Sorry for the wait, long work hours and such got me a bit a stuck. Hopefully the rest of this arc should follow smoothly.

Soldier's Keep

The snow was deep, but at least they were out of the caves. Dain brought the fresh cold air into his lungs, savouring the smell. The keep seemed to nearly be buried deep in the snowdrifts, but as they walked, the huge stone gates rose massively high, and inside the rest of the keep and towers were bare of the white snow.

"It is very quiet."

"It's been abandoned since Sophia was Warden Commander and this place was besieged. And then the stories of ghosts, possessions and demons. I guess those kept any idea of wanting to come here nil, until I er...yes and you said you would honour Duncan's promise."

Levi was an interesting man, full of stories and also filled with the hope that Sophia his maligned relative was innocent of all charges King Arland had charged her. The wind was the only thing making noise, whistling through broken stones and soaring towers. As they passed through the gates even that sound stopped.

"It's pretty deserted."

"Not totally."

Dain said. He was crouching next to the skeletal remains of a man, his weapons still held in his hands. An old sword and a rigid shield.

"One of Arland's men?"

Dain tipped the broken skull back and drew free the pendant, holding it to show Alistair.

"No, a Warden."

Alistair's gasp was awed and hushed, Zevran rolling his eyes, he stood next to Levi. Dain slid the Oath back under the fraying shirt before standing.

"Morrigan, is the temperature here enough to have the bodies slow to decompose?"

The mage turned to look at the dead Warden, already half way up the stairs to the main hall.

"Normally I would say no, after so long even the hair is still apparent on that one. Animals would have scattered bones, unless…"

It wasn't only the mage who saw them. Glowing wisps of magic, circling around the courtyard, crackles of energy coming from the impossible things. Dain reached out to touch one, and instead the crackles coalesced into a memory. Not wardens, but Arland's army, executing an order. It faded slowly, everyone's eyes round in shock.

"I wasn't ready for that."

Alistair said, rubbing his eyes. Dain frowned, looking to Morrigan.

"Mass hallucination Dain? Not that was real, a real memory caught in the wisps of magic."

"How are they caught?"

"That is an interesting question."

Morrigan turned, taking one step up the stairs. A skeleton rose before her as if once again alive. Fire erupted out from her raised hands and she darted down the stairs closer to the others. All around them, the ruined bodies of long dead wardens and soldiers from Arland's army rose, rattling swords and shields, arrows fitted to crossbows.

"Again, seriously? I thought my quota for the undead was all used up."

Zevran sliced a bolt from the air,

"You've fought these things before?"

This time the zombies were better trained, even for being mostly skeletal and some years old, they still fought well and Dain and Alistair found the experience of fighting brother wardens disconcerting; even those that were dead. Levi ducked behind Zevran, the elf's blades defending not just himself but a merchant without any weapons or skill with them. It was short but ferocious fighting, when the skeletons were finally down the wisps of magical energy died away. But the in coming group was slow to put away their weapons.

"We should be ready for more of this inside the castle."

Morrigan said. Levi wiped his obvious sweat with his shirt, unable to take his eyes from the old ruined remains of allies and enemies alike.

"Then we'll be aware. Zevran, stay with Levi he's useless dead."

Levi blushed at the lascivious look the elf gave him.

"Aren't we all Dain? I am forever at your side."

Dain elbowed the elf as he moved past towards the stairs Morrigan had quickly vacated.

"You can continue your amorous pursuits after we figure out this castle. Provided he's willing I suppose."

Levi's blush was scorching, threatening to smoulder into a flame. The huge doors weren't locked, but rigid with time and age. Alistair and Dain leant their shoulders against the heavy wood and strained. Finally they moved, giving ground up only with a fight. Inside the magic gave up another memory. Sophia, wearing the heavy armour of the Warden Commander, spoke stirringly to her men. Dain moved closer, circling around the Wardens, fighting against the army of the country they had sworn to protect. It was pure suicide, but it still stirred him. And then the memory faded and they were alone in the small entry room of the keep.

"This lists the Wardens who survived in the Keep, then who died here."

Alistair recited the names.

"What are you thinking?"

