There was a crowd of angry citizens gathered outside the Arl's estate, shouting and pushing to get to the front door and it provided us the distraction we needed to sneak past most of the guards who were caught up in it.

We made our way as quietly as possible around the estate's garden and we spotted the window that Eamon had shown us on his map.

There were two guards that we could see, but they were down at the other corner of the building so we simply ignored them, making our way up and into the estate via the trellis under the window. It was obvious by the placement of the guards that Howe and Anora thought we would simply take the bait Erlina delivered and would fall into their trap.

Lucky for us that we were not as foolish as they had hoped.

We entered the hallway and could hear several voices in the room ahead of us, most likely soldiers in waiting.

I noiselessly made my way towards the doorway to estimate how many there were and Leliana whispered loudly to me.

"Detra stop!"

I turned only to feel my boot snap the slim wire pulled across the hallway and all four of us immediately dove to the floor, narrowly avoiding the gush of flames that spew from the fire trap above us.

We heard a bell in the distance as we leapt to our feet.

"Intruders! To arms, men! To arms!"

It seems they were ready for us after all.

I rolled my eyes in apology to my companions but there was no time for them to catch my look. Men were already spilling out into the hallway and moving towards us.

Wynne took care of quite a few of them for us with a tempest spell which we carefully worked around and after a few minutes, only a few of the men remained. I think some even took off running seeing that we had a mage with us. They were just mercenaries after all, loyal only to their next payment.

After the coast was clear, we searched the fallen men to find one still alive to question.

"Here," Leliana said, pointing to a groaning man, pressing her foot into his chest as he tried to get up.

I made my way over and pulled the man up from the floor, slamming him into the wall.

"Where is Rendon Howe?"

The mercenary grunted through bloody teeth.

"Sod off, Warden."

"That answer is unacceptable."

I launched my fist into the man's stomach and he doubled over in pain, only to have me slam him back into the wall again.

"I don't care about you and you don't care about me but I have a mage here that would just love to turn your insides into a fine paste if you don't answer quickly. I think it would be in your best interest to just answer me."

The soldier grunted as I held him uncomfortably in place, his body pressed into the wall and his terrified eyes settled on Wynne who balanced a fireball above her hand, smiling.

"Now for the last time, where is Howe?"

"Basement."

I dropped the man and he fell to the floor, rubbing his neck and grumbling, defeated.

"Now get out of here. Don't ever let me see you again."

He stood and then limped quickly down the hallway, in the opposite direction from where we were now headed.

There were a series of doors to go through first and then a flight of stairs and then I felt we'd reached the basement as it didn't feel as if we could go any lower.

We rounded the first corner of the basement and a guard surprised us as he turned to us.

"Who goes there? Who are..."

The guard's voice trailed off in a gurgle as arms protruded from the cell behind him and I heard his neck snap.

I gasped as I heard the jingle of keys and we heard the door creak open, the body of the dead guard now being dragged into the cell.

"Who is in the cell? Show yourself!" I yelled out.

A thin Orlesian accent drifted from the doorway.

"Give me one moment to put on some clothes and I will answer any questions you have."

I wasn't prepared for such a dignified answer. I thought perhaps it was some street rabble or the like. We waited a moment or so without another word and then a man with dark hair stepped from the doorway after the cell door creaked open, donning the guard's armor.

"I thank you for creating such distraction, stranger. I have been waiting days for that opportunity."

Alistair stepped forward.

"Hey..."

The dark haired man stepped forward as well.

"...Alistair? Is that truly you?"

"I knew that you looked familiar! You were at my Joining."

Alistair turned to me, smiling.

"He's one of us, Detra! A Warden! From Orlais, Jader I think. Or was it Montsimmard? I'm afraid I don't remember you name, friend."

The man bowed a bit before us.

"I am Riordan, senior Warden of Jader but born and bred in Highever and glad to be home. Albeit not under these circumstances."

I smiled now that there was good news after all. Apparently King Cailin's plea for help had not gone unanswered.

But where were the rest of the Wardens?

