By mid morning we're back in Redcliffe. The castle looms ahead of us and I begin to mentally prepare for the task ahead of me. Morrigan and Wynne decide to come to the castle with us, as I figure we can use all the mages we can get. I can hear Leliana babbling at Dane with Sten in tow as they head down to the village to get the money we're due from the Blackstone Irregulars representative there.

First Enchanter Irving and the others are waiting in the main hall. I can't help but find the awkward tension between Jowan and the First Enchanter entertaining. Everyone is irritated that it took me so long to get here. Well excuse me for almost dying, while you all got to sit around and enjoy a roof over your heads. A room full of powerful mages and they're all waiting on me to tell them what to do, a bit pathetic if you ask me.

Fine, if they're waiting for me then I'm taking charge. I consider having the First Enchanter go into the fade in my place, but my conscience reminds me that wouldn't be right. Fine. I'll go. Let's just get this over with.

I stand in the center of a circle formed by the other mages, including Jowan. Every one is needed regardless of past errors. Anyone who is not a mage has been banished from the room, which Alistair is not happy about. I reassure him that all will be fine and then have Teagan pull him away.

As soon as I hear the door close I look to Irving who merely nods his head. Nodding back, I sink to the floor and sit cross-legged. I'm still recovering from the wound on my side and I don't want to fall when I come back out of the fade. I draw in a deep breath and close my eyes. The other mages begin to chant, not a chant that anyone can hear, it's a chant of spells that I can feel. A bowl of lyrium is on my left, and I dip the fingers of my left hand into it at the same moment I grasp my staff firmly in my right.

Entering the fade is never easy, this time it feels like running very fast into the wall of a building, smashing into it and then dissolving through it. I know, weird. I open my eyes to see the world that the desire demon has created. Not very original, random bits of Connor's life scattered about and spectral versions of him wandering around. The one unexpected thing is the sound of a grown man yelling, I think it's the Arl.

I investigate and find it is indeed Arl Eamon. I do my best to calm him and he's a smart enough man to understand what I tell him. I can see why Alistair looks up to him. I move quickly and confront the demon multiple times, always calling her bluff. Silly creature, you'd think word of me would have spread through the fade by now. Doesn't she know all of her demon friends that have messed with me have died by my hand?

Have I mentioned how much I love blowing up demons? Especially demons who wear nothing more then a glorified necklace for a top? I think the way her innards splattered like a fountain was rather striking.

As the demon's scream fades, reality slams into my mind, and I can't help but fall forward onto my hands. Thank goodness I had decided not to do this standing. I feel a trickle of blood run down my side and grimace. Damn, I must have reopened the gash on my side. Only Jowan and Irving are still standing, the rest of the mages are sitting down where they can find a seat while looking pale. Irving's wise eyes are regarding me closely as he steps forward and offers a hand to help me up.

"Very well done, child."

"Thank you First Enchanter."

A lot isn't said. I still admire the old man before me, for he was the one who convinced me to study the school of spirit. I was the only apprentice of my age group to try that very difficult school of magic. But I find I no longer crave his approval, I've moved on to bigger things.

"Would you mind sending someone to get Wynne? I think my wound may reopen more if I move any farther and I do not feel like getting chastised for doing that."

Irving chuckles and nods to a younger mage who looks to have recovered well enough to do as I ask. My eyes shift to Jowan who looks lost. Suddenly he looks like the boy I first knew, sad, lost and very alone.

"Jowan..."

The concern in my voice makes him smile wanly.

"Don't worry Lyn, I deserve whatever punishment they give me."

I swallow my grief for him and nod that I understand. He doesn't want any comfort, as it will only make it harder to face his future.

Wynne bustles into the room, pulling supplies from her pouch as she advances towards me.

"Take a seat Vaelyn and open your robe. Everyone out, give the woman some privacy."

Every single mage, including Irving, hurries from the room as if she'd chased them out while brandishing a broom. I really need to learn how she does that without sounding like a bitch, it would be a very handy thing to know. As soon as the last mage leaves and closes the door behind him, I begin to undo the buttons at the collar of my robe. Wynne ends up assisting me as every time I move, I bleed more.

"It is a marvel that you survived this five minutes let alone at all. You never did tell me what did this to you, although I assume it was something in the tower."

"It was an abomination, a hunger abomination to be specific. Uldred, or I should say the thing Uldred turned into, threw me against a wall, that's what did my ribs in. Then the abomination had launched itself at me and immediately began gnawing and shredding at my side like Sten at cookies."

My example makes Wynne chuckle.

"How did you get it off? Those creatures were at least twice your size if not three times."

"I managed to reach my staff and whack it as it took a large bite out of me. I finished it off by impaling it's head with the bottom end of my staff."

"How would that work? Staffs have flat bottoms, not very good for stabbing."

"Well I've modified mine... I sharpened the end till it tapered like a stake. It made a better walking stick with a sharp end. Also good for spearing fish."

Wynne's full belly laugh catches me by surprise, but soon I'm laughing with her. Eventually we calm ourselves and wipe the tears from our eyes. She finishes putting a fresh poultice and bandage on the area that reopened. After we get me buttoned up I show her the modified bottom of my staff and she shakes her head in amazement.

"Generations of mages, and you're the first person to think of making your staff useful for more then it's intended use."

"Oh, don't give me all the credit. I read a book about mages from Tevinter having blades on the bottoms of their staffs. It's what gave me the idea."

I manage to leave the room under my own power, just leaning on my staff like an old woman. A guard is kind enough to tell me that Teagan and the others are waiting for me upstairs. Of course they're upstairs, I'm barely able to stand up, so stairs should be no problem... asses.