I am Aedan of Highever!

by Powerslammer

He is Aedan Cousland. A Warrior and Reaver. A Warden and a Noble. His patriotism is matched only by his bloodlust, and his honor walks hand in hand with revenge. He represents all that is great and terrible in Ferelden. Watch as he cuts a swath of vengence, glory, heartbreak and destruction in the wake of the Fifth Blight. Chapter 27 is up. Please, please review.

21. Aedan's Anguish

Aedan's Anguish

The company of the Grey Wardens stood once more in Soldier's Peak. Once a deserted tomb infested with undead, demons and abominations; a horrid blemish on the proud keep born from the doomed patriotism of a lost cause. Now the keep was vibrant, full of life and ready to burst at the seams for all the inhabitants that now resided within. Dwarven legions from Orzammar kept their skills sharp in the Peak's training yard, while Avvar warriors sang songs of glory and victory around large bonfires. The mages that weren't posted at Redcliffe to maintain the arl's health were inside the keeps laboratory preparing enchantments, alchemical concoctions and maintaining their spells. The Dalish elves were finally arriving in their aravels with their white halla pulling them. But what surprised Aedan the most was the contingency of Ash Warriors who arrived with all their mabari. When he asked why they had come, their commander told him the Abbot Luwin of the Line had sent them; they were now kingsmen with no king but would fight for the protection and salvation of their country. This army that Aedan had gathered could now rival what they lost at Ostagar.

But there was still one big problem; they couldn't combat the Blight if the still had Loghain to contend with. To defeat the darkspawn the needed a united Ferelden, and to that end they needed someone with enough authority and respect at the landsmeet to depose Loghaine: Arl Eamon Guerrin.

They were all sitting in the dining hall, all enjoying a well-deserved hot meal next to a fire place and Aedan had just got done reading the note from First Enchanter Irving at Redcliffe. Aedan tossed it into the fire with long, agonized groan.

"No changes, then?" Alistair asked with forlorn.

"No changes." Aedan confirmed. "And the First Enchanter doesn't think it's going to change anytime soon."

"Then our path is clear." Leliana declared. "We must go and find the Urn of Sacred Ashes." Aedan heaved an even louder groan at such a ridiculous suggestion.

"If your precious, lovely, and enlightened Chantry…" Aedan mocked. "Doesn't even believe in such a relic, then why the fuck should I?"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Wynne piped in. "Haven't you ever heard of Brother Genitivi?"

And that's when memories rushed back into Aedan's head, memories of Brother Aldous cramming books and lectures into Aedan's soft, little skull when he was a boy. Most of the books Aedan had read concerning history and cultures of Thedas were authored by Brother Genetivi. "Yes, I've heard of him. From what I heard he used to be a lecturer at the University of Val Royeaux."

"Ferdinand Genitivi is known for being a man of faith but also an idealist and a realist." Wynne informed. "Often times he was discredited by the Chantry for writing reports that contradict their teaching and has stood by them anyway."

"That's right." Alistair joined in. "From what I heard back at Redcliffe he came into the Arl's patronage for pursuing the truth about the Urn of Sacred Ashes even though the Chantry deemed it blasphemous. If someone as far learned as Genitivi believes that the Urn exists even with the Chantry discrediting him, surely that's good enough reason to try and search for Urn."

Aedan thought long and hard for a moment. He didn't want to waste time searching for something that was less likely to exist than the Griffons. If he searched and found nothing, they all could be dead and they will have wasted precious time while the darkspawn continued to plague Ferelden and Loghain continued to usurp the throne. But to defeat Loghain and reunite Ferelden the needed a strong voice in the Landsmeet that was a guaranteed ally.

"Please, Aedan." Alistair pleaded. "For the Arl's sake."

Aedan had absolutely no choice. For the Arl, his country, and for his revenge he had to find the Urn of Sacred Ashes. "Where was Brother Genitivi last seen?" Aedan asked.

"The Arlessa gave me directions to his house in Denerim." Alistair answered. "We can find him there and find out what he knows."

XoXoXo

The group quickly made their way to the capital city of Denerim. The city was overflowing with people, high freemen and low freemen alike, trying to outrun the civil war and the Blight. They had no time to survey and explore the city's splendors and opportunities; they were here on a mission. They needed to get the information they needed before Loghain or Howe's spies found them.

Genetivi's house was not difficult to find, it was right where the arlessa said it would just outside the Market District. Aedan knocked on the door and was greeted by Genetivi's assistant, Weylon. Weylon told them that Genetivi had been missing for weeks and that the knights from Redcliffe who were sent after him were missing as well. Weylon begged them not to continue the search but Aedan was adamant, so the assistant apprehensively gave them direction to the Spoiled Princess Inn near Lake Calenhad.

"So, tell me, Innkeeper, has there been a Brother Genitivi around here?" Aedan asked.

"Brother-? Uh, no there's been no man like that here." The innkeeper answered nervously.

Aedan noticed the change of his tone. "Are you sure? What about some knights from Redcliffe?"

"No, there have been no knights here." This time the Innkeeper was sweating so much he could fill a bath tub.

"Look, I was told that these men came here and I'm not leaving without…."

"Ser," The innkeeper interrupted. "The men you are looking for are not here." He told Aedan adamantly

Aedan could tell that the innkeeper was trying to give him a hint, but was also trying to warn him. "Listen, I must find Brother Genitivi, and if you're in some sort of trouble I can help you."

"They…are…watching me." The Innkeeper said anxiously. "For almost a year these knights have been coming here looking for this Geninitvi and they always disappear, and I have been threatened by these people to discourage any who are looking for him."

Aedan kept his face on the Innkeeper to so that whoever was watching him wouldn't get suspicious. "Who's watching?"

"I don't know. Please. You must leave, quickly." The innkeeper begged.

Aedan looked over to his companions. "Listen, we have to leave now." He told the gravely

"What, why!?" Oghren whined after just getting his booze.

"NOW!" Aedan retorted.

When they walked outside a group of heavily armored men were waiting for them. There was only five men but Aedan knew that they were very dangerous; they were Reavers like him. Aedan could tell.

"For Andraste!" One of then yelled out.

"Kill them quickly!" Aedan called to his companions. Leliana shot one of them in the eye but he still managed to swing viciously at Sten with a mace and an axe, but the giant finished him off by cutting him near in half. Zevran disappeared into the shadows and then reappeared to stab another Reaver in the jugular. One of them took his very large axe and swung it down on Morrigan, but the witch evaded and smacked her palm and held it to her attackers face, searing her handprint on his flesh. Morrigan kicked the dazed, screaming man into the other reaver that was putting Alistair on the defense. When the two attackers bumped into each other Morrigan let loose a spirit bolt into the seared one and he blew up! Bones, blood and gore flew around where the two attackers once were and Alistair was left groaning about the mess and bits of guts that were now in his hair. The final ambusher foolishly made the mistake of going after Oghren of all people. The dwarf swung his Nug Crusher into the man's legs, breaking them like dried twigs and brought the hammerhead baring down on his attacker's skull.

"Stop, Oghren! I need answers!" Aedan called to the dwarf. Too late, he had already smashed his maul into the puddle that was once this stranger's head. "

Oops." The dwarf said simply.

"Sweet Maker!" Leliana cried. "Who were these men?"

Aedan went over to inspect the dead men hoping to learn what he could from their corpses. The armor wasn't of any make he had seen before; they were definitely Fereldan in origin but the draconic and arcane designs on the chest and pauldrons said it was Tevinter. "Leliana…" he called over. "Come look at this." Aedan tossed the bard an amulet one of the reavers wore. Its image was strange, it looked like a woman engulfed in flames holding a sword to the sky, in the likeness of Andraste. But she had dragon-like wings and horns that were shaped in the likeness a crown.

"It…it looks like…like Andraste." Leliana observed incredulously. "Could this be a Tevinter portrayal of her?"

"Unlikely." Aedan shot down. "This design looks like ancient Fereldan, similar to how the Ash Warriors portray their image of her on their arms and armor. This woman, however, could she truly be Andraste?"

"The Chantry would never allow her be seen in such a manner." The former sister informed.

"Strange." Alistair observed. "We go looking for the Andraste's Ashes and we are attacked by reavers who wear an archaic and unknown portrayal of Andraste."

"Why, I believe this the first time Alistair has actually used his brain." Morrigan mocked. "Someone give him a prize."

"Shut up, Morrigan, this is serious." Aedan chastised while Morrigan applauded mockingly. None of this could be random. Five reavers wearing armor that illustrated Andraste in a dragon-like fashion when they started looking for Genitivi and the Redcliffe knights. This was obviously a trap set by someone who knew where to send them and the knights from Redcliffe who were looking for Genetivi or the Urn as the innkeeper had said. "We need to go back and get some real answers out of Weylon." Aedan growled.

XoXoXo

In another two days Aedan, Alistair, Morrigan and Leliana found themselves back in Denerim. They moved quietly but quickly, they needed answers. Now.

"Y-you're back? D-did you find anyth…!"Aedan's fist smashed into Weylon's mouth before he could lie any further. Alistair and Morrigan hurried into the scholar's home while Leliana kept a look outside to make sure no one heard their interrogation.

Aedan proceeded to beat Weylon to make sure he knew he wasn't fucking around. "Now, tell us, why were there men trying to kill us!? Why did you set us up!?"