"Riordan... it's good to meet you but where are the other Wardens? Are they in Denerim?"

Riordan sighed.

"I was sent when we received no word from King Cailin as to the outcome at Ostagar. The King had invited all the Wardens of Orlais and their support troops to join him and then...nothing."

"How many Wardens did you bring?" Alistair and I both questioned at the same time.

"We had one hundred Wardens and three dozen divisions of cavalry. The first we heard of Loghain's edict was when we were turned back at the border. That was when the rumor reached us that Wardens were being blamed for the massacre at Ostagar and for many other troubles as well."

"So...how did you get here if you were all turned away?" Alistair asked before I could.

"We finally decided it was safest to send someone alone into Ferelden, to learn how best to fight the Blight and this new regime simultaneously. As a native Fereldan, I volunteered for the journey."

"But then you were captured by Howe? Did he know who you were?" I asked.

Riordan frowned.

"Yes. Howe captured me with an offer of hospitality and a poisoned chalice. I was still fool enough to think Loghain didn't yet know who I was."

"So the rest of the Wardens are not even in Ferelden? The Archdemon is nearly here and we have no help?" Alistair said nervously.

"The other Wardens won't risk their strength fighting Ferelden's civil war. If they spend themselves against Loghain, there is truly no hope. They recall the accounts of the first Blight...how many cities fell because of it. If Ferelden is too foolish to save itself, then at least we will be ready when the Archdemon leads its forces further."

Alistair and I looked at each other.

"It really is up to just us then...isn't it? Great." Alistair said.

"Have faith, you two! Surely Riordan has some other information that can help." Leliana said.

"I hear you haven't been doing badly at raising an army yourself. I am told the Dalish elves and the dwarves of Orzammar join our plight as well as the mages of the Circle."

I nodded and Alistair looked to calm down a bit.

"That is true. Perhaps we may just crush this Blight after all with their aid." I said.

"Riordan, are these your papers? We found them when we searched Howe's study and these are Warden symbols."

Alistair handed over the papers to Riordan and he smiled.

"Yes, these are my records. Howe must have taken them from me when he imprisoned me. These are some of the names of the dead I could recognize at Ostagar and what I could find of Duncan's own recruitment records."

"Did...did you happen to find Duncan's body?" Alistair asked, his voice small.

"I did not, my friend. It was...a grisly scene. One I would never want to see again."

The three of us bowed our heads almost simultaneously, as if having a moment of silence for all of our fallen brothers and sisters.

"I did, however, manage to locate many weapons scattered across the battlefield. I took what looked still viable and as much as I could carry but I still left much behind. Once this Blight is defeated, proper accounting must be done immediately."

"I agree. We must not let the dead be forgotten." I said, putting a hand on Alistair's arm.

"What weapons did you find, Riordan? Were there any special daggers?"

"Whatever I took off of the battlefield, it should still be within my hotel room at the Breakers Inn. Unless Howe knew where I was staying and removed everything."

Alistair looked at me, his eyes wide.

"He may have picked up Duncan's weapons... "

"I will make my way to the room once I leave here to see if any of my things still remain." Riordan said.

I held Alistair's hand as I watched him drift off into thought about Duncan. He had wanted something of Duncan's to remember him and maybe he would soon receive it.

"Yes, the copies of the Joining ritual..."

Riordan was mumbling to himself.

"What's that?" I asked.

Riordan showed us some of the papers that we had given him.

"These are copies of the Joining ritual I rescued from our Denerim vault. These should never be seen by any outside eyes but I trust in their encryption."

"The Joining ritual? So... we could induct more Wardens right now then?" I asked.

"If only we could, for Ferelden sorely needs them."

"What is the problem, Riordan?" Wynne asked.

Riordan changed his stance and spoke with his hands.

"For the Joining to work, the recruit needs not only fresh Darkspawn blood, but also a drop of blood preserved from an Archdemon. Ferelden's supply should have been in the vault along with these papers, but it was gone. I can only assume someone took it out and Loghain either confiscated or destroyed it."

