grow until he's a certain age. Your pride has cost many lives, and unnecessary hardship. Where is the boy now?"
"I think he ran upstairs, to the family quarters. That's what I…felt before the demon's sway was broken," Teagan informed them.
"Violence scares him. I know that sounds strange. He may have run up to his room, or…he likes to be near his father. I think the demon is keeping Eamon alive." More information from Isolde that we could have used sooner, Malicefent thought.
The demon was keeping Eamon alive. Killing it might mean Eamon's demise. Only Leliana was outspoken about sparing the child at any cost, while everyone else was willing to do what was necessary no matter how unpleasant. Even Teagan said that death would be a merciful fate for his nephew, rather than be the puppet of a demon. Isolde argued for her son's life, suggesting that her secret mage tutor may know something.
"He's dead, and this is who you should consult on such matters if you want worthy advice," Malicefent motioned to Wynne.
"I don't see how we can accomplish it, but we can confront the demon in the Fade, though not easily. The demon is not truly within Connor. It is complex, but the demon's true form lies in the Fade. We can use the connection between the demon and Connor to find it and battle it," the elder mage stated.
Isolde asked, "So you can enter the Fade, and the kill the demon without hurting my boy?"
"Technically, yes. Though entering the Fade requires both lyrium as well as a group of mages to perform that ritual." Wynne caught the look of defiance from Malicefent. "Don't worry," Wynne said lightly, "we shall stay here and help keep things under control. I will send a bird with a message for Irving. We should hear something from the tower in the morning. If they choose to assist us in this matter, as I believe they will, we should have what we need here in about three days." Malicefent visibly relaxed. The archdemon itself couldn't drag her back to Tower.
"I shall see to arranging accommodations for you. And whatever may happen, thank you for making this effort to save my family," Teagan bowed and went to get things in order.
They heard from the Circle Tower by morning, the first enchanter himself was coming with a contingent of mages and a full supply of lyrium. They planned to travel through the night to be at Redcliffe within two days. While the Malicefent and her friends waited they made themselves useful around Redcliffe helping with repairs or procuring supplies. Those in the group skilled with a blade even taught some of the villagers how to better defend themselves. Leliana taught the many of the women how to use a bow effectively. Tyr played with the children and swam in the lake. And it was arranged so that Malicefent, Wynne, or Morrigan was always in the castle. One of them would stay with another member of their group, while the others were off in the village. This assured that the castle would not be lost again, especially at night when they all stayed there, since night was when the trouble had begun before.
Malicefent was wandering about the castle on her shift late the second morning, when she saw Teagan in the arl's study, head bent over something he was writing. "I'm sure your wife will be overjoyed to know you are well, when she receives your letter," Malicefent approached the desk at a casual saunter.
Teagan gave her an appreciative smile, leaning back in his chair, "I'm not married my lady."
Malicefent walked around the desk. When she was beside Teagan's chair she leaned against the desk, stretching out her long legs. "If I may be so bold, my lady, is your husband missing you?" Teagan guessed by her flirtations she wasn't married, but having spent his life in court one could never be too sure. There were many unhappily married aristocrats whose only pleasure was flirting with someone other than their spouse, though they usually did so under the guise of manners, and tended not to be physically bold.
"I'm a mage," she said indifferently. Malicefent noted he didn't seem to be effected the way some others were by this, but she wanted to be sure.
"Mages can marry, or so I'm told."
"They can indeed, if the man is brave enough."
"I can think of several reasons why one would be willing to be so brave." He caught himself leaning toward her as he said this. He resettled himself in the chair hoping to make the lean back less obvious. "I am too bold, my lady. Please accept my apology."
She gave a small laugh. "For what? I am not offended. And please, Teagan, there's no need to be so formal. Call me Mali. There's only been a handful of people I've liked enough to let them call me that." She smiled dazzlingly at him and he returned the smile in kind.
"You are too kind, Mali, amongst many other things." He felt comfortable with her. When he started to lean her direction again he didn't stop himself.
"I'm surprised a man such as you is unattached."
"A man such as me?" He raised his eyebrows exaggerated question.
Malicefent looked Teagan in the eyes. "One who is compassionate, thinking of others before himself. Not many would risk their life for another person, let alone offer themselves up as a sacrifice. You're a good fighter, and quite handsome. You've quite impressed me you know – and I am not easily impressed."
Teagan blushed slightly. He'd heard many compliments from women, but few were so earnest. "I simply haven't found the right woman yet. It's not for lack of searching on my part – or lack of attempted arrangements on my brother's part," he joked. "If I do marry, I'd be lucky to find a woman such as yourself." He had the sudden urge to reach out for her hand and kiss it.
"Oh? And what might you find in a woman, such as myself, that would so impress you?"
Before he could answer one of the knights entered the open door. "Bann Teagan, please excuse me but you said to come get you to interview the new servants once they arrived."
"So I did." Teagan gave a slight tilt of his head, and a kind smile to the knight.
"And Lady Malicefent, Lady Wynne is waiting for you just outside the main hall."
"Thank you," Malicefent said over her shoulder.
