I know I keep saying it, but I mean it: Thank you all for your kind reviews. xx
Yvanna Silverstream, there's a little something for you in this chapter, as per your request!
Warning: Some disturbing imagery in this chapter.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Teryn Fergus Cousland sat tied to a chair in one of his private chambers. Two men wearing the livery of Amaranthine stood guard over him. The blond man appeared to be in command. And by the door stood something that looked like…a corpse? In Grey Warden armour?
Fergus gripped the arms of the chair, his eyes wide with terror. He started screaming. "NO! What devilry is this? Get him away from me!" Aiden and Faolan pushed him back against the chair and told him to be quiet.
"Can't you see him?" Fergus cried, pointing at Justice. "How can he be here? He's dead! Aedan! How can you be here? Help me! Somebody help me!" He started sobbing. Captain Aiden whispered to Justice, who left the room and stood outside.
A tall, red-haired man with a moustache walked in, wearing Orlesian armour and a cape. He waved his hand in front of his face and wrinkled his nose.
"Opium," the blond man stated.
"Capitaine - the Commander, she is tending to his wounds. She will not come until she has stabilised his condition."
"How severe is his condition?"
"It appeared to me that he was near death. He has been brutalised!" he said angrily, glaring at the Teryn.
An Orlesian, of all things, thought Fergus."How dare you address me with such insolence, filth. I am the Teryn of Highever!"
The Orlesian stripped the Teryn's bed and took pillows, blankets, clothes and a bottle of whisky from on top of the dresser.
"Put those back, you thieving Orlesian cur!" The Teryn slurred, then vomited onto his shirt.
The Orlesian looked down on him with disgust. "You disgrace the proud Cousland name," and exited the room.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Thibault brought the items to Cori. As he approached, he noticed a faint green glow emanating from Warden Howe.
Cori was muttering to herself. "Curses! Why didn't I pay more attention in healing lessons? No, I had to learn the exciting spells, didn't I? I had no time for the boring healing magic. Blast and damnation! He'll pay for what he's done to you, Nate!"
Thibault knelt down next to her. "Here, Mademoiselle. Whisky to clean his wounds."
Cori took it gratefully and sighed. "I'm not going to be able to heal him, Thibault. I don't have the skill. I can dress his wounds and give him food and drink to bolster him but he needs a healer. My skill in healing is inferior."
Thibault looked concerned. "Your mage friend at the Keep, Anders? He is a healer, non? But it will take the best part of a day to return to Vigil's Keep. Will he be strong enough for the journey?"
Cori shook her head. "No. We need to get him to Denerim. If I can strengthen him enough, we can leave around noon. If we're quick, we can reach Denerim by late afternoon."
Thibault nodded in agreement. "Know you of someone in Denerim with the skill to heal him?"
"I know the King. He will have healing mages and will accommodate us."
Thibault rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. "Of course." He watched as she gently tended to Nate, telling him what she was doing, despite him being unconscious.
"You must command great loyalty from your men, Mademoiselle. You are very conscientious about their well-being."
"I am, Thibault. But this man means something to me personally also."
Thibault shook his head. "I am deeply sorry. I did not realise. I will pray for him, Mademoiselle. May I render further assistance?"
"Would you find the kitchen and see if you can find anything suitable for him to eat? Broth, perhaps? And some bread? And perhaps some sweet tea?" Cori laughed nervously. "And the kitchen sink, if it's not too much trouble."
Thibault grinned broadly and bowed. "At once."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
When Thibault returned with tea, soup and bread, but no kitchen sink, Nate was awake, but barely. He was propped up with pillows and his top half was dressed, his lower half covered with a blanket. His arms lay slack in his lap. Cori was cleaning his facial wounds with a torn pillowcase soaked in whisky. He winced as she dabbed at him.
Thibault set the tray down and crouched next to Nate. Cori took Thibault's hand. "Thank you. I don't know how we'd have managed without you. Nate, this is Thibault, the man I told you about? He's brought you some tea and broth."