"There must be some way to get it back! We must find out who took it." Alistair said angrily.

"We would waste several precious hours searching with no real promise of finding it, Alistair. I propose our efforts be directed towards what we know can be accomplished and making due with what we have."

Alistair and I looked at each other again.

There were only three Grey Wardens in all of Ferelden and a Blight was coming.

"So what happens now?" I asked, hoping Riordan had an answer for us.

"This conversation is all fine and well, Sister, but I believe you should finish your task here and then we may speak later of plans."

"Will you come with us, Riordan?" Alistair asked.

"I am not in any physical shape to be fighting right now. I need to seek out a physician."

I nodded my head, feeling shameful of having kept Riordan so long.

"I'm sorry, there were just so many questions we had no answers for...We really don't know what we're doing."

"We are staying at Arl Eamon's estate here in Denerim. I am sure he would be more than accommodating to one of our own ranks." Alistair offered.

"To Arl Eamon's estate then. I wish all of you luck with Howe and we shall speak again soon."

"Will you be able to make it on your own, Riordan?"

Riordan smiled at me.

"Isn't that what we Grey Wardens do best, Sister?"

And then he was gone.

"Loghain is making this unbelievable hard. We will be lucky if this Blight does not swallow all of Ferelden with it." I grumbled.

"I can't believe there are only three of us." Alistair said.

I was angry again and it was just what I needed.

"Let us just find Howe and find out what Loghain's plans are. We need to get back to the Arl and speak with Riordan about where to go from here. And I want Howe dead."

We continued on through the door Riordan had told us Howe had gone through and went down a ramp that led to another door.

The soldiers waiting to ambush us were ready but they were only more hired mercenaries. They had no real place in this fight and we bested them all easily as a team.

Several bodies littered the floor and we pressed onwards, seeking an end to this nightmare that was still all too real.

My eyes settled on the man I hated most in my life...

Rendon Howe.

He sauntered closer to our party and smiled, crossing his arms.

"I knew you'd come. You Couslands are ridiculously persistent, even if it leads to your undoing."

I had no words just yet but my blood was boiling.

"I was waiting for my men to drag you down here in those ridiculous outfits we gave to Erlina, but it seems you figured out our little ploy. No matter, I shall simply do now what I would have done a bit later...tear you apart."

Howe bared his teeth at me, gesturing to the floor.

"Since the floor is sticky with blood anyhow, there will be no cleanup left to do. Save for putting your head on a pike outside of the castle when I am done with you, Cousland."

Howe laughed at his own words.

"You are vile man." Leliana seethed behind me, growling at Howe.

Howe shot a glance at Leliana and laughed again.

"Still with the whores, Detra? I thought you might have outgrown that by now."

My body burned as I stared at Howe.

I needed to know.

"Why, Howe? My father held you as a brother and this is how you repaid him? How could you do this?"

Howe offered continued laughter and cruelty in response.

"Your father could not hold on to a thing, including his wife. Did you not ever wonder why you and Fergus look nothing alike?"

My eyes bulged from their sockets with thoughts of what Howe was implying.

No, no it couldn't be. He was simply trying to get a rise out of me.

Mother would rather die first.

There was no real reason other than my father had held power and Howe had wanted it for himself, that was the only explanation.

"Try again, Howe. You'll never have me believe such rubbish."

Howe laughed again, almost maniacally.

"Rubbish, what rubbish? I can clearly remember the type of wine she ordered when we'd gotten that room at the inn..."

"Enough!"

I screamed and charged at Howe, my sword poised for death and he looked a bit off guard for a moment but met my sword with his shield.

"You know that it's true, that's why you're fighting so hard. Your mother was a whore and your father was a two-bit nothing who stole what belonged to me. They both got what they deserved. I only wish I had been there to see their bodies burn."

I knew that Howe was provoking me and the truth was, I didn't care. He was going to die by my blade this day, no matter if it took my life to make it so or not.

A bolt of lightning hit my body just then and I was frozen in place and in pain and all I could hear was Howe laughing.

