Hi to Eriana10, and G'day Electronic Sheep! And thank you to Jen for her stroke of genius!
I've just realised that I have been calling Constable Aidan of Amaranthine 'Captain' and spelled his name wrong. Well, I'm not going to change it now. Let's just pretend he was promoted or something. And he's the one that's been spelling his name wrong. :/
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Cori paced up and down frantically as the soldiers dismantled their tents. She kept looking to the west. She felt like the world was about to end. Fergus is going to kill him. Then I'll have to kill Fergus. Aedan, I hope you can forgive me. I never wanted this to happen. I never knew I'd fall in love with a Howe. Please, Maker, don't let him suffer.
I'm in love with him?
"Commander, we're ready. You may ride with me." Captain Aiden touched her arm, startling her. "Sorry, Commander. This way, please."
There were four horses. Cori and Captain Aiden would ride on one, Thibault and Justice on the second, and one of the soldiers that came to the Keep would ride on the third with their packs. The second soldier that came to the Keep would return to Amaranthine along the North Road, stopping by Vigil's Keep to relay news. Cori had asked him to make sure Delilah Howe was safe. The two scouts would stay in camp and pick up the trail in the morning, just in case it led anywhere else.
Captain Aiden lifted Cori onto his horse. She would have to ride side-saddle because of the stupid, impractical robe she'd worn. She usually rode horses like a man, but it would be indecent to do so in front of these men, given what she was wearing.
Aiden climbed on. Cori looked at the soldier who would be returning to Amaranthine. "Captain, what is that soldier's name?"
"Eoghan, Commander."
Cori called him over. "Eoghan, I wanted to thank you for what you've done. And I'm sorry I yelled at you."
Eoghan laughed and bowed. "Think nothing of it, Commander. Your words were kind in comparison to what I usually have to put up with," he said, looking at Aiden.
Aiden nodded his head and pursed his lips. "We shall be having words upon my return, Eoghan." With that, the company parted ways.
Cori sat in front of Aiden and held onto his shoulder and waist as they rode. She realised that riding like this was quite intimate. Nate had promised her that the next time they went to Amaranthine together, he'd hire a horse and they would go for a ride.
She closed her eyes and imagined she was there with him, riding through the Coastlands, and stopping for a picnic next to the Hafter River. There, they'd lie down in the grass, and they'd give in to their urges, with any notion of him being a gentleman finally destroyed. This pleasant scene lulled Cori to sleep on Aiden's shoulder.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
She woke abruptly as Aiden brought his horse to a halt. "Bandits, Commander," he whispered, pointing ahead. The sun had started to rise, and she could see into the distance. Rocks and trees lined this part of the North Road, and she fancied she could see small movements in the undergrowth.
She was furious. "We don't have time for this!" She slid off the horse, her robe gathering at her waist as she did so. She didn't care if anybody had seen her smallclothes. If they had, they made no sign.
Rearranging her robe, she walked onto the road and held Spellfury aloft in her right hand. Her left hand moved from left to right in a figure-of-eight movement. She muttered something to herself. A wisp of red energy appeared above her head, quickly turning into a glowing ball of flame. Her mounted companions gasped, excited. She brought her arms and staff down then raised them above her head.
200 metres ahead, a column of flame and lava rose from the floor, encompassing the whole width of the road. Half a dozen men broke from cover, screaming, before throwing themselves to the floor and rolling around. Cori drove them away with some well-aimed Arcane Bolts to their posteriors.
The men applauded and laughed as Aiden helped her back onto the horse, with the exception of Justice, who complained that her action had been unjust, as the bandits had not yet done anything wrong. She ignored him. Anders could explain that one another time.
"How long before we reach Highever, Captain?" she asked as they continued on.
"Well, if we continue to make good time, and burn any remaining bandits in our path, I'd say we're over halfway there. Another 2 hours at the most, Commander. I recommend that we stop in an hour or so to rest the horses and stretch our legs and eat, although we won't linger for long."
"As you say, Captain." Cori didn't want to stop at all, but there were others beside herself to consider. And she wouldn't even be here were it not for them.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The Wardens and soldiers at the Keep had thought they were progressing well through the basement, until they were foiled by another cave-in.