"How is it you blasphemers are still alive!?" Weylon cried out. Obviously he still didn't know the creek he was swimming in, so Aedan grabbed all of his fingers in his right hand and broke them all backwards. Before Weylon could scream too loudly Aedan covered his mouth so the neighborhood wouldn't hear them. "Morrigan, Alistair, search this place, see if there is anything we can find out that he isn't telling us." Aedan commanded while Weylon was still yelling out into his palm. "I'll see what I can get from this prick."

Alistair and Morrigan did as they were told and started searching in separate areas of the house. Before Aedan could proceed Weylon conjured a cold spell in his other hand but just before he could use it to freeze Aedan over Leliana shot an arrow through his palm. And just for that little attempt Aedan placed an accurate but powerful blow onto Weylon's left cheekbone and smashed it. "He's a mage?" Leliana observed. "There's no way the Chantry would allow a mage to act as an Apprentice Scholar to a Chantry Brother."

"That's because that's not Weylon." Alistair informed his face was as sour as curdled milk as he stepped back into the room. "I just found the real Weylon back here, stuffed into a trunk with his throat cut."

Aedan was agitated before, but now he was just plain pissed. Aedan took his hunting knife from his boot and put it to the imposter's nose. "Who are you and why are you trying to kill us?"

"Because you seek the Urn of Sacred Ashes!" The false Weylon seethed out.

"Why don't you want us to find the Ashes? Where is Ferdinand Genitivi?" Aedan was answered only with cold, angry silence from the mage. "Dammit! Talk or you're dead!"

"For you, Andraste!" Fake Weylon called out and then stuck out his tongue and bit it off.

"Shit!" Aedan cursed. "Morrigan, heal him quickly before he bleeds out!" But before Morrigan could work up a healing spell the imposter grabbed Aedan's hand and stabbed himself in the heart, killing him instantly.

All four of them stood there in silence for a moment. They had killed people before and seeing a dead body was nothing new for them, but it was the first time they had seen a person commit suicide and in such a horrible fashion, too. "Bastard." Aedan spat while kicking the faux Weylon's corpse. Aedan searched the imposter's body in hopes of finding any clue that would tell them who he was or who sent him. All Aedan found in the man's pockets was another amulet with a draconic Andraste borne on its face.

Just as Aedan was about to contemplate his next move Alistair walked over to him. "Here, look at this." He said while handing Aedan a book.

"What is it?"

"Brother Genitivi's journal."

This could be the break they were looking for. Aedan skimmed through the books pages looking for any lead that could tell them of Genetivi or the Urn's whereabouts. Apparently, after deciphering certain runes on the Birth Stone of Andraste and certain ancient statues along the Coastlands, Genetivi was positive that the remnants of Andraste's personal followers brought her remains from Tevinter back to Ferelden. His final journal entry stated that he believed that Andraste's final resting place resided in the south of the Frostback Mountains near a village called Haven. Haven? Never heard of it, but thankfully there was a map drawn within the pages.

Their path once more was clear, they needed to get to Haven and find out what happened to Genetivi and why these men were trying to kill them, and more importantly, find the Urn of Sacred Ashes to cure Arl Eamon.

On the Imperial Highway once more….

Several days later they once more reached the outskirts of the Frostback Mountains, but they were not taking Gherlen's Pass. They were taking a less traveled pass that seemed to have only been used by goats, but it was surprisingly easy to follow when it was found. They made camp for the night and would trek up the mountain at dawn's first light, after all, only a fool would search a new path in the Frost Backs at night.

Aedan sat by himself near the camp fire drawing the likeness of Andraste he found on the fake Weylon's amulet. It was unlike any symbol of Andrate he'd ever seen before. Despite the Chantry's objections, his people often portrayed Her as a hooded warrior armed with a sword and shield. Orlais and the Chantry preferred to represent Andraste as a beautiful, gentle robed woman holding a bowl for offerings or a scroll for wisdom, often she'd be surrounded by a sunburst halo or engulfed in flames. The Tevinters would do same thing as the Orlesians but would instead feature her as a mage carrying a staff. Weylon and his acolytes, however, portrayed Andraste with reptilian features. Gleamed eyes and a scaled neck, sharp nails and crown-like horns. Instead of a sunburst halo or flames, she had a pair of dragon wings surrounding Her. Were these men apart of some cult that worshipped a different form of Andraste? And if so why make her seem so…demonic?

As Aedan contemplated the illustration in his hands Dane trotted eagerly to his side and nudged him urgently. "What is it Dane? Something wrong?"

Dane pranced hurriedly in a circle, yipping excitedly and then started yanking on a root in the ground as if it had threatened him. Aedan looked at his canine companion with his eyebrow raised. "And how did you find out?"

Dane looked up at his master, sniffing loud enough for him to hear; that was his answer. Aedan motioned Leliana, Zevran and Sten over to him. "We're about to be ambushed." Aedan informed them calmly. "There's six of them, two are in the trees armed with crossbows and four are waiting to attack us in our sleep. Bring them to me alive for questioning."

His three companions looked at him with surprise. "Is it the same people who attacked us before?" Zevran inquired. "And how did you find this out?"

"Dane told me." Aedan answered casually. "And no, these aren't the same people who attacked us. Apparently, these ones reek of cheap alcohol and bad body odor."

They all looked at Dane with surprise, apparently he was much more intelligent than they gave him credit for. Dane barked happily at them. How could this dog know how many men there were and what they were armed with? The three of them disappeared into the tree line and, sure enough, they came back a few minutes later with six would-be assailants, all disarmed. Sten led them over to Aedan and shoved them on their knees before him. None of them fought back against the bronze giant.

Aedan put down his parchment and pencil to attend his would-be attackers turned prisoners. "Alright, gentlemen." Aedan addressed. "You've caught me in a semi-decent mood this evening, so you answer my questions and I'll be inclined to let you…." The tattooed warrior stared down one of the men, a narrow-faced middle-aged man with crow's feet and goatee. The man tried to avert his eyes from the Warden's intense gaze, somehow this man seemed familiar to Aedan. Then realization smacked Aedan in the face with a club and he remembered where he saw this man before. Alistair and the others could practically feel the killing intent building up inside their leader.

"You!" Aedan fumed at the man as he grabbed his face and forced him to look him in the eyes. "I remember you! You were there!"

"P-please, ser! I-I don't…Ahhgh!" Aedan slashed the man across the face with his hunting knife.

"Don't lie to me!" Aedan screamed with anger and pain in his voice. "You were there at Highever! You're one of Howe's commanders!" Dane snarled angrily at the man, baring his teeth threateningly. "You came with Howe the day my house was attacked. You were in the main hall with my father, Duncan and Howe!"

"Yes. I-I was there. But I didn't…Koff!" the man whimpered right as Aedan kicked him in the stomach.

Everyone paused at this realization. This man was involved with what happened to the Couslands? He had no chance. "Who sent you?" Wynne asked.

"O-one of our spies told us you were spotted leaving Denerim." The officer answered. "Teyrn Howe ordered us to-Eeeaargh!" Aedan sliced off one of the man's ears before he could finish answering.

"Don't you dare call him that in front of me! Howe is not a teyrn!" Aedan spat as the man rolled on the ground howling in agony. The other Howe soldiers were now practically pissing themselves at the prospect of being at the mercy of this savage. "Bodahn!" Aedan called. "Bring me three shovels!" Aedan had Shale dragged the prisoners over to the edge of the tree line and had them start digging, those who didn't have a shovel dug with their bare hands. Zevran and Morrigan watched more intrigued than anything else. Sten watched on with his usual thousand-yard stare, but Leliana's eyes were filled with horror.

Alistair tried to walk over to his brother-in-arms but was stopped by Oghren. "Leave it alone, kid. Trust me, ya don't wana get in his way right now." The dwarf warned.

"W-what are we digging?" One of them asked with fear in his voice.

"Your grave." Aedan's answer shocked and horrified his companions, but the prisoners were terrified even worse. The now earless officer threw the shovel down and dropped to his knees before the Warden.

"Please, Lord Cousland!" He begged. "I didn't know what Howe was going to do to you, I swear! But I had no choice! We were only following orders!"

Aedan was unmoved. "And now you get to pay the price for that order. Just like everyone in my house had to."

"Please, ser! I beg your house's legendary mercy!" The officer sobbed. "I have a family!"

Aedan picked up the shovel and for a brief moment the rage in his eyes faded away. But then it returned, burning with greater intensity. "SO DID I!" Aedan smashed the flat of the spade into the man's face, splitting his lips and breaking nose and teeth. The man spiraled on the ground sobbing in agony. Dane barked furiously at the men as Aedan knelt down to the dog and brought his ear close to his mouth. "You remember what they did, Dane? What they did to our home? What they did to little Oren and Oriana?" Dane barked and snarled viciously at the officer as he was reminded what happened to his master's family. The earless officer saw the murderous intent in the massive mabari and tried to crawl away.

"Ithe a feoil!" Aedan commanded viciously. None of them knew the old tongue very well, but the message was obvious. Dane charged down on the man and began to rip him apart. He screamed for mercy, but Aedan just watched on as Dane sunk his teeth into the man tore his flesh with a twisted look of hatred and glee in his eyes. The others watched on in horror and the other prisoners literally began to piss themselves as the mabari mauled and dismembered his victim. As soon as the man was done screaming and the dog finished shredding the man's flesh, Aedan looked down at the other Howe soldiers. "Get back to work! Or I'll feed you to the dog next!" The prisoners went back to their dark task of digging their own grave with renewed urgency, weeping and wailing as they did it.