"I'll be sending you to see your dear parents again soon enough, girl. But for now I'd love to see you writhe in pain."

The mage that held me in my place was in the corner of the room and Leliana had already spotted her, charging with her blades drawn. Leliana's distraction bought me enough time to dodge Howe's next blade attack and to return one of my own, my blade penetrating his gut.

I twisted my blade sideways causing Howe to cry out and I was hit with another blaze of lightning that knocked me to the floor.

I saw Leliana knocked to the floor as well in the corner and I fought to get up and watched Howe be healed by his mage.

"You cannot defeat me. You are a Cousland and you will die by my hand, as the rest of your line has. That glory shall be mine!"

I shield bashed Howe away from me so I could regain my footing and then charged at him and our swords crossed many times. All Howe could do was laugh and hurl insults as I chiseled away at his defenses and prayed that my friends could take his mage down. She was causing me much grief as he received constant first aid.

"Your head on a pike, Cousland!"

More men came rushing in through the door behind me but Wynne had them down on the floor in just seconds with a sleep spell and I could concentrate on Howe once again.

I could see the anger and hatred and insanity in Howe's eyes as we battled each other and it was terrifying to see such evil within one person.

"Why don't you just die, Cousland? You cannot win!"

I dodged another lightning bolt just in time and finally saw Alistair pounce on the mage. Her defenses must have been weakened having to heal Howe and now she was paying the price of defending such a monster with her life.

This slight distraction was all Howe needed to knock me to the ground with a hit from his mace to the side of my head that I was only able to half-block.

Dazed, I stared up at him as he descended upon me, smiling that evil grin. I knew that he would stop at nothing to ensure my death.

Leliana suddenly sunk both of her blades into Howe's back and he cried out in agony, falling to his knees.

"The Maker will show no mercy on you, you evil, twisted creature!" Leliana screamed at Howe.

"Your mage won't be saving you this time, you bastard." I fumed, getting on my feet with Wynne's help.

Leliana backed away from us now. She knew this was my fight alone.

"Go to Hell, Cousland." Howe managed to whimper, holding his wounds, blood spilling over his arm.

"You first."

I kicked Howe in the face and he fell backwards onto the floor, sprawling out, blood now coming from his mouth.

"How does it feel to know you're going to die and that I will watch? Your life...ended by a Cousland. As it should be."

I put my boot into his wounds and ground my heel deep and listened to his screams, reveling in them. After a moment, the screams could just as well have been my family and it scared me enough to move away from Howe. I would not become as evil as he was.

Howe's face was contorted in pain and he knew he was dying but he could not resist being evil until the end.

"Maker spit on you, Cousland...I deserved more..."

Mother and Father, Oriana and Oren, all of our servants... all flashed through my head as I prepared my blade.

"This is for my family..."

I lifted my sword above him and sank it deep into his heart, twisting the blade.

He was gone within seconds.

There was no chance of revival now and it was done.

The man who had taken my family from me was no longer in this world.

Howe was dead.

My shoulders sagged as I stared at Howe's now lifeless body and Leliana touched my shoulder from behind.

"Detra...I'm sorry."

I was deep in thought and I touched Leliana's hand on my shoulder in place of thanking her.

My friends gave me time and they backed away from the scene, letting me do what I needed to. All I saw in my head was remnants of the battle at the Cousland home, how Mother and I had run from room to room, searching. Finding Owen and Oriana...leaving my parents to die...

I choked a bit, aware my team was still behind me.

Gods help me through this.

Finally I turned to them all and just stared, unable to speak and hoping they understood that I was ready to leave now.

"Let's go." Wynne said, taking my arm gently.

"Should we even have asked him what Loghain's plans were?" Alistair asked quietly.

"He would never have talked anyhow." I said, dazed.

"We should get back to the estate lest more soldiers come, Detra." Wynne offered.

"Yes, you're right. Let's get out of here. I've had enough of this place to last a lifetime."

Any wounds we had were healed and then we made our way out of Howe's estate, into the streets of Denerim and towards Eamon's estate.