Denerim – Betraying Bishop

Serenity POV

It wasn't often I got to spar against someone who has actually fought for their life, but you could always tell who they were. They fought very differently from those who only fought through spars and duels.

For one thing, they didn't try to fight 'fair' in the lesson's sense of the word. No, they would throw everything they could at you, for you don't survive a real battle by fighting by the 'rules'.

I ducked as the practice axe swung at my head, only to reel back as a dagger came at my neck. "Mercy, Uncle Rendon!"

He smirked. "No mercy in battle, Serei. Learn it now." He actually kicked dirt into my face.

Flailing and blinking back tears, I swung my pole-arm wildly and managed a good hit on his arm. "Hah!"

I barely avoided the axe blow. "Don't get cocky because you got a hit!"

I laughed as I got an idea. "I wish you well on your trip, Uncle!"

"Trip?"

I slammed the pole into his knees, sending him to the ground. "Trip!"

"Good. Now, you're learning." He stood up with a groan. "Maker, I'm getting old. I have to stop now."

"Okay." I grinned. "Thank you for sparring with me, Uncle Rendon."

"The pleasure was mine, Serei," he replied with a warm smile. "Now, don't forget whatever you learned."

"I never forget anything, Uncle."

Getting into the dungeons was simple. All the guards were busy out front. However, as soon as we went down, we encountered one. He died, though not by our hands.

No, the prisoner in the cell here took advantage of his distraction and snapped his neck. Then, he found the key, opened the cell, dragged the guard inside, stole his armor, and walked out.

So, now I was being thanked by a middle-aged man with long brown hair and a beard and traces of an Orlesian accent and I could not shake the feeling that I know him from somewhere.

"Now, if you will pardon me, but have I met you before?" he suddenly asked. "I recognize the hair and eyes, but I cannot place where."

"Have you been in Highever before?" I inquired. "I'm the… I was the daughter of the Teyrn." Father's dead now. He's no longer Teyrn.

"Bryce Cousland's daughter? Ah! Of course!" His eyes lit up. "I remember you now. You're the one who tricked Duncan into telling her about the Taint."

"And you're one of the Wardens he showed up with sometimes." I smiled as I finally placed the face to a name. "Riordan, yes?"

"Correct. Duncan mentioned you were recruited in his last letter, along with an elf named Agrona." He looked at my companions. "I do not see her among you."

"Small group for a small infiltration." I shrugged. "We're here to rescue Anora."

"Then you hunt for the mage that's never far from that bastard, Howe." He clenched his fists. "I do wish he had come but a little closer to my cell, but no. He had to be intelligent."

"You don't like him." Does anyone, now? Maybe Nathaniel, since he probably hasn't heard about everything yet.

"Would you like your captor?" He sighed. "I am going to hunt through his rooms for some important papers. I shall not keep you."

"You do not wish to get revenge?" Morrigan asked, speaking up for the first time since we left Erlina and Anora.

"I will be satisfied with knowing he is dead," he answered with dignity. "I hope you will oblige."

"Of course," I promised with a dark smile.

"Also, there are many other prisoners here. I'll remain above a while to help any you help escape."

"My thanks." With a nod, I walked passed him into the lower parts of the dungeon. The group followed.

"Ugh, this place has not changed," Leliana commented softly.

Wynne looked alarmed. "How would you know how this place looks?"

"I was captured and tortured here." And the bard's training made her come to terms with it fast. The betrayal, not so much.

Wynne made some soothing noise and pulled Leliana into a loose hug. "Poor dear."

"Useful, though," Morrigan commented. "She can lead us."

"If she wants," I added.

Leliana shrugged and pointed to a room. "That's a torture chamber. It's where I found Tug." Tug, who died. Tug, whose red kerchief she wore.

Cautiously, I opened the door, well aware of what I could find. That being said, I wasn't expecting to the half-naked body of someone I practically grew up with tied to some board with wheels. "Oswyn?" He stirred and blinked awake. "Oswyn of Dragon's Peak?"