When they dug a deep enough hole everyone was sure he was just going to kill them and be done with it. But they had another thing coming. "I'm going to give you a chance." He announced as he tossed them his hunting knife. "I'm going to let one of you traitors live, but I'm going to let you decide who." The soldiers all looked down at the knife at their feet. "Last one standing gets to live."

Leliana could take no more of this brutality. "Aedan! Please! Stop this!" the bard begged. "I know these men wronged you, but surely they don't deserve this!"

"Please! Listen to Leliana." Wynne urged. "We've followed you this far, but we can't be party to such barbarity."

"I agree." Sten confirmed surprisingly. "If you're going to kill them then kill them. There is no honor in making an enemy suffer like this."

Morrigan remained silent but looked at her lover with concern and even sadness in her eyes. She did not want to see Aedan become like this.

This only peaked Aedan's anger. "What the fuck do any of you know!? None of you ever had a family! None of you knew the peace I knew!" Aedan turned to Wynne. "You, Wynne, never raised your son. You couldn't possibly know what it's like to see a child of your own flesh and blood be snuffed out so mercilessly!"

The Warden's words stung Wynne like an arrow in her heart. "Your family would not want this Aedan." She implored.

"No! No, they wouldn't want this." Aedan admitted. "They would've wanted to see Oren grow up. Watch him become a man, fall in love and have a life of his own. But these men stole that! They drew first blood! I am merely responding in kind."

"Yeah!" Oghren blustered. "If these dusters are gonna kill whole families then I say killin' 'em too good for these nug-lickers!"

"This doesn't honor your family, Aedan." Wynne continued. "Destroying these men will not make it any better."

"I would have destroyed ten thousand lives to protect my family, Wynne. How many do you think I'll destroy to avenge them?"

Seeing that there was nothing they could do to change Aedan's mind, they all left back to the campsite, but not before Leliana said a prayer for the doomed men and then left so she wouldn't have to see Aedan preform his macabre task. Alistair stayed a little longer in hopes of deterring his fellow Warden. "Are you sure you want to do this, my friend?"

"These men betrayed my family the same way Loghain betrayed Cailan." Aedan answered. "These men committed a terrible crime against my family and will pay a terrible price."

This was…true. Loghain left not just the Grey Warden, but his own soldiers, his own son-in-law to die a horrible death at the hands of the darkspawn. All the men who had been devoured and all the women who were dragged beneath the earth to be transformed into monstrous broodmothers, such heinous crimes could not go unanswered. Perhaps Aedan was the kind of man capable of answering such crimes, after all, despicable crimes deserved brutal justice. That is the Fereldan way. Alistair hesitantly turned away from his fellow Warden and tried to ignore the screams of those men and ebbing of his conscience trying to tell him that this was wrong.

The men down in the pit turned into animals the instant one of them dove for Aedan's knife. He managed to stick one of his fellows in the ribs but was quickly killed when another jammed the edge of his shovel into the back of his skull. The remaining three darted their horror-filled gazes back and forth between each other, none wanted to kill, but none wanted to die. Their fight for survival was much like a bar room brawl, wild swinging with no real aim, rolling around, ducking and hoping to get lucky, all accompanied with screams of determination that were quickly followed by screams of agony. The lucky bastard that was left standing frantically smashed his shovel into one of the other soldiers until all that was left was a ruined mass of wet bones. When he was done he leaned on his bloodied murder weapon screaming and sobbing in horror at what he had done, but at least he was alive. Shale yanked the man out of the death pit and Aedan ordered Oghren to bring him the remaining heads of the slain soldiers. When the dwarf was finished Aedan turned to the traumatized survivor.

"Bury them." Aedan ordered coldly, kicking the bloody spade back to him.

"W-what?" The man questioned aghast.

"You killed them, and now you get to bury them." Aedan told him with ice and poison lacing his words.

The man grabbed the shovel and set to his dark task, wailing and sobbing loudly, crying for the Maker's mercy, for the Maker to help him. But there was no Maker there, only Aedan, and he had no mercy left to spare. When it was done Aedan bagged the heads of his victims and tossed them at the feet of his weeping prisoner.

"Pick it up!" the sobbing soldier obeyed. "You're going to take these heads back to your master and you're going to give him a message for me. Do you understand?" The disturbed man nodded his head frantically. Aedan clutched his hunting knife tightly in his fist and gave the man his message.

Back in the Arl of Denerim's Manor….

Howe sat in the main hall of his new manor lauding over his new title as the Arl of Denerim as he sipped his Antivan red wine. It was such a shame about Vaughn Kendalls, at any other time Howe would have liked the lad, they had so much in common. But circumstances being what they are, Vaughn was now another unfortunate "casualty" of the tragic elven rioting that had been plaguing this fare city. Howe was now the lord of the entire north! Arl of both Amaranthine and Denerim, and at long last he held the title of Teyrn of Highever that he so richly deserved. For too long the Couslands overshadowed the Howes and kept them from their rightful place in Ferelden's nobility. And now they were no more and his power was seconded only to Loghain's. Could life get any better?

Suddenly Howe's captain of the guard, Captain Chase, and several of his men busted in on Howe's self-appraisal when they carried in a sobbing wreck-of-a-man with a bloodied face and carrying some kind of sack into his hall. Howe recognized the pitiable lout as one of his captains. What the hell happened to him?

"Milord, he came crawling to the front gate. We thought he was a beggar at first but then he told he was one of the men sent to capture the Grey Warden seen leaving the city." Captain Chase explained.

"Yes. I remember." Howe confirmed disconcertingly. "What happened to the others?"

The harried captain pathetically cried as he emptied the contents of his sack as four heads rolled out of it. Several guards puked at the sight. "M-milord H-Howe!" he cried. "I…I bring a message from…A-Aedan Cousland!"

Howe felt his blood pressure spike at the mention of that name. Aedan Cousland? Alive!? This couldn't be possible. Teyrn Loghain had told Howe that he met Aedan at Ostagar, but Howe had assumed that he died with all the other Wardens. "What message?"

The captain wiped the hair and blood from his forehead and revealed the Wreath of Highever carved into his skull. "He…he said he'll be coming for you. Very soon." The man wept. "And he's going to sink his teeth deep."

A bitter scowl wiped over Howe's haggard face. This could make things very difficult. Aedan was the most capable and fearsome of all the Couslands; he had a sharp mind for war and politics, and was well known for his brutality streak as evidenced by the mutilated man and severed heads at Howe's feet. If it ever got out that even one of the Couslands had survived he could rally all the lords of the north to fight for his claim to the teyrnir. What's more if Aedan was a Warden then he was an even greater threat than before. He could completely undermine everything Howe had accomplished. He refused to let all his work go to waste and lose everything he deserved. So Howe did the only logical and responsible thing. He motioned over to Captain Chase, and the captain swung his sword across the bloodied man's neck and his head joined the others on the floor. Howe couldn't let it be known by anyone that a Cousland was still alive, it could unravel everything he accomplished.

"Take these disgusting remains out, they're getting blood all over my Antivan carpet." The nobleman ordered. This was getting more complicated than he liked. But still, what could Aedan accomplish at this point? He was the last of a disgraced order of castoffs and brigands whose use had long since expired. Loghain had acknowledged the treason of the Couslands and consented to Howe's ascension and claim to everything that was theirs. Everything that the Couslands had was rightfully his. And he'd be damned before he let some up jumped son of a traitor who belonged to an order of traitors take what was always supposed to be his.

Towards the Frostbacks….

After Aedan completed his brutal act of vengeance he went to bed and slept like log. The next morning they continued their way southward down the Frostback Mountains. According to the map they were near their destination. For almost three days they had been maneuvering a goat's path up the mountains braving not only the weather but the treacherous steps of these high hills and sheer drops. No wonder no one had ever heard of Haven; the only idiots who knew how to climb up here were the ones that lived atop these southern mountains. Aedan wondered at first if these strangers were some tribe of Avvar. But the Avvar have absolutely no reverence for Andraste and see dragons as creatures of sport and glory not worship.

Aedan could tell that his companions were still put off by what he did to those Howe soldiers and he didn't care. However, Aedan understood why they were concerned for him, after all he was their leader and their friend, and that was something that no normal man would do, but no normal man felt the hatred and suffering he did. Perhaps in this case it was a good thing his family was gone, they would never approve of what a savage he had become.

Towards the beginning of the fourth day of trekking up the mountains they came across a set of ancient but well-kept stairs going up a crag that lead to an arid but small village. Was this Haven? The guard towards the entrance was less than welcoming. Almost immediately he wanted them to leave and all of the questions they asked got half-assed answers. It wasn't until Aedan gave a veiled threat that the guard gave them leave to go to their shop but as soon as they had supplies they had to leave. Quickly.

Before they set about the village Aedan noticed that while Haven was built upon high, rolling hills they were still at the foot of a mighty mountain. The company thought it was best that they split into two groups, one to resupply them and the other would look around and ask question about Brother Genitivi and the missing Knights.

"You could find more joy at a funeral." Alistair commented. Every time he tried to ask what little people were standing around they either looked away from them or gave them rushed answers anxiously. And just now they got done talking to a creepy, rhyming kid holding somebody's finger bones.

"This village is certainly strange." Wynne pointed out.

"Why do they have revered fathers?" Leliana asked. The guard from before had told them that a Father Eirik was in charge of the village faith. "When the Chantry was founded it was declared that only women could be priests."