Anders was devastated. I could have gone with her after all, he thought sadly as he examined the bow he'd found in the crypt. Nathaniel would like this. If he's alright, that is. I'll give it to him as a welcome home present. No – I'll give it to Cori. She can give it to him. Maybe then he'll stop all this gentleman crap.
Anders had never really admitted to himself that he was in love with Cori until today. All the flirting, the lewd comments. They'd been meant as a joke, but he wouldn't have stopped her if she'd taken him up on it. He liked curvy women because Cori was curvy. And every woman he'd been with before Rose had been a brunette, with long hair. She made him laugh like nobody else. She was kind and strong and vulnerable at the same time. And she understood him, and he her. No other woman could ever come close to her.
I can never tell her. I'm her best friend. If I told her it would ruin everything. Nate's also my friend and he makes her happy. And that makes me happy. I won't interfere. I hope he's alright.
They went back to the dining hall, as it had been 3 hours since they'd last eaten and they were already ravenous. As they ate, Varel spoke to the dwarven Smith and Garavel about getting the rubble cleared. Varel also asked Garavel's permission to approach Simon with an offer of joining the Grey Wardens. Ambrose hadn't quite made the grade. Garavel agreed, on the condition that Varel and the Commander didn't take all of his best men.
Varel addressed the other Wardens. "As we have reached an impasse in the basement, tomorrow we will go into Amaranthine. The Commander told me that her next priority was assisting Captain Aiden to destroy the smuggling ring in the city. He will not be there, obviously, but we can speak to his Lieutenant. It will be the perfect time, as for obvious reasons we cannot take Justice into Amaranthine, and he is not here.
The Commander also asked me to look into buying a horse or two, to make any long journeys easier. I know that you youngsters love to walk," he said, looking at Anders, then turning to Oghren. "But not all of us are made for such journeys."
Varel turned to Simon. "Simon, I should like for you to accompany us. Captain Garavel has given his leave."
Simon grinned as he tucked into a huge chunk of bread and jam. "I would be delighted, Seneschal. Are you…testing me out? For the Grey Wardens, I mean?"
Varel smiled. "That obvious, am I? I am testing several people, Simon. Tomorrow we shall take another 3 soldiers with us. We won't encounter any darkspawn there, but we may have to engage some louts. We shall see. Do you think you may be interested?"
Simon could hardly contain his excitement. "And serve under one of the Heroes of Ferelden? I'd be a fool not to!"
Hmm, thought Varel. If he survives the joining, he'll come back to earth with a bump when he discovers what being a Warden really means.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Anders went up to his room early. He wasn't in the mood to chat. He missed Cori and Nate. Nate was more fun than he appeared to be. He had a very dark and dry sense of humour, which appealed to Anders. And he was very intelligent and perceptive – things Anders would never claim to be.
He sat next to his window and stared moodily across the lake. Where are you?
Somebody knocked his door. It was Rose.
She breezed in and sat next to him at the window. "How are you, my darling? Do you have any news of your friends?"
"No. Nothing. I'm starting to fear the worst for Nate."
She put her arms around him and started kissing his neck. "Perhaps I could take your mind off things?"
I'm not in the mood for this. "Look, my angel. I'm not very good company tonight. You go and have fun with your friends, and I'll see you at breakfast. I'll try and be in a better mood then, I promise." He winked at her.
She stood up. "Alright. Well, you know where I am if you change your mind. Goodnight." She blew him a kiss. He caught it. She closed the door. He locked it behind her.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Cori and her men had stopped briefly, then continued on their way. None of them had slept. They were now less than half an hour from Highever. It rose in the distance, with Castle Cousland at its centre.
Aiden, Thibault and Faolan – the other mounted soldier from Amaranthine – were starting to tire and yawned frequently. Cori apologised for her woeful healing abilities as she touched them all in turn to rejuvenate them. She touched Justice as well, surreptitiously putting frost on him as he protested he needed no healing magic.
It then occurred to her that if they found Nathaniel, and if he were alive, would her magic be enough to save him? Would Anders' presence have made the difference?
She started to feel hot and nauseous as panic welled up in her again.
Captain Aiden picked up speed as they drew nearer. Some folk were milling around, merchants and traders mostly, as the hour was still early.