Thibault took Nate's limp hand and shook it. Nate remembered him. They'd practised archery together at the Keep. Nate half-opened his eyes and looked in Thibault's direction, having trouble focusing. "Thanks," he croaked.
Thibault released Nate's hand and turned to Cori. "I will see to him now, Mademoiselle. You have a matter to attend to, non?"
She looked at him and nodded. "Nate, I will leave you in Thibault's capable hands. I'll be back shortly. There's something I have to take care of."
Nate nodded. Thibault watched as Cori tenderly touched Nate's face and kissed his cheek. Nate managed a faint smile, then winced.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Cori walked towards the private chambers, having been given directions from Thibault.
All thoughts connecting Fergus to Aedan were gone from her mind. All she could think of was the sight of Nate, naked and lying in his own urine, covered in bloody lacerations and what appeared to be cigar burns. How he had wept when he woke up, thinking he had only dreamed of her being there with him. How he winced every time she touched him. How his hands trembled. How he couldn't look her in the eye because he was ashamed of being so weakened.
As she approached, she could hear incoherent shouting and weeping coming from within. Justice was standing outside. He hailed her.
"Justice, why are you outside?"
"The Teryn believes me to be his dead brother, my lady. My appearance seemed to greatly disturb him."
"Oh. It's probably the armour. Aedan was a Grey Warden, as Kristoff was."
"My lady, I think we both know there is more to it than that."
"Perhaps you're right. I'm sorry. I don't take you for a fool. We'll discuss this properly when we're in Denerim and I know we're all safe. I just need to take care of this problem we have."
"Do you intend to slay him, my lady?"
Cori's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"He has not taken a life. To slay him would be an act of vengeance, and not one of justice."
Cori bristled. "You haven't seen what he did to Nathaniel! He nearly died! Even now, I am unsure as to whether he will last until we get to Denerim! Call it what you like, but he will pay for what he's done!"
Cori barged past Justice, opened the door and slammed it shut.
In front of her, a dark-haired man sat slumped in a chair. He was covered in vomit and had obviously soiled himself. A cloying, earthy smell hung in the air. Cori coughed and cleared her throat. "Teryn Cousland, I am Corinth Amell, Warden-Commander of Ferelden. You have committed a grievous act of assault upon a Grey Warden. What have you to say for yourself?"
Fergus looked her up and down contemptuously. His eyes met hers. Cori froze. He's the image of Aedan.
"You employ Howes as Grey Wardens now, do you? Do you have any idea what they did to my family? Do you?"
"Nathaniel Howe had nothing to do with the murder of your family. He has been in the Free Marches for the last 8 years, and was in Kirkwall when Rendon Howe lay siege to the castle. He is innocent. Rendon Howe is dead. I was there. I saw Aedan kill him with my own eyes."
Fergus looked at her in disbelief and growing fury. He strained against the chair, trying to stand up. Aiden pressed his sword against Fergus' neck.
Fergus slumped back, but his fury had not abated. "So you're the one that killed Aedan! You were too cowardly to do the job yourself, so you let him do it! Couldn't you have left one member of my family alive? Was that too much to ask? And now you're the mighty Commander of the Grey. Not content with killing him, you usurp Aedan of his rightful position, while he lies dead in the ground over a thousand miles from his home in the Anderfels!"
"How dare you…!" Cori began, but was cut off.
"And yet Aedan is the lucky one! He didn't see what I saw when I returned here from Ostagar! Our mother and father lying in a river of blood in the kitchen! My lovely Oriana lay slain with our unborn child still in her womb…" He started to weep. "And my boy…my Oren…one day all of this would have been his. And now I shall never hear his laugh again, never scold him for climbing a tree and skinning his elbow, never see him fall in love and marry…and never hold his children in my arms!
Do you want to know what I will always remember about my boy? The thing I see every time I close my eyes, that haunts my dreams? As I lifted his broken body from the ground, I looked into his eyes. They were gone! All that was left were two empty sockets because his eyes had been eaten away by maggots! That is all I have left, thanks to the Howes! They all deserve death! Every last one of them!" He collapsed back into the chair, wailing from the pit of his stomach as he sobbed.