"Unless they're from Tevinter." Zevran added. "After all didn't those marauders have a lizard-like version of Andraste?"

"Somehow I doubt any Tevinter would want to live this far down south from their power." Alistair put down.

"Maybe we should go to their Chantry." Suggested Leliana. "We might learn something about these people by observing their version of the Faith."

"Hmm, if everyone's at church, then that means their homes are empty for inspection." Zevran leaned on. The assassin walked over to the nearest house and quietly unlocked it. Alistair didn't feel comfortable breaking into somebody's home but if it could get them answers to finding Genitivi he'd get over it.

When they entered the house they found something that made them all feel a little queasy; an altar drenched with blood and if none of them knew any better there were a few severed fingers on it. "Used for food preparations, perhaps?"

"It truly likes being a moron, doesn't it?" Shale pointed out.

"I'm trying to stay optimistic." Alistair defended. "I happen to like meat and seeing this just makes me want to go vegetarian."

"We need to go and warn Aedan and the others quickly." Wynne stepped in. Not wanting to argue they all walked out to try to find the rest of their companions but when they walked out the villagers were waiting for them, and to Alistair it looked like they wanted to put them on the altar now.

As Aedan made his way up to the supply store he noticed that what villagers were outside looked away from him and his company, some were even brazen enough to point out that they were outsiders. When the entered the shop the proprietor looked startled. "You…you don't belong here."

"Why does everyone keep saying that like we haven't figure it out already?" asked Oghren agitated.

"We…don't get any visitors here." The shopkeep said nervously.

"Why hasn't anyone ever heard of this village?" inquired Morrigan.

"We keep to ourselves." And they did so well Morrigan thought to herself.

"What can you tell us of this place, merchant?" Sten demanded, obviously aggravated that they were wasting their time in this small and useless village rather than combating the Blight.

"How do you describe a place you know only as home?" The shopkeep asked back.

"Is there anything we can purchase here?" Aedan asked knowing that this guy wasn't going to be helpful.

"We don't have much but your welcome to look." The merchant said hopeful that they will buy something quickly and leave. Just as Aedan was browsing his wares Dane gave him three sharp barks, and that's when Aedan caught the smell of an all too familiar scent: blood. "So, who did you murder in the back of your store?"

"W-w-what? W-what a-are you saying?" The merchant asked fearfully. Obviously there was a dead body behind his store judging by this reaction. Aedan looked over to Oghren and Morrigan, they gave him a knowing look while Sten glared threateningly at the merchant. Morrigan threw a small frost spell that sealed the merchant's lips closed while Oghren took his Nugcrusher and busted one of the lying duster's shins in! While the shopkeep gave a long, suppressed scream as the Warden and the Berserker went to the back of the building to see what he was hiding.

What Aedan and Oghren saw there filled them with rage and sympathy. It was the bodies of at least five of the missing Redcliffe Knights and from the condition of their bodies they were tortured to death. Poor men. They had suffered a terrible fate trying to do their duty in saving the life of their lord. Well, Aedan was going to see to it that the ones who killed these valiant knights were served the same courtesy, with interest.

Aedan walked back over to his companions and the merchant. By this point the frost spell had thawed and he was panting both in pain and anger, but he wasn't going to be doing much with a smashed shin and an angry Mabari growling at him.

"Do you know who those men were?" Aedan asked holding back his fury.

"Knights from Redcliffe!" the man answered with a voice full of pain. Aedan lightly placed his left foot on the bastard's ruined leg and the man began hyperventilating.

"Why did you do that to them!?" Ogrhen bellowed.

"Because they sought they Urn!" The merchant pitched.

"Why don't you want us to find the Urn!?" Aedan yelled. He was only answered with more labored panting, so Aedan applied more weight to the injury. "What did you do with Genitivi!? Talk or I swear the pain will just continue!"

"It doesn't matter what you do to me!" The merchant cried out. "Andraste will reward me and all of my brethren for our deeds, we have kept Her safe from you vile, blasphemous lowlanders and She will punish you for…!" Before he could continue his rant Sten shoved his greatsword through the man's skull.

They all looked at the Qunari for a moment. "He wasn't going to say anything useful anyway." Sten answered. Dane barked in agreement.

Aedan decided they had wasted enough time in here and that it was time to regroup with Alistair and the others. When they walked out of that slaughter house they saw that the rest of their companions were already engaged in combat with the rest of the village and amongst their attackers' number were reavers wearing the same armor as the ones who attacked at Lake Calenhad.

With both sides of the company rejoined they made quick work of the ill-armed and unarmored villagers, though reavers were still a challenge. They were savage fighters that fought with unyielding fury and any injury done to them only increased their strength, it was why Aedan became one. They fought using brutal axes, mauls, and maces while utilizing a brutal style that was definitely self-taught; what these men lacked in discipline they quickly made up for in savagery. However, this lack of disciplined training and reliance on their reaver abilities made them sloppy, left openings in their offense, and they completely ignored the rogues and mages to fight the warriors out of a sense of warlike pride; even the most savage reaver can't recover from a well-placed arrow to the heart, dagger to the spine, or even a decapitation. Didn't help against curses and hexes either.

When Aedan decided he was tired of turning the entire community into a mass grave they all made their way over to the chantry. The village chantry was at the top of the highest hill in Haven and judging by the music emanating from it mass was in session.

"We are blessed beyond measure." An elderly man with a long, gray, thick beard preached as they walked in the ancient but extremely sturdy house of worship. Aedan guessed that this was Father Eirik, and he could also tell that he was a mage. For some reason none of these Chantry goers seemed to mind that there was a bunch of outsiders covered in blood from head to toe and armed to their teeth entering these "hallowed" hall.

"We are chosen by the Holy and Beloved to be Her guardians." Eirik continued either not noticing or not caring about the masses new guests. "This sacred duty is given to us alone; rejoice my brethren and prepare your hearts to receive her. Lift up your voices and despair not, for She will raise Her faithful servants to glory when Her…" Before he finished his sermon the mage finally noticed the intruders and gave them an icy glare. "Ah…I had heard we had visitors wander about the village. I trust you have enjoyed you time in Haven so far?"

The fact that this bastard was acting as if nothing was wrong just made Aedan's heart race faster in rage but felt a sadistic grin to reach both of his ears. "Why yes, I've enjoyed butchering you and your kin for what you did to the Knights of Redcliffe."

"Hmph, and this is why we don't acknowledge ourselves to you lowlanders." The old man explained haughtily. "You'd only bring war and destruction to our charges in you ignorance and heresy."

"As you deserve!" Alistair lashed out. He was also angry about the murdered men who tried to save Arl Eamon. "You're murderers!"

"We owe you no explanation for our actions. We have a sacred duty; failure to protect Her would be an even greater sin. All will be forgiven."

"Before you have you forgivness from your dead prophetess…" Aedan hissed. "You're gonna get judgment from me."

And with that threat Eirik unleashed a magic force at Aedan and his comrades that pushed them all away from him. Eirik loosed fire and lightning at them but he hadn't counted on a Templar being amongst the enemy. As Alistair made his way to decapitate the vile Father, members of the mass ran in front of him and blocked his path. Eirik used this opportunity to make a blood sacrifice of his followers to increase his power! Alistair couldn't decide which was more horrifying; the fact that the priest sacrificed members of his flock or that his followers allowed it. Eirik continued to lash at the Wardens and their companions and this time with blood fueled spells and the rest of the villagers joined in to kill the intruders.

"None of you heathens understand!" Eirik called out. "We are empowered by Andraste Herself! She will give us the power to slaughter you and all of those who dare question Her most faithful!"

"So, you're powered by Andraste, huh?" Eirik was startled. How could not sense the tattooed heretic behind him? Suddenly there was searing pain in his chest. He looked down and noticed a long white and blue protrusion sprouting out of his torso: it was the barbarian's sword. "I am not impressed." The heathen stated as he used his blade to lift the Revered Father off the ground while he began to scream in terrible pain!

Morrigan smiled deviously as the self-righteous priest was being impaled atop her lover's sword. Her grin only broadened as she noticed the fanatics turned back into sheep with the loss of their shepherd. As they began to shriek and cry out in terror at seeing Eirik scream and squirm with spurting blood from his mouth, Morrigan conjured a sickly green spell in her hand then threw it at the dying mage. Aedan noticed the spell and knew which one it was, he then heaved Starfang, with Eirik still impaled upon the blade, and tossed him into his followers. When he struck the ground his followers went to assist him, Eirk's grievous wound quickly turned green and sickly dark veins stretched from it. He cried out one last terrified scream as his body bloated and blew up in as mass of gore and blood, killing all that was left of the villagers in the Chantry.

Aedan and company all stared at the dead bodies in this profaned place for a moment. "Parsharra!" Sten called out. "Now, what do we do?" Aedan ordered that they all search the place for anything that can tell them about what happened to Brother Genitivi or tell them of the existence of the Sacred Urn. Aedan went over to the splattered remains of Eirik and something caught his eye; a strange amulet. Interesting, the medallion looked similar to puzzle boxes that Aedan had seen in Orlais. If that mad priest had it on him then it must have been important so Aedan decided to hold on to it.

While the others searched the other rooms of the Chantry, Wynne set to looking through the books hoping that there would be something written down by these cultists about the Urn. Just as she opened the first book she pulled of the shelf she heard a loud groan, was there a villager still alive in this place? She heard it again but couldn't see who was making it. Then she realized it was coming from the wall behind the shelf of books. "Come here! Quickly!" The old mage called to her comrades.

