So there a a couple of really long chapters coming up, I've gotten so far ahead! I'm a bit please with myself lol So here is chapter 29! we're finally getting in to the castle, with a bit more sassy Neria and Lyna!
Neria woke up with a pounding in her head and a deep ach behind her eyes; she opened her eyes slowly, letting her eyelid flicker against the harsh light streaming in through the window. She groaned as recognised the walls of the Redcliffe Chantry. a wet nose rubbed up against her cheek and the sound of a soft whine reached her ears.
"You are awake, I see." Morrigan's voice came from the door way to the small room she had been brought to.
"Please stop shouting…" Neria groaned again as she turned onto her back, keeping her eyes covered with her forearm, her other hand scratching lightly at Hati's head.
"I am not shouting, though it may do you well to be scolded after that impressive display of stupidity you preformed." Morrigan walked to stand next to the small cot she had been placed in, Neria braved the harsh light and moved her forearm and squinted her eyes to look at her, immediately getting a face full of Mabari as the hound jumped up with a happy bark, causing her to wince.
"Stupid as I may be, I still managed to stop them." She retorted "Good to see you too Hati."
"Yes; that you did, right before you passed out and had to be carried away." Morrigan was carrying a small tumbler filled with a sour smelling green liquid that she brought up to hold out in front of her. "Drink this, you shall feel somewhat better. The others are already awake in the main hall, there has been some food prepared."
Neria nodded before pushing Hati back and gingerly sat up-right and took the small tumbler with both hands, they both noticed how her hands shook as she reached for the tumbler but Morrigan was respectful enough to not draw attention to it.
She grimaced as she drank down the foul liquid, but the immediate reprieve from the pounding in her skull was worth it. She sighed in relief, handing the empty tumbler back to Morrigan, who simply nodded before leaving without a word letting the door fall closed after her.
"Come on Hati, you'll have to let me up" Neria complained, Hati gave another happy bark before jumping from the cot, watching her with a tilted her as she threw her legs out of the bed, the cold of the Chantry stone floors bit in to the skin on the bottom of her foot making her feel more alert. She looked down at herself realising that someone must have removed her robes before putting her to bed. Uncaring of her undressed state she stood up and stretched her muscles before she looked round the small empty room, finding her robes sitting at the bottom of the cot. She tied the skirt in place before securing the buckles of the tunic and fixing the collar, not finding a comb, she hastily ran her fingers through her hair before grabbing her staff before they left to find the others.
"We will wait outside the castle gates, when you reach the court yard raise the gate and we will join you to storm the castle." Neria recognised the voice of Ser Perth, she followed the voice to find her fellow grey wardens and a few of Lady Couslands party discussing their entry into the castle. "Do you know who you will be taking with you?"
Everyone looked towards Lyna as the knight spoke, she stood with her feet shoulder width apart, her right arm crossed over as her left hand was brought up to rest on her chin. Her brows where draw together in thought.
"You better not be thinking of leaving me behind Dale." Neria said as she walked closer to the group yawning slightly.
Smiling slightly at the unfamiliar nickname, Lyna looked up "How are you feeling lethallan?"
"I have a bit of a magical hangover, but I'll be ready to go as soon as I get some food."
With that a bowl of porridge was slid towards her, she scooped it up and quickly began to devour the food as the continued to plan their attack.
"I wish to go with you." Elissa said, ignoring the glances from the red haired knight.
"Then I will be going as well," the red haired knight spoke up looking over to the noble, "I am not letting you go in there without me."
"We cannot have everyone storming in to the castle; we need a small group to in without notice to open the gates for the others. If we send in too large of a group we will be spotted straight away." Lyna explained as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Alistair is going because of his templar abilities and his knowledge of the castle, Neria is going because she is a healer and a enansal'len-"
"A what?" the blonde Elven woman asked looking at Lyna.
"She means I'm a mage." Neria supplied helpfully.
"It does not matter," Lyna said exasperatedly, her cheeks tinting pink slightly at the attention being brought to her speech "we cannot take people simply because they wish to go."
"Might not be a bad idea; we'll need a few more heavy hitters with us." Alistair added.
"Who do you think would be best?" Lyna questioned.
"Me? You want me to pick?" Alistair's eyebrows raised slightly in confusion at the suggestion.
"Yes, you are familiar with this style of fighting, more so than I, who would you pick?" she explained.
"Well it would be nice to have another shield with us, and I'm not sure about bringing Sten with us, he has… Strict idea's about magic and I'm not sure a run-in with a blood mage would help."
Lyna hummed in thought before looking to the knight. "Ruari, you may join us. Elissa if you wish to enter the castle then you may enter with Perth and his knights when we opened the gates."
Elissa face grew stony "I came here to find the Arl-" Elissa began to argue but was cut off when Lyna continued, "And you will" leaving no room for argument, "Perth, make sure there is someone to fights those creatures should they attack before we return, I'll ask the others in my party to stay and help."
"I assume you will want to gather your supplies, I will meet you at the mill."
