Redcliffe

Taking the last few strides up the long, rocky hill to a windmill before the village, Alistair took several steps off the road and gathered his wits. Better just to be out with the truth now, than fumble for the right time; he took a steadying breath. "Look, can we talk? I need to tell you something, something I probably should have mentioned before now."

Beside him now, Aedan crossed arms, sighing. "Let me guess: you're an idiot."

"Yes, that's right! I stopped you in the middle of a crisis to tell you I'm an idiot. Thank the Maker you know already!" Alistair rubbed his forehead dramatically. "Now I can stop worrying I'll be found out."

"Maybe what I'm trying to say is that you must assume I'm an idiot if you think I believe that was just some girl from Redcliffe village."

The words struck him like a physical blow; Alistair struggled to push images of Thera's wounds from the darkness behind his closed eyes.

"No, she's not. But then, I'm not just some boy from Redcliffe village either."

It was the moment of truth. Alistair turned his back on Aedan a little and looked out toward the castle. "Remember when I said Arl Eamon raised me at Redcliffe castle, and that my mother was a serving girl there?"

Aedan was about to speak; Alistair realized it too late, when his emotions had already got the upper hand. The wave carried him forward without pause. "I'm a bastard! My mother died when I was born and Arl Eamon took me in until I was sent to the Chantry. And the reason that he took me in...was..." For a moment he could only shrug. "Well, because my father was King Maric. Which made Cailen my half-brother, I suppose."

Alistair thought his friend might have appeared less dumbstruck if he'd announced he was the Maker. "So, you're not just a bastard, but a royal bastard."

He was relieved at the way Aedan took the news, immediately feeling more at ease. "Yes, I suppose I am, at that." Alistair turned himself completely around, better able to look Aedan in the eyes. "It's certainly not something I'm proud of, and it's not as though it earned me special treatment." Alistair recalled Lerin and Rem, and all the rest. "Quite the opposite, in fact. I know I should have told you, but hiding my parentage, well...it's a habit, really. A sort of survival instinct. Everyone who knew either resented me for it, or coddled me...even Duncan."

Aedan's nod was thoughtful. "Keeping you from the fighting...I think I understand."

"He did all he could to keep me out of the fighting."

One weight had been lifted; Alistair physically sensed the lightening of his burden. " It's not as though I had it easy. After the Arl remarried, things changed. His bride from Orlais resented me, and the implications of the Arl personally seeing to my upbringing. Eventually he gave in, to placate her, and at age ten I was packed off to the Chantry. I was so furious at being sent away, I ripped off my mother's necklace and hurled it at a bookcase, shattering the amulet into pieces. Such a stupid, stupid thing to do. But in those days I didn't care; I hated it there."

Straightening, Alistair recalled the urgency of their task and scanned the hills behind Aedan. "Anyway, I had one bright spot during all that darkness, one thing that kept me going each day."

Aedan cast him the barest hint of a knowing smile. "Something rare and wonderful."

"Precisely, which is the same reason we're marching into Redcliffe and possibly a trap."

Glancing around them, Aedan shrugged. "The town seems safe enough, or at least not openly dangerous; let's move on."

"Sounds good, and I'll just pretend you still think I'm some nobody who was too lucky to die with the rest of the Grey Wardens."

One of Aedan's eyebrows lifted ever so slightly. "As you command...my prince."

Turning on his heel, Alistair headed down the slope towards the gate. "Lovely. I'm going to regret this...I just know it." Aedan passed him up, marching at a perfect military cadence.

As they approached the road to the village, Alistair could see two things that made him uneasy. The militia guard at the gate was alone, and he was not a Redcliffe soldier. The nervous shifting from side to side as he caught sight of the two Wardens, and the manner in which he looked around anxiously for obviously non-existent aid put Alistair ill at ease.

"Stop! No one may enter the village, by order of Bann Teagan."

For a moment, Alistair wasn't sure he'd heard correctly. "Bann Tegan? The Bann is here, in Redcliffe?"

"He has come to discover what is amiss at the castle, with the arl."

"Arl Eamon?" Aedan, for his part, seemed equally baffled.

"Have you not heard? If you truly have business in Redcliffe...Alistair, is that you?"

The man appeared so wearied, shadows of fear and exhaustion lingering around his eyes, that Alistair at first had trouble recognizing him.

"Yes, Tomas. This is my companion, Aedan of House Cousland."

Aedan held up a hand. "We are acting Gray Wardens, traveling back from Ostagar; we were hoping to seek Arl Eamon's counsel."

"Then I am truly sorry; the arl has been sick for a month."

"Sounds quite desperate." Even as he spoke, Aedan's eyes darted about, seeming to assess their surroundings with a tactical eye.

Tomas hung his head, tired eyes seeming to search the gravel fruitlessly. "Would that were the worst of our troubles; it was fortunate Bann Tegan arrived when he did.""

Alistair recalled Howe's two dead men out on the plains. "What do you mean?"

The defeated slump of Tomas' shoulders was painfully familiar; Alistair had seen it in the people virtually every place they'd stopped on the journey to Redcliffe. "You should speak with the bann before I say more."