They moved the shelf and Zevran found a switch that revealed the wall was actually a secret door. When the walked in there was someone in there. A man somewhere in his late forties to early fifties and by the looks of it he had been severely tortured. "You…did they send you to finish me?" The old man asked. "No, you're not one of them, who are you?"

Aedan guessed the man could tell they were not from Haven judging by how the dressed and who was in this new company. "Brother Genitivi I presume?"

"Yes! Oh, I can't tell you how glad I am to finally see someone that's not from the god-forsaken place." Genitivi exclaimed.

Wynne set down to healing the Chantry Brother's injuries. "You need to be very still, I've managed to set the bones in your leg back in place but you'd best not put pressure on it."

"I can't be still now, not when I am so close to finding the Urn." Genitivi informed.

"The Urn, are you saying it truly exists?" Aedan asked skeptically.

"Yes, according to my research the Urn is supposedly in a temple nearby at the base of the mountain."

Aedan still couldn't believe it; the Urn of Sacred Ashes wasn't a myth like he had always thought.

Alistair began to look anxious and excited. "We have to find the Urn quickly! Do you know the way, Brother?"

"I do, but why do you seek it?" Genitivi inquired.

Aedan looked down on him, obviously he didn't know about the condition of his employer. "We need them to cure Arl Eamon, he was poisoned by Teryn Loghain."

Genitivi looked disbelieved for a moment and let out an exasperated sigh. "Politics, they never do anyone any good."

Before they went looking for the Urn Aedan had to know who they were dealing with, there could be more of these assholes from Haven guarding the Urn. "What exactly did these people hope to gain by torturing you?"

"I honestly don't know, they wanted to know all there was about me, the names of my family, my research, people that I know."

"They wanted to replace you with an imposter." Aedan informed gravely.

"What? How do you know that?"

"Because there was a fake Weylon at your house in Denerim."

Genitivi began to look mortified again. "What…what happened to the real Weylon."

Leliana decided he would break the news to him. "I am sorry, brother, they murdered him."

"Ah, my poor boy, I'm so sorry." Genitivi mourned. "He kept me believing in my research even after the Chantry declared it blasphemous, even when I started to doubt it."

Alistair still wanted some answers. "What did they have to gain by torturing and murdering the Knights that were searching for you?"

"From what I can guess, sick pleasure." There was a look of mortified anger on the Brother's face as he remembered the awful deeds these people did. "Eirik was so smug about it, like he was being blessed for being a monster."

"Well, he won't be hurting anyone ever again." Zevran promised.

"Why does Haven revered fathers?" Wynne asked.

"Well, as you know when the Chantry was founded it was proclaimed that only women could be priests, but I think that these Disciples of Andraste predate that founding of the Chantry."

"Disciples of Andraste?" Morrigan scoffed. "Why would they call themselves that?"

"I honestly have no idea..." Genetivi continued. "...but there's something very strange about them."

"What? You mean besides the obvious torturing, blood sacrificing and general weirdness?" Oghren pointed out.

"Well…the way they speak of Andraste. They speak of Her as if She's still alive."

That caught everyone of guard. "You think their talking about the Urn?" Aedan asked.

"It's possible." Genitivi confirmed half-heartedly. "But they speak of the Ashes with great disdain."

"Let's not waste any more time." Aedan declared. "Do you know how to get to the temple from here?"

"I do, but the door is locked. The key is an amulet that Eirik wears around his neck.

"This one?" Aedan produced the medallion and handed it to Genitivi.

"Yes, that's it." The Chantry scholar confirmed.

"Are you sure you can make it?" Wynne asked worriedly.

"If you can allow me to lean on someone and I'm sure I will be fine, I will not stay here when I'm so close to finding the Temple of Sacred Ashes."

"Sten, you're carrying him." Aedan ordered. Everyone was beginning to snicker but the giant looked bemused.

"Why me?" Sten asked incredulously.

"Because you're the only one big enough to carry him without his injuries slowing us down, and because I said so." Aedan explained. "Shale can't do it because she might crush him by 'accident'."

"It's true." The golem confirmed.

This time there was no stopping everyone from laughing except for the warrior who had been demoted to nurse maid and the scholar who was to be carted around like laundry by a follower of a religion that challenged his own. As Sten picked up Genitivi like a sack of grain the Chantry brother began to look a bit paler. "So…you're a Qunari."

"Congratulations. You've stated the obvious. Your Chantry would be proud." Sten remarked glumly.

The entry to the temple was at the base of the mountain that Eirik's Chantry was sitting at the base at. Genitivi impressed Aedan with how he knew how to work the intricate key to open the temple's door. As they entered the temple everyone gazed upon it in awe. Despite the fact that it was mostly in disrepair and covered in snow they all couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity it took to build an entire temple beneath the Frostback Mountains.

"What I would give to see this place in all of its splendor and glory as it deserves!" Genitivi exclaimed.

"Be on your guard, Brother." Aedan warned. "There could be more cultists here."

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Obviosly the Genitivi had gone back into being the scholar he is and was more concerned about looking about this place.

Aedan gave him a wry smile. "I think it's best if you stay here."

"I agree. I couldn't keep with you because of my injuries."

"Thank you for all that you've done." Alistair said.

"Oh, my part was small." Genitivi said modestly. "Perhaps I was meant to lead you hear as you seem meant to find the Urn. Now I just need something to write on."

This temple was infested with the cultists like a maggot-ridden carcass. It wasn't just reavers and blood mages at their disposal but ash wraiths and cleverly hidden traps as well. They moved from the temple and into what seemed like long and extensive caverns beneath the mountain, but what was most surprising was the dragonlings and drakes that had made their home here. What's more, the gargantuan lizards seemed to be helping, even obeying the cultists. This was not natural, or at the very least, not heard of in modern thinking. Dragonkin are not like mabari, griffons, or halla, they cannot be tamed.

Drakes were rare. They hardly ever showed themselves and when they did it was to hunt for food or mate with a winged female. And they were certainly not social creatures. They were territorial and hostile. Yet these drakes not only ran in packs, they were fighting alongside the cultists as if they were companions. They soon came across an enclave of dragon eggs that was guarded by more reavers and blood mages, and several massive drakes.

This was a disturbing discovery. After a dragon laid her eggs a drake would often stay to guard the clutch so his mate could fly off and hunt for prey. And there were a lot of a drakes here, and even more eggs. That meant that somewhere in these caverns were full grown, flying, female dragons and they were some of the fiercest creature in all of Thedas and not too long ago all dragonkin was considered extinct. Aedan recalled from his history lessons of the Tevinter Imperium how they worshipped dragons and how certain dragons had the power to sway the minds of those who worshipped them, and even established symbiotic relations between men and dragons.

They cut a bloody swath through men and dragons until they came into a cavern filled hot springs and awaiting them was yet another group of cultists. Standing apart from the cultists was a man in mid-forties, he had tanned skin and a sharp, pointed beard. He was dressed in high quality dragonscale armor with a cruel battleaxe and had a severe angry look on his face, Aedan guessed he was the leader of these bastards.

"Stop! You…Shall not…Pass!" this new moron bellowed with his voice echoing throughout the cavern while putting the shaft of his axe to the ground with his arms spread out. Aedan stood there for a moment thinking of how this guy looked like a total asshole before laughing his ass off.

His laughter only seemed to make the cultists angrier but they didn't move from their spot. As soon as his laughter died down Aedan decided to address this guy "Oh? Is that right?" He snickered.

"You have no right to mock us!" The same fanatic yelled furiously. "You have desecrated our temple, murdered our faithful, killed our younglings! No more! Tell me, why have you come here!?"

Aedan put his serious face back on. "I have come for the Urn of Sacred Ashes, and if you're smart you'll give it to me."

"You came all this way for a relic?" The cultist look was more disbelieving than his question. "Know this, stranger:The Prophet Andraste has overcome death itself and has returned to Her faithful in a form far more radiant than you could imagine! Not even the Tevinter Imperium can hope to slay her now! What right do you have to demand the Urn!?"

"I'm the man who just left an ocean of blood, body parts, and dead lizards in the tunnel back there. Now who are you to deny me?" Aedan informed dangerously as he pointed his thumb back at the tunnel they just came through.

The cultist didn't look at all troubled by the Warden's statement. "My name is Father Kolgrim, leader and guide to the Disciples of Andraste." Kolgrim had that same stupid, smug look that Eirik had. "Kill us and you will face Andraste. She will smell our blood and the blood of her children on you and Her wrath will be great."

"Children?" Oghren remarked, his interest piqued. "You mean the dragons? Is Andraste a dragon?"

"She is so much more!" Kolgrim announced with his voice filling the entire cavern. "She is even more glorious than all of the Old Gods combined!"

"Then what happened to the Ashes?" Leliana asked worriedly.

"They are still within this temple." Kolgrim answered. "But why do we need ashes when we serve the risen Andraste in all her glory?"

"You speak of the Ashes in such disdain." Pointed out Wynne.

"What are they but the remains of a mortal woman?"

"What you are saying is against the Chantry." Wynne continued.

"Be wary." Leliana warned. "This man preaches things that are against the canticles of the Chantry."

"Your Chantry doesn't know the will of the Maker than any other man, woman or child. It only pretends to." Kolgrim said as if scolding an ignorant child.