Cori turned away from him, repulsed. She bit back tears and tried to steady her erratic breathing. I can't let you live. You will never let the Howes be. If we take you into custody, you'll be thrown in an asylum or prison, forced to relive what's happened over and over again for the rest of your life. Your family wouldn't have wanted that.
She remembered Bann Teagan's words. It would have been a kindness, had he died.
"Give me your sword, Captain."
"Commander, this is the Teryn of Highever. We cannot just slay him. He needs to be brought to trial and to answer for his crime."
"Then leave the room. You can arrest me, or do whatever you like afterwards. This man has reached his end. I owe it to his brother - The Hero of Ferelden - to end his suffering."
Captain Aiden stepped forward and unsheathed his sword. "Very well. I will do it."
Justice entered the room, having been listening at the door. "I will not allow you to do that. That would not be a just punishment." He too drew his sword.
Fergus, due to his constant wriggling in the chair, had managed to loosen the ropes that tied his hands. He seized his opportunity. He sprang from the chair and launched himself at Cori, his hands around her throat. His momentum slammed Cori's head against the wall, knocking her unconscious. As they fell, he squeezed with all his might.
His grip loosened. He slumped at Cori's side, with three swords in his back.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Varel received Eoghan at the gate to Vigil's Keep. Eoghan relayed the news that Cori and the others believed Fergus Cousland to have abducted Nathaniel, and were on their way to Highever. Varel thanked him and invited him inside to rest and eat, but Eoghan politely declined, as he had to return to Amaranthine immediately.
Varel went inside. There were no Wardens in the dining hall, for once. They were packing for their trip to Amaranthine. Varel went up to Anders' room. He'd noticed that Anders had been unusually quiet and pensive during Cori and Nathaniel's absence.
He knocked the door.
"Who is it?"
"Varel."
"Come in, Varel."
Anders was sat cross-legged on his bed, with half a dozen robes in front of him. "I know, Varel. We'll only be there for a day or two. I just can't decide which robes to take." He sighed dramatically and rested his head on his hand.
"Anders, I've decided to delay the trip to Amaranthine for now. I've received some news just now."
"Oh?"
"Concerning Nathaniel and Cori."
Anders swung his legs round and sat on the edge of the bed. He gulped and steeled himself for the worst. "Go on, then."
Varel was direct. "The Commander has strong reason to believe that Nathaniel was abducted by the Teryn of Highever, Fergus Cousland."
"Cousland?" Anders interrupted. "You mean Aedan Cousland's brother?"
"That I do. She and Captain Aiden are on their way to Highever as we speak."
"That's all? Just the two of them?"
"As well as some scouts and soldiers from Amaranthine. Unfortunately they lost several hours before the Commander realised where Nathaniel had been taken."
Anders walked over to the window, turning away from Varel. "Cori told me about Fergus Cousland. He lost his whole family. Nate's father slaughtered them as they slept. Nate's father, Varel. He obviously wants vengeance. That's it then. Nate's dead."
"Not necessarily, Anders. The men that abducted him could have killed him outside Amaranthine but didn't…"
Anders interrupted. "No, Varel! The Teryn obviously wants to do the job himself! And where better to do it than at a fortress guarded by dozens of men? Cori and her little band won't have a chance! We need to go, now!" He started shoving robes into his pack.
Varel stood up. "Anders! Get a hold of yourself!" Anders stopped what he was doing, surprised to hear Varel raising his voice.
Varel softened his voice a little. "They already have a day on us, Anders. They would have reached Highever several hours ago. We would be of no help to them. We need to stay here to receive them when they return. They may be injured or need assistance. And we still have the darkspawn in the basement to contend with. I will not clear the Keep of personnel when it would clearly be in vain."
"Then let me go!"
Varel shook his head. "And what should I tell the Commander when she returns, Anders, that I let you go into the wilderness with the darkspawn on your own?"