Castle Cousland appeared deserted. There were no sentries, no guards that they could see. Thibault fired a few test arrows up at the battlements to see if there would be any reaction – there was none.
The huge portcullis at the main gate was firmly down. Thibault dismounted, removed his cape and took out a dagger and placed it in his mouth.
"Wait here," he instructed in his honeyed Orlesian accent, which reminded Cori of Riordan. He looked up and down the walls, and finding a spot that pleased him, started to scale it.
"Please be careful," Cori pleaded.
Thibault disappeared over the top of the wall. They could hear no sounds – no challenges, no rustling or clanking of armour. Apart from a few bird songs in the distance, the castle was silent.
A figure appeared behind the portcullis, startling them. "It is I, Thibault," he whispered. Aiden, Cori, Justice and Faolan dismounted and tied the horses up. Faolan took out his crossbow and aimed it behind Thibault as he worked on the opening mechanism.
With great effort, Thibault managed to open the portcullis enough for them to squeeze underneath. They ducked into the shadows on the left-hand side of the wall leading to the Castle's Keep. The outer Keep appeared deserted. Cori halted the men and took out her staff. She cast a fireball at the far wall. It exploded and a rumble spread throughout the Keep. Then silence fell again. No reaction.
Cori felt despondent. What if I'm wrong? What if he's not here? He could be dying somewhere else and I've led us on a wild goose chase. I will be responsible for his death! Then she remembered her dream where Fergus Cousland had spat at her.
Cori had experienced several prescient dreams since the Archdemon was defeated. Because of the timing she'd ascribed it to Aedan sending her messages from the Fade - just small things, sometimes symbolic. The night before she met Nathaniel in his prison cell she'd dreamed of a black crow in a cage. It didn't make sense at the time but was very fitting.
The dreams weren't always completely accurate, but there was always some truth in them. She had dreamed that Mhairi would die at her joining, but she'd also dreamed that Anders would die at his. She'd also dreamed that Alistair married a beautiful elven woman, not long before he told her wanted things to change for the elves. Whether the dream was symbolic of that, or whether he really would marry an elf, she didn't know.
Now this dream about Fergus Cousland. If Aedan really were sending these messages, would he really aid a Howe, resulting in the possible death of his brother?
Cori held her fist up, signalling the men to wait. She cast Rock Armour and Fade Shield on herself, and strolled boldly into the courtyard. She was immediately assailed by several arrows shot from different directions, high up in the battlements.
"Commander!" Cried Aiden, before realising that most of the arrows had passed through her. Cori casually walked back to the men and removed Fade Shield from herself. An arrow had grazed her hip and she was bleeding. She removed a health poultice from her pack, turned away from the men and hitched up her robe to apply it. The men discreetly turned away from her. She turned back to them. "How many do you think?" She asked.
Between them, the men estimated that at least 12 archers stood on the battlements. They were trapped.
Cori decided to test the widely-held belief that mages were all-powerful, evil and insane.
"Now, hear me!" she shouted out into the courtyard. "I am the Warden-Commander of Ferelden. I have reason to believe that you hold one of my Wardens here. You may not be aware that he is a Grey Warden though. His name is Nathaniel Howe. Your actions have incurred the wrath of the Grey Warden order! Since the defeat of the Archdemon, I have amassed an army of Wardens, the like of which you have never seen! They are on their way here as we speak!" she bluffed.
She raised her voice. "But the wrath of the Grey Wardens is but a trifle compared to my wrath! I am a powerful archmage, capable of destroying you with a single thought! As you saw, your weapons cannot harm me! And I know blood magic," she lied. "I can turn you into my thralls and make you perform unspeakable acts upon each other for my amusement! Who shall be my first?"
She couldn't see any of the archers so she would have to bring them out in to view. She stood and cast her Inferno again on the centre of the courtyard. She cast Fade Shield upon herself and walked into the centre of the fire. Sure enough, the soldiers had run forward to the walls. "You there! Stand still!" She pointed at one soldier and paralysed him. She turned. "You there! Dance for my amusement!" She hit another with Crushing Prison – not strong enough to kill him, but enough to make him twitch uncontrollably and wet himself. Cruel, yes, but he would live.