"The cannot be trusted." Aedan agreed much to everyone's surprise. "It cares only about power and dominion."

"How can you say that?" Leliana asked disheartened. "The Chantry offers aid and salvation to so many."

"Yes." Zevran said sarcastically. "I'd say they aided my kind by giving us plenty of salvation that we didn't ask for."

"So can it give us the ashes?" Shale said. She desperately wanted avoid coming across a giant scaled bird.

"So you're here for the ashes?" Kolgrim's anger seemed to turn into interest. "Hmm, perhaps there is a way for to make up for your desecration of our home and temple."

"Why are you now so interested in helping us, priest?" Morrigan inquired skeptically.

"Perhaps it is because I believe in second chances, and perhaps in Andraste's great mercy her greatest enemy could be her greatest champion." Kolgrim continued.

Aedan planted Starfang into the ground and wiped all of the blood that was caking his face. "Tell you what, I'm a little tired from the bloodbath I had getting up here. Say what you have to say while a catch my breath."

"The ashes you seek reside atop this mountain, watched by an immortal guardian who refuses to accept the truth of the risen Lady." Aedan's eyebrow quirked, an immortal guardian? Now that would be someone Aedan would love to encounter. "Now the ashes prevent Holy Andraste from full realizing Her new form." The Father continued. "They are the remnant of Her past incarnation and She cannot move on as long as they exist."

"So…you want us to…throw them in the garbage?" Sten asked indifferently.

"I speak not of destruction." The priest chided. "The Beloved needs to reclaim the Ashes, to make them Her own again, all it would take is a drop of her blood. Blood carries power. Strength. Knowledge! Through it all the power that is held in the Ashes will return to our Lady." This all sounded like blood magic, the Joining, and the becoming of a Reaver combined, and Kolgrim was beginning to sound more and more like a braying ass.

"If this means so much to you, why haven't you done it?" the Qunari asked again.

"The Guardian has foiled all our attempts to reach the Urn, he keeps what power remains from the true Andraste." Kolgrim answered angrily. "He knows the Disciples and we cannot touch him for he draws strength from the Ashes themselves." Kolgrim then looked intently at Aedan. "But you…could deliver our Lady what is rightfully Hers."

"So, what would I have to do?" Aedan scoffed.

"The task is simple; I give you a vial of the Holy Andraste's blood and you empty the vial into the ashes. Whatever magic was held in the Ashes will be undone and our great Lady will finally be freed from the shackles of her past life!"

"I can just imagine if the Grand Cleric were here, her head would explode, I kid you not." Alistair half joked.

"What is this talk of blood and power?" Leliana said suspiciously. "And he thinks Andraste is reborn. It is preposterous! I do not like this."

"There is nothing but madness in his words." Wynne observed. "He is a fanatic and a dangerous one. Be warned, he means to lead you astray."

"It sounds to me like they just want you to do what they are too weak and too incompetent to do." Morrigan chuckled.

"This man's sanity is clearly questionable. Do not be fooled by his words." Sten warned.

"If the mad priest has any interest in praying to a giant scaled bird it must be ignored." Shale exclaimed.

"While I do like the sound of being rewarded, I don't know if receiving one from someone who talks to dragons is a smart idea." Zevran joined in.

His companions all had the truth of it, but still, it was kind of funny hearing Kolgrim sound like such an ass.

"We need the Ashes to cure Arl Eamon." Alistair reminded. They came here for that reason and that reason only.

"Then just take what you need of the Ashes before you drop the vial." Kolgrim explained. "Do this and all will share in the glory and power of the resurrected Andraste!"

Alistair looked like someone had just caught him naked. "Okay, now I really don't like the sound of us helping this Kolgrim."

"So if we do what this Kolgrim guy asks does this mean we aren't hunting their pet dragon?" Oghren asked almost as if he was heartbroken. "You're going to let this opportunity slip past you? Think of the glory…"

"You would hunt our Lady for sport!?" Kolgrim fumed.

"Oh, you'll find another one soon enough. What if we left you a wing? You could wipe your rumps with it."

"You-!"

"My dear Oghren, let us try to not offend a psychopath that thinks he speaks to dragons." Zevran scolded. "It behooves us to think of all of our options."

Kolgrim continued to stare at Oghren with murder in his eyes. "Your companion's words were enough to earn him his death. Our archers will loose their arrows if I give the word. But do as I ask and I will spare him."

He had heard enough of this bullshit, Aedan decided he had caught his breath, so he pulled Starfang out of the ground and held it at Kolgrim's throat!

"Heretic! Blasphemer!" Kolgrim declared. "You dare to raise a weapon against Andraste's chosen?!"

"You kidnapped a good man, then tortured and murdered Knights performing their duty. You dare to defile the remains of my country's greatest war leader!" Aedan listed angrily. "And now you spout nonsense about Her resurrection and think I'm supposed to blindly believe your superstions? I think I'll just take my chances with arrows, claim the ashes, then I'm gonna piss all over your beloved Lady's dead body."

"Hah! That's the spirit, Warden! Show 'em who's boss!" Oghren yelled out proudly.

"Kill them! Kill them all!" Kolgrim ordered while the heathen's greatsword was still at his neck. "Our Lady will grant us victory!"

The cultists' archers launched a volley of thick, javelin-like arrows at the intruders. Zevran and Oghren took cover behind Shale while the others blocked or evaded the volley. Before Aedan could decapitate the delusional priest he found himself frozen solid, his body refused to obey his will. His eyes looked down to see the two bright paralyzation glyphs overlapping each other beneath his feet. Aedan was completely frozen in place! Kolgrim hauled back his colossal, silverite battleaxe and swiftly swung the destructive head at Aedan midsection to cut the Warden in twaine! Morrigan watched in horror as the mad priest's weapon bared down on Aedan. The others were pinned down, the Warden could not move, he had no defense! This was the end!

There was a loud resounding clang that filled the cavern. The priest's axe had made contact, but not with its target. Kolgrim's face twisted with rage as the blow of his weapon was absorbed by the face of a shield with two mabari rampart supporting a crown. The golden haired Templar had successfully defended his fellow heretic.

Alistair stood in front of his brother-in-arms, his shield baring back the force of Kolgrim's powerful weapon. The force of the axe was staggering. If Alistair wielded a lesser shield it would have been shattered along with his whole arm! The Templar knocked Kolgrim's axe down to the ground and jammed his armored elbow into Kolgrim's face, sending the reaver backwards. As he shielded himself and Aedan from another volley of arrows Alistair cleansed the area of the magic glyphs holding Aedan and released him from the spell. "Aedan, move!" The Templar yelled. Aedan rolled out of the way of another volley and sliced one of the mages who cast that glyph in half.

As Aedan dealt with the mages and the other dealt with the reavers and archers, Alistair went after Kolgrim. The archers dared not fire at him for fear they might hit their revered father. Kolgrim opened one of his veins and charged the younger warrior with enhanced strength and rage. The priest expertly swung his weapon repeatedly at the Templar with alarming speed, the blows of his axe felt like an ogre's fist smashing against Alistair's shield. Alistair knew he had to end this fight in one deft move in order to kill the older reaver. Any glancing blows or ill-placed attacks would only make the man stronger. But his assault was relentless; Alistair could do little more than defend.

In the heat of the moment Alistair remembered one of the techniques Duncan taught him not long after he was recruited in to the Wardens. As the other cultists were slain around them Kolgrim threw another mighty swing of his axe and aimed it at the Warden's neck. In that split second Alistair raised his shield to meet the blow of the axe. The timing had to be perfect. The instant the edge of the axehead was a hair away from the shield's face Alistair expertly spun out of the way of the oncoming blade and threw Kolgrim's momentum completely off-balance. His enemy spun around trying to regain his bearings as Alistair rotated like a whirlwind and swung his sword in a backhanded slash against the revered father. The dragonbone blade sliced through its victim's armor, ribs and midsection like paper, almost cutting him in half. The only reason the stroke didn't kill him was because he was a reaver, but that wasn't going to save him from a wound this gruesome. Kolgrim's axe fell from his hands as he dropped to his knees wrapping his arms around his torso, trying to keep his insides from spilling out to the ground. The priest was more in shock than in pain. "L-Lady…An…draste?" He whispered with half hope, half disbelief.

Alistair picked up Kolgrim's axe. "Andraste…never even knew you existed." The Templar quietly declared as he beheaded his kneeling adversary. He looked at the haft of his enemy's weapon. "Blessed is Her touch, blessed is Her breath, blessed is her blood that runs through my heart and strengthens my mighty blow." A weapon made in tribute to their false Prophetess. "They shall cry out to their false gods, and find silence." The Templar recited as he tossed the blasphemous weapon to the blood-soaked ground.

Aedan approached his brother Warden. "Thanks, Alistair. You saved my life. I owe you one."

At being thanked by someone like Aedan, Alistair ceased to his warrior appearance and resumed his normal, bashful, awkward self. "Eh, think nothing of it, Aedan. I still owe you for all the times you saved me."

"I mean it, Alistair. When we get back to Denerim I'm gonna rent out the whole damn Pearl for you." And Aedan meant in too.

Alistair and Leliana both blushed furiously at the thought of Aedan renting out an entire brothel. "Oh! W-well th-that's very generous of you, Aedan."