It was hard to resist the urge to shake the man, to demand he give an answer that wasn't frustratingly cryptic. Alistair chastised himself that Tomas was only following the orders he'd been given by the militia; it was Teagan's place to decide what any visitor, even a Grey Warden, was permitted to know. Aedan was obviously ready to move on and get some answers. "Will we find him at the castle?"

"No, he will most likely be near the chantry. It's where..." Tomas raised his hands in a sort of helpless gesture. "Ask for him there."

When they were some paces away, Aedan cocked his head a little, voice low enough that Alistair was obliged to walk a little closer. "You know Redcliffe, and the people. What do you think we're walking into?"

Alistair realized he didn't know what to think. His mind, already so clouded with fear for Thera, had trouble making out any Tomas' half-explanations. "With the Blight, Arl Eamon's plate was already quite full. If he's sick, I suppose he would need help from someone he could trust. Teagan would be just the man, being the arl's brother."

"Tomas mentioned the bann had already been summoned to Redcliffe; that must have been a week ago. Seems unlikely Howe is the other crisis facing the village just now."

A fact that was almost more troubling, Alistair mused. "Doesn't explain his two stumpy men out there on the field." Aedan raised one brow, considering the puzzle but saying nothing more.

The first few buildings came in to sight below them. Squinting through the gritty dust their boots kicked up from the rickety boardwalk, Alistair second guessed their assessment of Howe's interference.

"I assume this isn't the usual state of the village." Aedan paused beside him, scanning the buildings below.

"Whatever gave you that thought?" Alistair fought to be It was hard to believe his heart could hurt more, but looking down at Redcliffe, at his home, the ache grew.

Any house or establishment well off enough to afford windows now sported empty holes. Doors were ripped from hinges and smashed asunder, their debris piled with other bits of carts and walls along the streets. As they passed along the first street at the base of the hill, Alistair truly began to absorb the horror of their surroundings. Smears of rust painted front steps, walls, even the dirt of the street where it was punctuated with suspicious drag marks.
At the end of the next street, where it widened before the main square, bodies were piled to one side. At least, he assumed they were bodies; most everything in the heap was mutilated beyond immediate recognition.

Aedan's strides lengthened, Alistair immediately matching the cadence. "We need to find Teagan, quickly."

Alistair barely managed a nod. "I think we're going to be of more use to him than he is to us."

As Tomas guessed, Teagan was outside the chantry, giving instructions to a small group of knights. Alistair felt badly at how much the sight of two wardens affected him; he stopped speaking mid-sentence and simply stared at their approach. Then, he started striding toward them. "Grey Wardens...thank the Maker. You could not have arrived at a more opportune time."

"Aedan, of House Cousland. And my fellow warden..."

Teagan gave his head a quick shake. "Alistair...is that you?"

"Yes, Bann Teagan. It's good to see you."

The bann's weary eyes brightened a little. "Everyone thought you perished at Ostagar! This is some good news, at least."

Aedan pointed around them at the seemingly abandoned town. "Where is everyone?"

"Some nights ago abominations spilled forth from the castle and overtook the village. They vanished with the sunrise, only to return each subsequent night. Many are dead, and many more are terrified of joining them. Their fears, I confess, are not unfounded. I fear tonight will be the worst attack yet."

Instinctively, Aedan's hand came to rest on the grip of his sword. "What is the source of the abominations?"

Teagan held hands aloft. "Would that I could say. They simply swarmed down from the castle several nights past. I have not attempted to enter, and no one answers my calls. All I know, you do too."

"Have you raised an alarm with any other arlings?"

Teagan raked at the locks matted to his cheek with sweat and blood from fighting night after night. "We sent word of our plight, but no help has yet arrived."

Exchanging glances with Aedan, Alistair cleared his throat a few times. "I'm sorry to say I don't think your message made it through. We found Thera, out in the fields...two of Howe's soldiers were slain out there, as well."

Alistair cringed as Teagan's fist made a meaty thud against the stone of the chantry wall. "It will not stand! He uses his reputation as a hero to deceive, but I will expose Loghain for the murder of my nephew, my cousin, and for his betrayal. And I will expose his underlings, like that wretch Rendon Howe. The Bannorn will not recognize that traitor, not ever!"

Aedan came forward a step, resting his hand on Teagan's shoulder. "There will be time for Loghain soon enough. And for Howe, make no mistake. Your cousin needs aid immediately; she was alive, at least when we left her with our companions."

"I'll send Patridge at once, though I've not many men to spare. Most all our knights are seeking aid for my brother, fool's errand though it may be." Raising a hand, Teagan made a sharp gesture to the knight at his left, who immediately loped off toward the opposite side of the chantry.

Giving voice to his fears, Alistair looked up at the castle. "Is the arl as sick as everyone says? Is he truly dying?"

Teagan wearily sighed. "I cannot say. There is no answer from the castle and thus far I have not been able to gain entry. When Thera summoned me to Redcliffe, he was not improving, but there was no decline. I am prepared that we may retake the castle from this evil only to find he has died."

He stared helplessly down at his hands; Alistair's heart ached at Teagan's open anguish. "If only I had been with him, if I'd been there to aid him on the battlefield..."