"Well – my secrets are still safe for now. I hope we can talk again soon, Mali." Teagan bowed to her, as he did he took her hand and place gentlemanly kiss on the back.
Malicefent waited a minute after Teagan had left the room. She sighed wistfully. The moment was nice while it lasted, but she knew it was too short and it would be far too long, if ever, that she and Bann Teagan would be able to speak so again. Then she went to relieve Wynne.
While the mages were in the village they were on watch for anyone showing any magical ability. They wanted to be sure the demon didn't have another person to jump to, and they wanted to properly teach anyone with magic. Malicefent and Morrigan had no intention of sending anyone to the Tower, but it was hard to say what Wynne would do. She seemed unbothered by their accompanying apostate, and she believed people should be free, but she also believed in doing what was right and following certain rules to a "T."
"Any finds today?" Malicefent asked Morrigan, referring to any local mages.
"No. Tis as I've told you before – these people lack sense enough to breed a mage," Morrigan replied, seating herself on the steps to some wharf buildings. "What of you, any excitement at the castle?" Malicefent smiled, Morrigan knew what it meant and rolled her eyes.
"What? There's nothing wrong with a woman having a healthy…appetite." Malicefent sat next to Morrigan.
"I agree, but you always seem to be hungry."
"That's because no one's fed me yet," Malicefent's voice rose. Morrigan looked at her. Malicefent shook her head and smiled. "I'm sorry. I'm just getting very frustrated. I'm starving and dinner plates keep being set before me, and before I can enjoy the meal the plate is taken away."
"That is a horrible analogy. I cannot believe you actually said that out loud. If only the templars had overheard then they would leave all mages alone, thinking us to simple to trifle with." Morrigan looked at Malicefent in disbelief. They both started laughing.
The two chatted idly, watching the people practice in the village center. Malicefent told Morrigan of her goal to free the Circle of the Chantry's grasp, and how she intended to use her influence as Grey Warden, as well as examples of what happened at the Tower under the templars' noses and how apostates helped, to help ensure her goal was achieved. Morrigan told her to make sure she didn't forget about the debacle here at Redcliffe. Malicefent assured her she wouldn't.
Practice was over for the day. The villagers went to find some lunch before going back to their chores. Sten walked off between some far houses. Leliana waved and smiled, and then headed into the chantry. Alistair took off his chest piece and gambeson, his white cotton shirt clinging to his sweaty muscles as he accepted bits of cheese from a group of women. Malicefent couldn't tear her eyes away.
"It will never happen, Mali," Morrigan said, her tone softer than usual.
"Huh – you think? He's attracted to me you know."
"Most men are - do not make such obvious, childish statements. It makes you sound unintelligent. You know well enough that just because there is a sexual attraction does not mean there is more. He is not one who will bed a woman simply because of her beauty. He requires something more complicated," Morrigan's tone indicated she thought something more complicated was unnecessary. The raven haired woman studied her friend's face for moment, there she caught a glimpse of something in the blonde's eye. "Tis not just an attraction for you is it?"
"No," Malicefent replied softly. "I've noticed when I'm around him I feel…better. I feel…a lot of things." Malicefent thought a moment the said in disbelief, "It even bothers me when he's unhappy with me, and normally I wouldn't care." She sighed. "I'm also normally not jealous, but look at him over there with those women from the village – look at Alistair with them. Do you notice how he's slightly more comfortable around them, than he is with me? I'm certain that's because I'm a mage."
"Or it's because you kill those he would spare, which is why it won't happen. You make sensible decisions where he would not, except for this." Morrigan stood, "Here I thought you were not a fool, love 'tis but a fool's game. Now, I am going to the tavern for lunch. We may talk more, later, if you wish."
Malicefent stayed seated on the steps. She briefly watched Morrigan walk away, before she turned her eyes back to Alistair, thinking on what her friend said. She didn't sit too long before she resolved to do something with herself. She headed towards Alistair, he saw her and waved, she smiled and waved back. The handful of ladies that crowded as close as they could to him, and still maintain decency, did not appreciate his attention being stolen from them. Malicefent didn't walk to Alistair though. She went to Owen the blacksmith's house to see how his daughter Valena was faring since Malicefent had sent her home, after finding her in a closet in the castle. The girl was fine, still a little jumpy, but she wouldn't have any lasting trauma. Owen thanked Malicefent again and offered her, her choice of weapons from his stock. He had been working steadily since Valena's return.
Weapons weren't Malicefent's area of expertise, but Sten and Alistair had taught her what to look for. Owen's work was very good, the warriors had told her, not the best, but very good, reliable blades. Malicefent hoped to find a two-handed sword to fit Sten's large hands until they found his missing blade. When she saw none, she asked Owen. He said he had only been working on one-handed blades better suited for the village's novice defenders. He did tell her that the dwarf, Dwyn, had brought in a sword as long a man is tall. Dwyn wanted to make sure the sword wasn't in need of any repairs. Owen said the design was foreign to him, but the blade was solid. Malicefent could think of only race would be able to wield a weapon so large. She thanked the smith, and knowing he would only accept money in sale, she bought a small dagger.