Aedan's generosity aside, they all decided to finally leave this blood-soaked armpit of the mountain. They walked out of the caverns and found the light of day in a small mountain glen nestled between the peaks. On the other side of the glen stood a large, stone pair of doors that undoubtedly housed the Urn of Sacred Ashes and its Gaurdian. A massive shadow and an overwhelming sense of dread came over them as the occupant of the glen flew over them. Not just a dragon, but a High Dragon! A beast so rare they were thought to be extinct and whose power was said to be rivaled only by the Old Gods. No wonder there were so many eggs and drakes residing in the caverns. In Ancient Tevinter men and dragons like this had a symbiotic relationship with each other: the dragon's followers would tend to her clutch and her needs and in return she would provide them with blood and power. This was the Prophet Reborn that these blood-drinkning savages had taken to worship? She flew on to a small cliff overlooking the glen and gave roaring yawn as she set down for a gargantuan nap.

While the others ducked down to not be seen Oghren got on his toes to get a better look at the fearsome monstrosity. "A High Dragon!" He gasped almost giddily. "Oooh, I like the sound of that! 'Oghren Kondrat! Dragon-Slayer!'"

"Now that is Ataashi!" Sten almost gasped in shock and amazement. "Discretion might be wiser than confrontation." The qunari warned.

"Yes." Wynne agreed. "You'd all make a perfectly good meal for that creature. Not me, though. I'm far too old and stringy for it to notice me."

"The Old Gods will cry out to you, From their ancient prisons they will sing. Dragons with wicked wings and wicked hearts, On blackened wings does deceit take flight, The first of My Children lost to night." Leliana recited in equal parts awe and fear.

"Ahhh…a…High Dragon, yes?" Zevran observed. "We're….We're not actually thinking about attacking that thing, are we? Couldn't we just sneak around? Let sleeping dragons lie?"

"Yes, please." Shale agreed. "Let us try not waking up the giant, fire-breathing bird. Please?"

"This is these cultists' new Prophetess?" Morrigan looked with great intrigue. "No wonder they chose to worship it. Few creatures in all of nature are capable of equaling the power of such a beast. And it's more present than their old prophetess."

Aedan noticed a giant gong at end of the walkway and its mallet resting on top of it. The wheels in Aedan's head started turning and he knew what he had to do. He grasped the mallet in his hands and his blood, pride and need to avenge the knights of Redcliffe and Weylon guided his hand. He raised the mallet back and prepared to strike. "Aedan!" Alistair called interrupting his little moment. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

"Not a fucking clue!" He answered as he struck the giant gong with wall his might. The powerful call reverberated through the glen and woke the epic beast from it slumber. She angrily flew down and landed on the ground with such force it threatened to shake the foundations of the mountain, and roared in such terrible rage that lesser men would have cried, ran and even died in terror. But not Aedan or Alistair. Killing dragons was actually a part of their job description.

"Attack the flanks!" Aedan ordered. The others scattered around the massive lizard, waiting for an opening to attack and giving the dragon multiple openings to worry about. This wasn't like Aedan's battle with Flemeth when she took on a dragon's form. There were no trees to hide under and no place to take cover in this vented valley. But this time Aedan had his entire company of hardened warriors, sly cutthroats and powerful mages at his side. This dragon would stand no chance.

The dragon lashed its tail around like a colossal whip but Shale got around behind it and used all her strength to anchor the flying beast to the ground. Wynne conjured a protection spell to safeguard her comrades from harm while Morrigan and Leliana distracted the dragon by launching arrows and lightning at its face. Sten charged the dragon's side roaring like a madman, as if he didn't notice how miniscule he was compared to his target. The qunari lunged his sword into the side of the dragon like a spear and plunged it deep into the dragon's side, and to make his attack more grievous he used his weight to pull the sword down through the dragon's ribcage. As the dragon screamed in pain and rage from Sten's assault, Zevran rook this as an opportunity to throw his explosive and poisoned bombs into the dragons screaming maw while Oghren smashed at the dragon's thick legs with his hammer, crushing them like stone pillars.

At this point the dragon was furious! She beat her mighty wings in the air and blew a powerful gale that knocked her attackers of their feet. Except for two: the Wardens. It was time to end this. "Alistair, distract her as best you can!" Aedan ordered.

"Distract her!? And what will you be doing!?" Alistair demanded as he held his ground, shield raised.

"Something insane!" Aedan answered as he ran towards a nearby outcropping overlooking the vale.

Alistair held firm and screamed defiantly at the High Dragon. "Over here, you oversized gecko!" The dragon flared its nostrils, smoke billowed from her snout and let out a mighty, earth-shattering roar as column of flame erupted from her toothy maw! Alistair raised his shield and prayed to the Maker that the enchantments Sandal placed on it would protect him. Alistair's body was engulfed in a sea of flame that burned the earth around and when it passed Alistair's shield and armor were smoking like a chimney but he was unharmed. Before he could let his joy of being alive overwhelm him, the dragon swooped her head down at Alistair in an attempt to bite him in half. Alistair jumped just out of range of the dragon's teeth and sunk his father's sword deep into the dragon's snout between her nostrils. She whipped her head wildly in the air trying to shake the painful sword out of her face but to no avail. She stared down at the now unarmed human angrily and snapped her head at him in an attempt to devour him! She missed as the Warden rolled under her head, but he landed up against the side of the mountain. There was nowhere left for him to run! The dragon reared back her massive head on her serpentine neck and opened her jaw, revealing the rows of sword-like teeth. She brought her teeth down one last time to finally consume her quarry!

As the dragon lashed down at Alistair, Aedan jumped off the outcropping just over them both with Starfang clutched firmly in his grip. He flew through the air simultaneous with the dragon's strike and landed with the full force of his weight bearing down on her and the full length if his sword driving through the base of her skull! The High Dragon's body fell with a resounding boom and her head went as limp as a worm. The others gathered around cautiously as Aedan twisted his sword out of her head and pulled Alistair sword out of her snout and tossed it to him. They were all exhausted, but this was definitely a victory they would cherish.

"We…are ridiculously awesome!" Zevran declared.

"Hah! Wait'll the boys back at Tapsters hear about this!" Oghren cried victoriously.

"The Arishok would be impressed." Sten admitted.

"I never would have imagined I would ever see a High Dragon, let alone help slay one." Wynne confessed as she dusted herself off and applied healing spells to those who needed it, especially Alistair.

"This is definitely a victory worthy of having its own song. One I will be proud to write down." Leliana promised.

"Ugh! What is It doing?" Shale groaned disgustedly as Aedan turned his back to his companions and undid his pants.

"What are you doing, Aedan?!" Wynne practically scolded. The sight of such boorish behaviour was to be expected from Oghren. But from Aedan? It was appalling!

"I promised that I was going to piss on these cultists' Lady's dead body. And I always keep my promises." Aedan explained as he proceeded to urinate on the dragon's dead nostril right in front of everyone. While everyone else turned away completely put off by Aedan's lack of refinement, Oghren guffawed at their leader's lack of shame while Zevran tried to sneak a peek at Aedan's glory. As Aedan finished his act of desecration Leliana turned away abashed around a corner of a collapsed building and found something that made her eyes almost bug out of her head. "Everyone. You'd better come see this."

Aedan redid his pants and joined the others in the ruin, wondering what the hell they were gasping at. Tucked away behind the broken walls and fallen roof was a massive pile of glittering gold and gems half the size of Shale and thrice the weight. Apparently blood wasn't the only offering the Disciples of Andrast made to the dragon. Just a handful of this horde would be enough to finance their entire army for a month! They decided they didn't have enough time to collect treasure at this moment and made their way over to entrance of the Urn's Temple.

As they entered this new part of the temple they noticed that the interior was untouched by time, it looked like it had just been built yesterday. Aedan noticed that Oghren had a bewildered look on his face. "Is something wrong, Oghren?"

"No, it's just…this whole place kind of feels strange. Like…like the whole place is made up of lyrium." The dwarf answered.

"Yes, I feel it as well." Wynne concurred. "This temple, no, the whole mountain seems like it's infused with magic."

That's interesting, but Aedan didn't have time to give it full thought, he had to find this Guardian and the Ashes. As they continued to walk down a long and wide hall and they could all see, as if waiting for them at the end in front of a large hall was a man dressed in bright silverite armor, wielding a large warhammer that's head was as wide as Oghren! Was this the Guardian of the Urn of Sacred Ashes?

"I bid you welcome, pilgrims." The Guardian greeted with a mystical, soothing voice that seemed to carry itself across the temple and radiate years of wisdom and knowledge.

"Are…are you the Guardian?" Wynne asked.

"Yes. I am the Guardian of the Urn of Sacred Ashes." The mysterious warrior confirmed. "I have waited years for this."

"How is it you've survived all these years?" Alistair marveled.

"It has been my duty, my life to protect the Urn and prepare the way for the faithful who have come here to revere Andraste. For years uncounting have I been here and shall remain until my task is complete and the Tevinter Imperium falls in to the sea."

"What can you tell us about the Ashes?" Leliana asked excitedly.

"You already know that they once belonged to the Prophetess, the rest you must discover on you own."

"Hmm, is it lyrium?" Oghren interjected. "Can't mistake that tingle. It's so strong here I can just about taste it. Makes you wonder what's really magical here; the Urn or the mountain. What is exactly is keeping you alive Guardian?"

"I do not know and I do not ask." The Guardian answered.

"That is no answer spirit!" Sten called out suspiciously. "How is it you haven't died of natural causes as the natural order dictates?"