Alistair rested a hand on Teagan's shoulder. "You couldn't have stopped it; whatever Loghain did, whether cowardice or malice, it was written before Cailan took the field. You would be lost now, too. And so would Redcliffe."

His arms embraced Alistair in a gruff sort of comforting hug. "We have lost much Alistair. My nephew would have grown to be a great king, and Duncan was a true friend to the Theirin line."

Duncan's name came at Alistair like a hammer-blow. "They were my brothers; the wardens and Cailan, I suppose. Aedan has lost his family, too. I think we all want to see Loghain answer for what he's done."

Teagan shook his head slowly. "That may be more difficult than ever; Loghain returned to the capital with his army intact. He's overthrown the king, and now he's cementing his position against the arls...it has ignited civil war."

Straightening, Aedan crossed arms over his chest. "Then we have to get to Eamon and find a cure; if Ferelden is going to survive the Blight or a civil war, it will be with his aid. And that means Alistair and I are offering whatever help you require to stop these attacks."

"We should go and speak with Ser Perth; he's in charge of maintaining the upper defenses, so it would be wise to coordinate our efforts. Gather any supplies you might need; there is a little food to be had inside the chantry. We can rendezvous on the bridge by the windmill shortly."

Teagan rejoined his men, Aedan leading them away, through litter and debris across the square. "The women should arrive shortly; let's check the general store and see if there's anything useful, or edible for that matter, left for sale. " Resting a hand on the burnished bronze ring, Aedan paused before pulling open the door to the shop. "I'm sorry, Alistair...for everyone you've lost, for Duncan, and for your friend Thera. Home is where you should be able..." Aedan's jaw worked for a moment, then he shrugged.

Alistair realized he felt a little ashamed of himself. "Here I am, doing all this whining and complaining, and you haven't exactly had an easy time of it yourself since . You've had none of the good experiences of being a Grey Warden, the thanks and recognition. So, thank you. If not for you, well..." He wasn't certain at all how to finish the sentiment. Fortunately, Aedan smiled slightly in acknowledgement.

"Alistair, I think we understand each other perfectly."

The Barricade

Seated on the rocky ground near the windmill, Alistair watched the light fading over Redcliffe into the western sky. Morrigan and Leliana were just making their way up the path toward the bridge, Dog bounding around them in wide circles after a long day of guard duty. A little jealous, Alistair mused that at least one member of their party seemed undisturbed by what was happening around them. Turning to Aedan, who was seated against a nearby barrel with eyes closed, Alistair pointed down the hill.

Aedan's eyes came halfway open. "No, Alistair. We cannot use the oil to burn Morrigan."

"Very funny. And I'll give you a little more time to reconsider. What I'm curious to know is, why your mabari doesn't have a name."

Straightening, Aedan crossed his arms almost defensively. "My mabari most certainly does have a name."

"Dog? I hesitate to wonder how you came by such a clever title."

Aedan raised both hands in exasperation. "What's wrong with Dog? It's short, efficient..."

The animal came bounding up the path, wagging furiously. "And he likes it... don't you, you smelly troublemaker?"

Dog yipped happily, flopped onto his back and wriggled his massive body from side to side as Aedan dug fingers into the hair of his haunches. "Alistair doesn't like your name."

Alistair involuntarily tensed as Dog flipped right-side over, giving off a small warning bark. "And we think that's stupid, don't we?" Aedan shot him a smirk.

Hunching over, nose to the ground, Dog growled menacingly. Laughing, Alistair turned his gaze back toward the bridge. "Alright, you've got me. I apologize." Bounding over, Dog fell beside him, head resting in the dip of Alistair's crossed legs.

Leliana and Morrigan at last reached the blockade, moving wearily, both showing the strain of the day. Crouching to pet Dog, Leliana met his eyes earnestly. "Your friend is at the chantry now; Mother Hannah is seeing to her care."

Morrigan stood apart, wrapped in her own arms defiantly as she spoke. "I must confess a grudging respect for the girl. Few hardened men could sustain such injuries and continue to fight for survival. That is to say nothing of how she overcame her attackers."

Aedan was staring up at her so dumbfounded that Alistair struggled not to laugh as his companion spoke. "Morrigan...was that a...compliment?"

Her lithe shoulders shrugged dismissively. "Quite the opposite; I do not engage in mindless flattery. That was a legitimate acknowledgment of another woman's strength. I am not surprised at your mistake."

Settling beside Aedan, Leliana looked around at the militia finishing preparations for the coming night. "What can we do to help?"

Aedan took up a cloth sack from his left side, tossing it to her. "Have something to eat, sleep maybe, and wait for nightfall." Reaching behind him, Aedan patted the rough-hewn barrel at his back. "And pray to the Maker that this oil works as well as we all hope."

Leliana smiled in her typical peaceful fashion despite the rings beneath her eyes, and began to eat eagerly, as though their victory were a foregone conclusion. Morrigan scoffed, stretching out on her cloak, but Alistair found Leliana's optimism gave him hope. Rotating his body to better see the village below, he fixed eyes on the chantry and said his own prayer to the Maker.