As soon as Malicefent exited the smith's house she saw Sten had returned to the village's center. She strode over to the qunari. "I believe I know where we can find your sword. Follow me."
Malicefent knocked on Dwyn's newly replaced door, she entered as she did so, not waiting for a reply.
"Hello – why don't you come in?" Dwyn said sarcastically.
"I believe you're in possession of a qunari blade."
"Maybe."
"That sword belongs to my friend here," she gestured to Sten who was towering behind her. "He would like it back. I could have him rip your arms off and beat your friends there to death with them, or you can give us the sword and we'll leave quietly." Sten snarled at the dwarf and his bodyguards, Malicefent simply smiled at them.
"Hey, look Faryn didn't tell me that qunari who owns the sword is still alive – figures. Here's the key, it's in a chest in the back."
Malicefent and Sten crowded into a tiny back room and opened the chest. The room was too small for Sten to bend over. The sword was heavy, but Malicefent managed to lift it enough so he could grab the hilt. With Sten grasping the sword the two left the house. Pausing outside the door Sten took the moment he could not have in the confines of the small room.
He lifted the blade with reverence. "Asala. Completion, I had almost forgotten it." Sten actually smiled. "There are no words to thank you for this, but I will do my best to do so through my duty to you."
Malicefent understood that coming from Sten this was a highly emotional speech. She smiled genuinely at him in response, and said, "Come on, let's go get Alistair, and the others. It's about time we headed back to the castle."
They were barely through in the main hall when Tomas arrived at the doors saying the Tower mages were spotted two miles out from the village. The notice was sent throughout the castle. Everything was ready by the time First Enchanter Irving and mages were coming through the main gates. Irving did not hesitate. He was ready to begin to ritual as soon as the formalities of greetings and introductions had taken place. He correctly assumed that Malicefent would be going into the Fade to battle the demon.
The demon played the usual demon tricks of deception and misdirection, Malicefent was not taken in by them though. She found the demon easily enough, played upon its emotions forcing it to show her its true form. It was a desire demon, and it hated and feared Malicefent for her power. The demon put the futile effort into fighting Malicefent after she refused to bargain. The entire encounter took less than thirty minutes. The demon was gone, and Connor was safe. It turned out that when Isolde had him rightfully imprisoned Jowan for poisoning the arl, she hadn't taken his books away. Connor's confession proved that Jowan had told the truth about something. The boy read the mage's books trying to save his father. Inadvertently he had made a small tear in the Veil that permitted the demon to make contact. Being young and naïve he accepted the demon's help thinking it would save his father. Connor remembered everything the demon had done, and while he was still a boy his biggest concern was his dying father. When he grew to adulthood the events of the past days in Redcliffe may come back to haunt him.
At dusk, Teagan asked Malicefent if she would accompany him to the ceremony he was conducting in memory of the villagers they had lost. Malicefent gladly accepted and took Teagan's arm as they walked down to the shore of Lake Calenhad. Teagan spoke highly of those who had fallen. His words inspired the villagers, and lightened the grief in their hearts. Malicefent stood next to him as they watched the funeral boats drifting out into the lake, and then lit with flaming arrows.
Returning to the castle a late dinner was served at large tables in the main hall, to accommodate all of the guests.
The arlessa asked the Grey Wardens to take their friends and search for the Urn of Ashes so her husband might be cured, she felt it was the only way. Teagan agreed with her in this.
"The Urn is a legend. It might never be found," Malicefent told her.
Almost vehemently, Teagan told Malicefent, "That is a possibility, but there is a reason it's still an option. I am not simply grasping at straws." Malicefent was momentarily taken aback at such a strong response from the bann. The expression hadn't lasted long on her face, but Teagan caught it. He placed his hand on hers and gave her an apologetic squeeze along with a smile to match. She gave a smile back that said he was forgiven – Malicefent knew what Teagan's family meant to him.
Isolde explained how Eamon had been funding the research of a Brother Genitivi in Denerim, the foremost living scholar on all things Andraste. Isolde hoped that Brother Genitivi had located the Urn when she sent the knights to find him after Eamon had fallen ill. But Brother Genitivi had gone missing.
"Please, there is no one else to do this. I wish I could, but I cannot abandon Redcliffe to its own devices." Teagan calmly said to Malicefent, but his eyes were beseeching her. Malicefent assented. Teagan smiled appreciatively at her and suggested they start the search in Denerim at the brother's home.
The rest of the meal was spent telling stories, some of Alistair's youth that left him red faced. Over dessert Teagan told the Grey Wardens he would be giving them a couple wagons and mules to help speed their travel. "It's not as impressive as riding legendary griffins into battle, or a noble war steed, but it what we have to offer at the moment," he told them. The Wardens gladly accepted the offer. It was late when people began excusing themselves, Teagan asked Alistair to join him in the arl's study where they could speak privately before heading to bed. Malicefent was curious but there was nothing to be done about it now, and sleep in a comfortable bed was a rare luxury of late. Not wanting to waste the luxury of a bed, and the added luxury of bath, she went to her room for the night.