"But I can sense darkspawn now!"
"You know as well as I do that you can only sense them when they are right next to you, and when you have plenty of time to concentrate. The answer is no."
"Are you going to tie me up, Varel? Because that's the only way you're going to stop me! I'm going!" He threw some bottles into his pack.
"Anders. Listen to me. We have to prepare for the possibility that Nathaniel is dead. When the Commander gets back it is you she will need, you she will turn to. What do you think she will do if she returns to find you gone?"
Anders slumped against the wall. He was silent for a few moments. His lip started to quiver. "Oh blast it! I'm not going to…" Tears rolled down his cheeks. "It's not fair! Nate didn't do anything to the Couslands! If he dies, Cori will just…she'll fall apart this time. They were so happy together. I can't just stand around waiting to hear that one or both of them are dead, Varel!"
Varel spoke softly. "I'm sorry, Anders. But that is exactly what we must do."
Anders nodded, wiping his face with his sleeve. "I know." He sighed. "Sorry for being an arse."
Varel walked over and slapped the young mage's shoulder. "Come, Anders. I'll tell the others the news, then what say you and I get drunk?"
"Sounds good to me, Varel," he sniffed.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Captain Aiden acted swiftly. He ordered Faolan and Justice to remain at Highever to manage the incarcerated soldiers, promising to send aid from Denerim. Aiden and Thibault were the best horse riders of the four of them, so they would carry Nathaniel and Cori with them. Cori had not yet regained consciousness. Nathaniel was conscious, but extremely weak.
Nathaniel was able to sit upright on a horse, but needed support. He rode in front of Aiden, who stretched his arms out in front of him and held onto the horse's bridle, providing support for Nathaniel. This was uncomfortable for Aiden, however, and he had to keep fidgeting to stop his arms and back from hurting. Nathaniel did what he could to help, though.
Cori was a dead weight and unfortunately had to lie across the horse. Thibault tied Cori securely to the horse and pinned back her hair. He also loosely tied a rope around her knees to prevent her robes from blowing about, thus preserving her modesty. He was sorely grieved that a lady had to be hauled like cargo in this fashion, but there was little choice. Thibault held her head securely against the horse as he rode, hoping to prevent any further injury from occurring.
They met the two scouts along the road and informed them of what had transpired. Aiden told them to carry on to Highever to assist Faolan and Justice. As soon as they arrived in Denerim they would send soldiers and horses for them.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Aiden and Thibault reached the Palace District just before 5 o'clock. They were challenged to state their business as they reached the gates.
"Ser, I am Captain Aiden of Amaranthine. We carry the Warden-Commander of Ferelden and a Grey Warden. They are gravely injured. I seek immediate medical assistance, and an audience with the King. I bring ill news from Highever."
One of the sentries ran up to them and identified Cori. "Let them in!" He shouted. "Inform the King that the Commander of the Grey is here! Fetch the healing mages at once!"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Cori drifted in and out of consciousness. She murmured as she felt somebody stroking her hair. Her eyes flitted open, but all she could see was a blur. She closed them again. She felt a warm hand against her face, then a soft kiss on her lips.
Somebody was holding her hand. Is it Nate? She opened her eyes and blinked several times to clear the fog. It wasn't Nate. The hair was too light and too short. She blinked again. The image began to resolve itself.
It was Alistair.
He stroked her face and smiled. "Cori? Can you hear me?"
She nodded. "Hello, Alistair."
"Are you alright? Do you feel alright? Ok. I know. Stupid question, right?" He chuckled to himself. "Alright, Alistair, get a grip. The poorly lady is going to do violence on the bumbling idiot in a minute."
He cleared his throat. "Cori, I heard about what happened with Rylock. I was going to come and visit you as soon as I was able. Then I heard about this…"
His face fell. "Cori, when I heard that you'd been injured I nearly went insane with worry. I never want to let you out of my sight again. I love you, Cori. I've decided to take your advice and be a man for once in my life. I don't care what the Chantry or Eamon think. I want you to marry me, Cori."