The group separated as everyone went to prepare, "Are you sure that was wise? Refusing to take Lady Cousland?" Alistair asked as the three wardens stood together.
"Yes, that human Teagan asked me to, as did that knight that is coming with us. I do not understand how this Nobility thing works, but I did not think it wise to have her with us to attack the castle when her family died in a similar way."
"The Couland's are dead?" Alistair stuttered out the words in disbelief.
"Yes, Teagan told me that everyone that was in Highever castle was killed when the castle was attacked, by a man name Howe."
"Arl Howe? He attacked and killed the Couslands? But that doesn't make any sense!" Alistair proclaimed as Neria gapped at the news.
"I only know what Teagan and Ruari told me, but I decided it was unwise to bring her."
"Come on let's go grab Ruari so we can meet Teagan." Neria said as she looked around for the knight, finding him talking to the blond Elf they had arrived with, she smirked when she noticed the slight blush in both of their faces. She was thinking of walking over to tease the pair when she felt a weigh rest against her leg. Unconsciously she let her hand fall to pet the top of Hati's head, but instead of the short soft fun of her Mabari she felt long and coarse fur that slipped between her fingers. Her hand froze as she took a deep breath; she braced herself before she let her eyes follow her hand, the wolf sat tall beside her, seemly ignoring the hand placed upon its head.
She yelped slightly as she quickly jumped away from the wolf, pulling the offending hand away and clutching to her chest. The wolf turned too looked at her for a moment before it sneezed and made its way over to Lyna.
Neria noticed Hati sitting with her head cocked to the side, in amusement or confusion she couldn't tell, she sighed heavily as she began to quietly mumble to herself, "Mocking, that's what it is, their mocking me."
Neria meet up with her fellow wardens and Ruari at the entrance to the Chantry, they quickly gathered a few healing potions and lyrium potions before they headed up towards a large hill near the bridge to the castle where a large mill stood atop.
Teagan stood looking out towards the castle, he glanced back when he heard their approach, but quickly turned his gaze back to the silent walls of Redcliffe castle, "Odd how quiet the castle looks from here, you would think that there was nobody inside at all."
"Don't worry Teagan," Alistair said, placing his hand on the man's shoulder giving it a slight squeeze, "We'll find out what's happening here, I promise."
Teagan gave a tight smile in reply before he looked away from the view of the empty walls. "I assume we all know the plan? Get in, get to the court yard and open the gates, where Ser Perth and his group will then help us take the rest of the castle." Everyone nodded, "Very well, the entrance to the tunnel is in this old mill-"
"Teagan!" came a harsh shout, their head all snapped up to see a finely dressed woman with blond hair racing down towards them "Thank the Maker you yet live."
""Isolde, you're alive! How did you-" Teagan began but was cut short as the frantic woman began to speak over him.
"Teagan, there isn't any time. I slipped away from the castle as soon as I could after the battle was finished, but I must return quickly. And I need you to return with me, alone" Neria recognised the accent the woman spoke in was similar to Leliana's.
"You mean the castle where all the dead things that have been attacking the village have been coming from? The castle no one has heard anything from in day's? The castle with no way in or out except the secret escape tunnel? That you didn't by the way, that castle?" Neria asked her voice laced with sarcasm.
Isolde's face grew red with rage as she looked over the Elf. "What? Who are these people Teagan."
Neria felt a spike of anger shoot through her at the grimace on Isolde's face as she spoke. Teagan moved to make the introductions, no doubt to try and cut the hostilities short, but was stopped when Lyna spoke up.
"We are Grey Wardens, who have taken out time from fighting a blight to help your village Shem'len." Neria allowed her eyes to flicker over towards the other Elf, she appeared calm, though Neria noticed the heavy glare she was directing towards the woman, and the use of the Dalish word. Neria had notice she only used it on the human she did not like.
Ignoring the angry Dale Isolde let her eyes drift towards Alistair. "Is that Alistair?" her face again shifted into a grimace, "What are you doing here?"
"As I said Shem'len, we are Grey Wardens." Lyna said in a louder voice letting some of her anger seep through, bringing the woman's attention back to her.
Isolde, looked at Lyna for a few moments in shock obviously having never been spoken to in that manner before, not knowing how to reply to Lyna sighed exasperatedly and turned back to Teagan. "It does not matter. Teagan, you must return with me, and now. Connor is in danger and I cannot save him. With Eamon sick, you are the only one who may be able to help!"
"Isolde, calm down, tell me what's happening?" he asked desperately.
"I do not know what is safe to tell. You must come with me!"
"What do you mean 'safe to tell'?" Alistair asked. "Please Lady Isolde, we had no idea anyone was even alive in the castle, we must have some answers."
"There- there is a terrible evil in the castle. The dead awaken and hunt the living, the mage responsible has been caught, but it still continues." Isolde began to grow more hysterical as she spoke. "I fear Connor is going mad. I wonder if it is perhaps something the mage we captured did to him. You- you must help him Teagan, you are his uncle, you could reason with him. I do not know what else to do!"
"Why must Teagan go alone?" Ruari asked giving the woman a suspicious look.