Zevran asked Dain. Their Commander licked his lips slowly but answered,

"That having just one of them around would make this much easier."

"I don't know about that Warden, but having you and Alistair, as well as erm, the others, I think that we'll be alright."

Levi said; it wasn't directly spoken to Dain. As it was the merchant was rummaging around the corners of the room, hands steadily gathering dust and dirt.

"The others?"

Morrigan said scathingly, Zevran winked at her.

"Yes, us. Those of us whose names he cannot remember. But do not fear, I will make you remember mine."

A hand trailed along Levi's back as Zevran spoke the last sentence. Alistair snorted, still grinning when he met Dain's eyes. Levi stood quickly, not able to look Zevran in the face. Dain opened the door, registering immediately the stones on the far side of the room shimmering with growing heat. Alistair drew his sword in nearly the same instant.

"Demons…oh and a horror. Brilliant."

Alistair said. The demons were frozen quickly, though their rage demon heat wouldn't keep them that way for long. Dain shoulder charged one; it shattered, on his way to the horror. It had the same menacing skeletal grin that the sloth demon had possessed. It turned an eyeless face to him, clawed hands reaching for him. Zevran appeared, severing one arm before spinning and disappearing into the air. Dain found himself glad, once more, that he had spared the elf and that he was on their side. Parrying the arm Dain back slashed. It wasn't enough to have the horror dead, indeed it summoned a cage of telekinetic energy around him. And while he was held, he couldn't see but feel the effects of this crushing prison. Air and spittle was forced from his lungs at the pressure. But behind the leering and nearly spent horror Alistair loomed. It fell into bone dust and sparks of magic as the sword severed it's dry head. The prison was gone and Dain fell to his knees. He gathered his breath, spitting the blood from his bitten lip to the stones.

"Is Levi alive?"

He hoarsely said. Zevran moved into his field of vision, pretend hurt on his dark skinned face, a hand even placed above his heart.

"I am wounded, to the very core. Of course mi amor is alive and well. And you as well."

Dain heaved himself up, the anchor of Alistair's hand a help. Taking stock of himself and the others in a quick glance he looked to the next door.

"Right, let us carry on."

Levi watched the armoured man arise quickly and continue on his quest. He couldn't hide his scoff; Zevran heard it and winked,

"He can always surprise, yes?"

The merchant just nodded.

"They summoned demons!"

Levi had been repeating those three words like a mantra ever since that memory had coalesced around them, faded and then those same summoned demons had attacked them. This time the group was slower in rising, Morrigan healing a badly burnt Zevran and a broken armed Alistair.

"Demons!"

Levi said, looking finally at Dain. It had surprised him too, that even though he knew what it took for the Wardens, what it was taking for him in this blight…He wasn't sure if demons had truly been the right place to look for aide. And then the brutal betrayal; though as Dain thought, perhaps they should have expected it. But only he had known what depth demons could go too; especially after the Circle tower. He bent and picked up the staff. He could feel the coldness even through his thick gloves. There was the vibrating power of magic around it and there was no denying the interest that shone on Morrigan's face. He held it out to her,

"Can you use this?"

She reached excited hands out to it. Despite the frost that coated his gloves from it's freezing temperature, Morrigan held the staff with no obvious discomfort. As she moved it, sparkles of ice shone around it, there was no hiding the breath of winter the staff seemed to embody.

"I can. It will be useful if we find more of these rage demons."

And with that it was Morrigan's. Zevran stretched, checking the line of a tattoo that had nearly been marred by burn. But he looked relieved as he traced the design.

The battle was brief, the dead scrambling to reach softer bodies over the two shields. Morrigan lifted her staff and they froze. It was with simple and economic movements that Alistair and Dain shattered their useless bodies. But they didn't sheath their weapons. Dain lifted a heavy armoured leg, thundering it into the locked door, it splintered and he climbed through the splinters and remnants. The smell of old and rotten death assailed his nostrils. A figure stood behind the desk; the source of the odour. No one spoke; Dain slowly sheathed his weapon and moved forward.

"This one would speak with you."