"So long as the Ashes exist then so do I." the Guardian responded simply

"Just who are you exactly?" Aedan asked.

"I am all that remains of the original Disciples of Andraste."

Leliana's excitement spiked again. "Wait. Does that mean you actually met Andraste? You knew her?"

"Did anyone know Her except for her Maker?" This Guardian seemed really good at dodging questions rather than answering them.

"Well, did you know her?" Aedan inquired.

The Guardian paused for a moment. "I…cannot express words to describe my love for Andraste."

"Then who are you truly?" said Morrigan. Even she was fascinated by how this Guardian remained alive after all these centuries.

"When my brethren and I brought Andraste here from the Tevinter Imperium I swore a vow to guard over her while my brothers vowed to remember her teachings and watch over her resting place. For centuries generations of my brethren took on the mantle of their forebears joyful and unwavering in their task."

"So…I take it that big, disgusting fire-bird was not the Andraste then?" Shale inquired.

"No. Our Andraste has returned to the Makers side. She will not return. They no longer remember their task and have strayed far from our Lady's teachings." The Guardian lamented.

"Then why is it that those jerks back there believe in a resurrected Andraste?" Alistair asked.

"It began with an ancestor of the one called Kolgrim who began to preach about rebirth and in time his beliefs spread to the other Disciples and those that disagreed with him he put to sword and flame." The Guardian had a mournful look on his face. "I heard their cries and could do naught but pray for them. The Dragon is a fearsome creature and they must see it as a replacement for the ever silent Maker and His Andraste."

"Well…in a sense they haven't forgotten her." Zevran half joked.

"They have forgotten that Andraste was just a messenger and have forgotten the Maker and replaced Him with their false Lady, an even greater sin. True believers do not need displays of power to inspire faith." The Guardian seemed depressed as he informed them of his brethren's fate.

Aedan couldn't help but contemplate the hilarious irony of the fact these Andraste's original followers brought Her remains from a land that worshiped dragons only for their descendants to abandon Andraste and worship the very gods of those that killed her. He would've laughed but it was all still a terrible shame, giving up your values and beliefs because of what some asshole preaches.

"Enough questions." Aedan announced. "How do I get to the Ashes?"

"The Gauntlet will show you the way." The Guardian answered.

"What's the Gauntlet?"

"The Gauntlet is what can tell the true believers from the false. If you are found worthy you will be lead to the Ashes, if not then you will not reach them."

"But we need the Ashes to cure a noble man." Alistair insisted.

"Still…you must prove yourself. If you are found worthy you will see the Urn and be allowed to take a small pinch of the Ashes for yourself. If not…"

Aedan didn't like the sound of this. He made it a universal fact that he didn't believe in anything that had to do with Andraste or Her god. Would this mean the Ashes would be denied him just because he didn't believe? "I do not believe in the teaching of Andraste or the Maker. Will the Gauntlet judge me unworthy because of that?"

The Guardian seemed unfazed "Many who followed Andraste did not believe in the Maker and She guided them regardless. The Gauntlet was established to test your faith and worth to be in the presence of the Urn, not your beliefs."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Perhaps."

Aedan was getting tired of half-answers. "Just answer me, damn it! What is the Gauntlet? What does it do?"

The Guardian didn't seem to care for Aedan's frustration. "The only way you'll know is if you enter and find out for yourself."

Aedan could see he had no other choice but to go through this…Gauntlet. "Very well. I'll accept the trials of the Gauntlet."

"Before you go I see the path that lead you here was not an easy one. There is…suffering in your past. Your suffering and the suffering of others." Aedan glared at the guardian with anger burning in his eyes. "You were the son of a mighty house, descended from the line of teyrns. You swore an oath to protect your house and family. Fergus left his wife and son in your care, but they were slain before you could even reach them. Oren's life was ended before it even began. And then you abandoned your parents knowing the fate that awaited them at the hands of Arl Howe. And when you reached Ostagar you didn't even search for Fergus. Tell me: Do you believe you failed your family?" Aedan felt the rage and heartbreak of all that he lost well up inside him as this Gaurdian somehow recited what Aedan held close to his heart.

"How…how do you know my past?" Aedan demanded.

"Your past is laid out before me like the scars on your face and the lines on your heart. It is allowed to me. Now tell me: Do you believe you failed your family?"

Tears of sorrow and anger hatefully welled up in Aedan's eyes as the answer to Guardian's damned question burned in his throat. "YES! I was supposed fight to the death to keep them safe! I should have been the one to die, not them! Instead I abandoned them and all who served my house to suffer! And now I'm the only Cousland left! My failure shames all that came before me!" Aedan practically sobbed with painful tears trailing down his face.

Alistair felt for Aedan, he too had lost everything. This war had truly made them brothers if not by the order then by their shared loss. "You shouldn't blame yourself for what happened, there was nothing you could've done."

Leliana now understood why Aedan felt so much rage and anger, and was heartbroken for him. "Despite what you feel about what happened, you have done so much good since then. No matter what, I think your family would be proud of you."

Wow, and Oghren thought what happened to him was a bitch. "We've all made mistakes, Warden. You need to have a drink and move forward, otherwise you'll end up alone and washed up. Just like me."

Sten understood the necessity of survival and also knew you do not suffer an unjust injury without reprisal. "It is the past. Acknowledge your mistake, learn from it and move on."

"The victories of your enemies are not your failures. You have continued to uphold the honor and duty of your house. None have fought more bravely and sacrificed so much as you. Now your allies and friends are many. You have much to be proud of." Wynne said consolingly.

Zevran knew that being helpful wasn't exactly one of his strong suits, but Aedan had spared and protected him when all others would have just killed him. He had to say something. "Trust me, guilt and I are well acquainted, there is nothing that feels worse. But…we all need to accept our loss and try to be…better people because of it."

Morrigan never truly knew how her love was suffering and felt guilty for saying that the things he cherished were a weakness. She felt even more ashamed for trying to avoid him to escape her own feelings, leaving the man she loved to feel alone in his pain and guilt. "You are many things, my love. You are brave, selfless and loyal. Also ruthless brutal, proud even a little foolish…but…a failure? You are not." She told him as she gently placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you." The Gaurdian spoke. "That is all I wished to know. The way is open, pilgrim. I wish you luck."

The Gaurdian disappeared like smoke in the wind and the doors behind him creaked open. The first test was being asked riddles from the apparitions of those who were involved with Andraste's victories and downfall. The second one they fought mirror images of themselves, but still they prevailed. The third one, however, made Aedan heart sink. Past the third set of carved stone doors stood a figure Aedan would never forget: Teyrn Bryce Cousland, his father. "My dearest child." The apparition addressed.

"Aaargh! Why do you torment me this way!?" Aedan cried as he placed his hand over his teary eyes.

"No torment of our devicing can match that which you place on yourself." The ghostly teyrn explained. "You must acknowledge your guilt, your pain and let it go."

"No! Never!" Aedan refused angrily. "You are not my father! You have no right to tell me to let go. I can't let go of my pain! I need my pain! It's the only thing that keeps me going, my reason for living! I will never know peace as long as those who betrayed my family are still alive."

The apparition of Bryce Cousland looked on Aedan with sad, mournful eyes. "You are right. I am your father, and I am not your father. I am the memory in which you keep in your own heart, my son. You have such a long road ahead of you, but I know you will do us proud. Walk your path well and with the strength of House Cousland, pup. And know that you have my love and my forgiveness." Bryce placed his hand on Aedan's face, and for the briefest of moments felt all his sorrow and anger leave him as he felt the warmth of his father's hand. "Good-bye, my son."

And then he was gone like was never even there, but for the first time since Aedan could remember he actually felt joy well up inside him. "Good-bye, father." He whispered as tears once more freely flowed down his face.

They passed over the spirit-bridge and through the wall of flame untouched, and there was the Urn of Sacred Ashes waiting for them. "You have been through the trials of the Gauntlet. You have walked the path of Andraste and, like Her, have found yourselves cleansed. You have earned the right to approach the Ashes. Walk well, Pilgrim." The ghostly Gaurdian called to them from the other side of the wall of flames and gave them his blessing to approach this most holy relic.

As the others stated their awe or disinterest in such an amazing discovery, Aedan respectfully approached the Urn. Aedan held no love for Chantry or the Maker and he certainly did not worship Andraste. But that did not mean he did not hold the utmost respect for Her, for she was the greatest war-leader in Fereldan history. Aedan respectfully bowed his head before the Urn and took a single pinch of Her ashes and left the temple behind them.

Aedan came to this mountain full of anger and bloodlust, but he left the mountain with the joy he thought he lost with his family's death. Brother Genetivi was happy beyond all measurement that his and Weylon's work had come to fruition. They lefty the mountain with the Ashes and the dragon's treasure and made their way back to Redcliffe to heal Arl Eamon. But despite the joy Aedan had found, he had not lost the anger and vengeance that still resided in his soul. And everyone, even the Maker and His bride now knew, for it had been sworn on ground most holy: Aedan would never know peace until he had vengeance.

Author's Note:

Just so you all know "Ithe a feoil" roughly translates in Gaelic as "eat/consume/devour his flesh" I though it would sound more sinister if Aedan said it in another language. Dragon Age and the world of Thedas is property of BioWare. I claim none of its characters or property. This was the longest and most time consuming chapter thus far so please be so kind as to review. I'd like an honest opinion, what what do you guys think about Aedan's brutality?