The sight of Cori 'enthralling' the soldiers from the centre of a huge column of flame was truly terrifying. "Enough! I tire of this. You're no sport at all!" She retreated back to her men and drank a potent lyrium potion. She held her hands up to her startled companions. "Don't worry. I'm not really a blood mage and I'm not really insane. I haven't hurt anybody. It's all for show," she whispered.
She cast Fade Shield upon herself again and stepped out into the courtyard. The Inferno had subsided. Nobody shot at her. "I now appeal to your good natures. Your former Master, Aedan Cousland, fought the blight with me and killed the Archdemon. His brother, your Teryn, has been driven mad with grief over the loss of his family at the hands of Rendon Howe. Aedan slew Rendon Howe. Justice has been done. Nathaniel Howe had no involvement in what happened to Bryce, Eleanor, Oriana, Oren and your comrades-in-arms.
I demand you take me to Warden Howe at once. We can do this peacefully, or I can torture you with fire and destroy your minds. Which will it be? Speak quickly!"
"Wait!" A strangulated cry came from above. "I'm coming down!"
Cori heard footsteps coming towards her. A terrified soldier appeared in the courtyard. "Please! Please don't hurt me! I'll take you to him!"
Cori's façade dropped immediately. "Does he live?"
"Y-Yes, I think so. Please – it's not far – just don't hurt me."
"Shut up and take me to him!"
Captain Aiden shouted to the other soldiers. "Surrender yourselves and you may be shown mercy. Come down at once!"
The soldiers came down, sweating and shaking. Upon seeing Justice most of them cowered and sat or lay on the ground. Captain Aiden continued. "You there! And you! Come with me! We're going to round up any other of your comrades. Get moving!"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The soldier took Cori downstairs into the dungeon. It was pitch black. Cori lit the torches in the wall sconces with her finger as they went. They reached a cell at the far end. It was in complete darkness. Only a scant amount of light reached it. A naked man lay on the floor with his back to her. Cori turned to the soldier. "Do you have any mages or medics in the castle?"
"N-no, Mistress. I'm…"
"Then get me some water and clean linen before I kill you!" She yelled, her voice cracking with emotion. The soldier nearly tripped over himself and ran as fast as he could.
She knelt down. Her hands shook and a sob caught in the back of her throat. She tried to steady herself as she watched for signs of movement. She could see none. It was very dark. She summoned a strong spell wisp, which gave off a little light.
She watched his chest for movement. Come on. Come on!
His chest rose and fell.
Cori dissolved into tears. She moved closer. His back was covered in bloody welts. He'd been horsewhipped. His hands and feet were bound so tightly they were bleeding. She took out a small knife she carried and unbound him. He went limp and groaned softly. "Nate?" She beseeched, hardly able to speak. "Nate, my darling, it's Cori. I'm here. I'm going to help you, my love." Her hands trembling, and with tears spilling down her cheeks, she gently stroked his hair. He groaned again.
The soldier ran in with a canteen of water and some rags. She glared at him, her eyes pale with fury and grief. "Is this the best you could do? Get away from me!" He turned and ran once more.
"Here, my love. Try to drink some of this." She held the canteen to Nate's mouth and tilted it. His lips were cracked and bleeding. He winced and hissed as the water touched them. "I know it hurts but you must try to drink some. Please." Nate turned his head upwards and opened his mouth. His face was an unrecognisable, bloody mess. Cori tipped a small amount of water into his mouth. He swallowed and started spluttering.
"I'm sorry, Nate. Please try to have a bit more." He lifted his right hand and grabbed the canteen. He still has some strength. Thank the Maker. He drank a small amount then went limp again.
"Nate! Are you still awake?"
"Mm-hmm."
She smiled. "Nate, I'm going to put you to sleep. I need to clean your wounds and it will be very painful if you're awake. Do you understand?"
He gasped as he struggled to speak. "Don't... leave me, Cori…" he whispered.
"I won't. I won't leave for one second. And I'll never let anybody hurt you again, I swear."
His body relaxed and he groaned again. She stroked his head as she sent him to sleep.
She heard footsteps approach. She wheeled around. It was Thibault. He ran up to her, shocked at the sight in front of him.
"Mademoiselle! Does he live?"
"Yes. I'm tending his wounds."
"Thank the Maker! Mademoiselle, we have captured Teryn Cousland. Aiden is holding him. What do you wish us to do with him?"