"For Connor's sake, I promised I would return quickly and only with Teagan."
"Promised? Whom did you promise?" Teagan asked.
"Some- something the mage unleashed, so far it allowed Connor, Eamon and I to live." Her voice grew sombre as she continued. "The other where not so fortunate, it's killed so many, turned their bodies in to walking nightmares. Once it was done with the castle, it attacked the village. It wants us to live, but I do not know why, it allowed me to come for you, Teagan, because I begged, because I said Connor needed help. Teagan please I do not have much time!" Isolde pleaded.
"Tell me about the mage you captured?" Neria asked.
"He- he was one of the staff, we discovered he was poisoning my husband; that is why Eamon fell ill."
"Eamon was poisoned!?" Teagan exclaimed in shock.
"He said Teyrn Loghain hired him, I cannot tell if he's lying or not."
"We are wasting time; we need to decide what we are going to do." Lyna said, they had wasted enough time asking questions, they needed to have the front gates opened before nightfall.
"With the King dead we need my brother more than anything, I will return to the castle with Isolde. Give me a moment to speak to the wardens." Teagan turned and walked away from the woman who had begun to spout words of thanks, and walked towards the other.
"This is unwise Teagan, you're going to get yourself killed." Alistair half whispered as the man joined him.
"What choice do I have? This is my family." Teagan explained, "Here take my signet ring to open the secret tunnel, stick to plan, I will try to distract whatever evil is in the castle."
"This is insane."Ruari whispered harshly.
"We have very little choice." Teagan spoke as he dropped the ring in to Lyna's hand, "Whatever you do Eamon is the priority here, if you have to just get him out of there, Isolde, me and anyone else is expendable." Teagan continued grimly "I cannot delay any longer, farewell and good luck."
Lyna simply nodded and watched as the man walked towards Lady Isolde. "Let's go, we will find him again once we enter the castle."
With that they opened the door to the mill and stepped inside, although the mill had not been in use for some time, the thick and musty scent of hay and wheat hung in the air. They walked quickly to where the hatch stood to the left of the mill wheel and used to ring like a key to open the small latch. They found a ladder stuck to the cold stone walls that surrounded the hole leading down to the tunnel.
"How are we getting the dogs down?" Neria asked looking towards the Mabari hound and the wolf. Without a word Lyna pulled a length of rope from her pack and tied it to one of the hay baskets in the mill. "Guess that answers my question." She mumbled as the others followed.
Neria used her mana to call a wisp from the fade to help guide them through the darkened tunnel, she didn't know how long they walked until they finally reached the small wooden door Alistair said would take them to the dungeons of the castle, but as they got closer Neria could feel a distortion in the fade, as thought a part of the air had been cut away.
"There are creatures beyond this door." Neria warned.
"Are you sure?" Ruari asked.
"She is right, I can hear them, and they seem to be trying to cut through something." Lyna said as she walked closer to the door. "Get ready." she advised as she quickly knocked the door opened, the string of her bow already pulled back.
Three creatures stood outside one of the cells using their weapons to hack at the door. Lyna quickly fired an arrow in to the one of their skulls before jumping back, allowing Ruari and Alistair to rush forward to attack. Neria quickly cast a freeze spell on one allowing Ruari to shatter it while Alistair knocked the other to the ground with his shield before thrusting his sword in to its throat.
"Well that was easier than expected…" Alistair remarked as he replaced his sword and shield.
"Don't say that! That's what people in books say before everything bad happens!" Neria exclaimed.
Alistair opened his mouth to reply but stopped when a small voice was heard coming from the cell the creatures where attacking. "Hello? Who's there? Is there anyone alive out there?"
Neria froze, her mouth opened in shock as she looked towards the door, "Maker" she gasped, her voice just louder than a whisper, she ran towards the cell ignoring the questioning glances from her companions.
She stopped as she reached the door, "By all that is holy, Neria… I can't believe it."Neria grasped out and she was met with the familiar sight of messy long dark hair and grey eye's; Jowan stood on the other side of the door, beaten and blood stained.
"Jowan, by the Maker, what are you doing here? What happened? Why are you not in the Circle?"
"You know this person?" Lyna asked as she appeared beside her.
"Yes, this is my friend Jowan from the tower." Neria answer not looking away from her friend. "Jowan…?"
"I never thought I would see you again Neria," Jowan croaked his voice strained with emotion as moisture gathered in his eyes. "Everything went wrong after you left, they- they were going to make me tranquil, and I couldn't, Lilly- we- we were going to run away, Dylan said he would help us. But it all went wrong and- and I left them! Maker Neria I left them! I don't know what happened to them!"
"Jowan! JOWAN! Calm down, calm down. Tell me, tell me everything that happened."
OO! Jowan! the next chapter we'll sorta find out what happened after Neria left with Duncan, and introducing Dylan :P hope you've enjoyed reading! want to say thank you for all of the lovely reviews I've been getting! had a bit of a crap week and when i read some of the reviews for my last chapter it made me feel all better lol so thank you all!