Dain felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. The figure turned; there was no doubting who it was. She was the one who had stood up to King Arland, and she who had caused the banishment of the Wardens. Sophia Dryden. But he'd seen the deadened eyes before, the menacing echo in the voice and the rot that was showing on her face.

"Would she? And the one manipulating her?"

"Is interested in her. Her memories are full of sights that would like to be seen. Would you listen to her, Warden Commander?"

"I realise I'm stating the obvious. But Levi, your great great grandmother is possessed."

Alistair said, but the merchant shook his head.

"No, my grandmother is dead."

Not-Sophia's head shifted slightly, her focus quickly on Levi before it shifted back to Dain.

"This one has a deal for you."

Dain merely inclined his head. Zevran couldn't help but grin; after everything he knew of Dain, could he be brutal enough to negotiate with demons? He caught the smirk that Morrigan gave as she watched the play before her.

"This keep has been a prison since this one made our deal. In memories far off places have tantalised us. But you have felt it, especially you mage, the rip in the veil of the Fade. We wish only to be free to travel the world, but in return we seal the rift."

"But there is more to this deal isn't there?"

Dain said, crossing his arms, giving nothing away even to this possessed body. A lip rose in a grotesque parody of a smile. Alistair winced, Levi turned fully away.

"For us to leave, you will need to destroy the mage tower. Smash and crush it to dust and brick!"

There was bright vehemence there, it interested Dain as did the name. The mage tower?

"You ask much demon, demand a lot from me for your freedom. Trust is involved, where there is none to be found."

There was no reply from the demon. Perhaps she saw through his words, perhaps she knew that he was lying.

"You seal the rift now, under the protection of me and my men, then I will enter the tower."

Those dead orbs seemed to study him, perhaps the demon had powers to see into his mind, into his heart.

"We…will do as you say. But the ritual takes time. Many will come through to stop us, your men must fight hard."

Dain nodded and the demon moved out from behind the desk. Behind her the wafting odour of rot and must. Alistair didn't look at Dain as he followed him, perhaps even he though that Dain would side with this demon; but even after the trials of the sloth demon?

The demon Sophia was right. The instant the ritual started rage demons dragged themselves from portals in the stone floor. Morrigan's magic, bolstered by the powerful staff turned the room into a blizzard. Rushing forward Dain and Alistair, exhaling roils of white steam, struck the demons. Weakening and cooling talons raking at shields. But the spell had done its work and the demons fell below their weapons. While snow lay in banks around the room the flying snow dissipated and the demon moved to the next spell circle. Morrigan was forced to heal the other three after every circle was sealed. Blood spat from Zevran's lips after a powerful strike to his chest by an ash wraith. Alistair moved sluggishly and confused from the massive contact with the thick stone walls, sent there by the leap ability of another. Dain hadn't been able to defend the strong whirlwind attack, brutal physical thuds had sent him to the ground. The demon had watched them with no emotion, merely waiting for Morrigan to heal before moving to the final circle.

"Here she comes, she is powerful and will be difficult to harm."

It was right. From the murky edges of the tear, a humanoid figure appeared. Purple flames arose from the pointed skull. But though golden demon eyes watched those before it, the body was purely female. Until clawed and deformed hands rose to caress pierced breasts, a segmented tail coiling behind.

"Desire demon, be weary!"

Morrigan spoke, instantly challenging the demon. Genuine laughter rose, stained lips parting to issue that sound. Dain ground his teeth, trying to unhear that sound. Twisted horns rose from her forehead, golden jewellery sparkled even against her pale lilac skin. Dain powered his legs into a run, leading with his shield he battered at the malformed demon. The laughter stopped. But those hands gripped the shield, moving it so he looked into the demon's eyes. He tried to wrest it free, but those lips curved once more. The ripple of energy she gave him had him not only ground into the floor, but flung away from her. He lifted his dizzy head, finding four demon's in his vision not the original one. Morrigan knelt next to him, her blue healing glow dull.

"She's nullified any healing. You're going to have to end this quickly."

Dain stumbled to his feet. Morrigan lifted her staff, her own scary grin on her lips. Dain leapt into another run, the bolt of freezing energy released from the cold staff shone past him heading for the desire demon.