Our favorite Chantry/would-be Templar boy...hmm...
Bioware owns! :D
Chapter 25 - The Templar Within
She sat at a desk, alone, far from the rest that were assembled in the main hall waiting for her. For her decision. She groaned and closed her eyes, mentally replaying what had just taken place there. The boy, Connor, was possessed most certainly by a demon. He had controlled Teagan and commanded the six guards and Teagan to attack them and they had fought and won.
Connor-abomination had then fled the room, and Teagan was no longer under the demon's control. Then, as they deliberated on what had to be done, Isolde had asked Teagan to bring Jowan from the dungeons.
That's when things had gotten even more difficult as Jowan had proposed they use blood magic to cure the boy. A mage would be sent into the Fade to battle the demon that held Connor there, and free the boy, but in doing so a life had to be taken in order for the blood magic to work.
Isolde had offered herself up as a sacrifice to save her only son, and even though Alyssa disliked her, she could not bring herself to agree to this. She had excused herself, asking for some time to decide what had to be done.
When she had stepped into the room next to the main hall, the armor displays there had come to life and everyone had rushed to her aid. Once that was over, she had separated herself from the rest and had come into this room to think things over.
She sighed and thought about Alistair. He had been a Templar. There was no way that he would approve of a blood magic ritual to take Isolde's life in order to save the boy. This was keeping her from accepting Jowan's offer. Then there was the fact that she had promised Teagan that she would save them all.
Her brow furrowed in thought and her eyes fell on a half-opened drawer. Something shiny glinted at her and she grabbed it to see it better. The symbol of Andraste winked back at her. She remembered Alistair describing an amulet just like this one. It had been shattered, and the one she held in her hand had been glued together. She put it in her pocket and heard footsteps approaching the room.
She waited but knew who it was, the taint in him pulled at her before he made his appearance.
He stood at the door looking down at her, concern and love in his eyes. She sighed and he strode over to where she was and pulled her to him, stroking her hair and a sigh escaped his lips before he spoke.
"I know what you are going through, and that somehow you will not agree to the blood magic ritual."
Alyssa stood up so fast that he stepped back a few steps.
"Is this the templar speaking, or is it Alistair?"
Alistair blinked. "You can't be serious! Are you telling me you are actually considering this ritual? Blood magic is evil, and you know this!"
"Is it? If Blood Magic is indeed evil, how is it that Jowan was still a prisoner when we found him? How is it that he was being attacked? Why didn't he use blood magic to defend himself, to kill everyone, Isolde included? I think that Blood Magic is evil only if the person wielding it is evil, and I honestly do not think Jowan is evil, Alistair. A fool, yes. But not evil."
His eyes widened as he looked at her, shocked at her reply.
"You say it is evil because you were told it is evil and you had to believe it is evil. You were training to be a Templar, and it is natural that you think it evil."
"So you're saying that you are actually going to accept Jowan's offer?" He could not believe what he was hearing, and his eyes flashed with anger briefly, and then sadness crept into them, a sadness that hurt her even more than the flash of anger had.
She shook her head. "No. I promised Teagan that nobody would get hurt. If we head off to the Tower to seek their help, the First Enchanter owes me and we could probably return with more mages and lyrium to perform the ritual. Nobody would get hurt and everything would be fine. Teagan says it's less than a day's journey from here to the Tower by boat. I was thinking that maybe Morrigan could do something to speed up our trip there, I don't know. Maybe a spell that would make the boat go faster as we row. Then we could probably make it there and back faster."
He smiled, relief all over his face, as he made a move to take her in his arms. She sighed against him and looked up. Her next words had more impact than any others had before them.
"But if that wasn't the case, I would certainly ask Jowan to perform the ritual. The boy has to be stopped and quickly. Right now the demon is probably weak, and getting its strength back. It will attack again and I will not risk the lives of all the people here. The lives of those who fought bravely all through the night. They deserve to live, more than ever. A Grey Warden must do what he must in order to preserve the lives of many. Duncan told me this. You know this."
He shuddered silently but still held her closely.
"You have to control the Templar within, Alistair. You are a Grey Warden now. Your decisions cannot be a Templar's," she said firmly.
He knew she was right and nodded. She realized that he understood and rested her head on his chest. They stood there for a few moments, holding each other, till she softly broke their embrace and headed back to the room.
"I've reached a decision." Her voice rang through the main hall, strong and calm, and somehow Teagan felt that she would keep the promise she had made to him before.