"Who are…?" He squinted. "Serenity?" He smiled tightly. "Serenity Cousland? You are a beauteous sight for sore eyes."

"You would flirt." I walked over and smiled down at him. "What in the Void are you doing here?"

"Can you get me off this thing first?"

"I'm buying time for someone more handy than I to undo the bindings." I gave Leliana a pointed look and she quickly set about studying the mechanism. I caught a couple of mumbles of how it looked the same. "So, while we're waiting?" I asked hopefully, signaling Morrigan to double check the immediate area for threats. Wynne would have to be on hand for whenever we finished getting Oswyn off.

"My nursemaid's son was with Loghain's soldiers," Oswyn explained breathlessly. "He told me that they left while the King was still fighting. Then, he disappeared. I went after him, accepted a drink from a stranger, and… well…"

"Didn't Fergus tell you to not accept drinks from people you don't know?" I chided. "Honestly, Oswyn, you'll make your father weep."

"My father… he probably doesn't even know I'm here. I told him I was staying at a friend's place for a while."

"I think I have the mechanism figured out," Leliana interrupted.

Oswyn placed the accent immediately. "What's an Orlesian doing here?"

"Oswyn, dear," I began in a too-sweet voice. "If you say something foolish, I will have Morrigan help you. But, I must warn you, she likes destroying things."

"Tis fun," the mage added helpfully as she walked back in. "No guards." That's strange. Very, very strange. Maybe the chaos at front is more extensive than I thought.

"Have I mentioned how lovely you are, Serenity?" Oswyn said to change the subject. "Though, I must admit, I think longer hair and dresses suit you more. Fits the whole 'Oh, no, I'm merely a simple noblewoman, what could I possibly do?' image you like cultivating."

"I took the Warden role for a time," I explained. "After Howe killed my family."

"May he rot in the Void for that. If no one else, Oren didn't deserve that." He hissed as the mechanism suddenly jolted. "Ow…"

"Sorry!" Leliana was quickly undoing something. "This will hurt. I'm sorry."

"Ma'am, I promise you, everything hurts." He set his jaw stubbornly. "Just get me off this thing."

A couple of minutes later, and I was carefully helping Oswyn off the board. He buckled quickly and I found myself bearing most of his weight. "Wynne!" I called as I helped Oswyn limp over to the wall.

As soon as I set him down, Wynne set about studying her legs. I didn't like the random murmurs I was catching. After a minute or two, she looked up sadly. "I'm sorry, child," she said mournfully. "But I'm afraid you might have trouble walking for the rest of your life. Hold still while I make it so that it won't get infected." Wynne had planned on saving as much magic as she could, just in case things went wrong.

"So long as you kill Howe, I think I can hobble my way out," Oswyn said grimly.

"There's a Grey Warden named Riordan in the upper rooms," I told him. "Ask for help."

"My thanks." I pulled him up and he immediately leaned against the wall. "There's a templar a few cells down. I think it's Alfstanna's brother. You help him and I'm sure Alfstanna will support you. I'll tell my father everything here and I'm sure he, too, will help."

Sighard of Dragon's Peak was a voice of reason among the Bannorn, well respected. If he had more ambition, he could probably take an Arling in an instant. And Alfstanna of Waking Sea was the spokesperson of many of the other Banns because they trusted her judgment.

Well, well. That'll be two more pawns.

I smiled warmly. "Thanks. I'm sorry I can't be more help."

"Just kill Howe," he repeated before slowly limping away.

Wincing at how painful it looked, I ran down the hall, hunting for the cells.

"This way," Leliana said, gesturing one way. "We were all kept over here."

"Lead on."

It was astonishing just how many nobles and those precious to other nobles were held captive down here. Morrigan, Leliana, and I ended up separating so that we could free them all in a decent amount of time, while Wynne checked for any infections and gave them instructions on whom to reach for proper help.

It was in the last cell on my little "section" that I found Alfstanna's brother. "Irminric," I called softly, hoping I didn't startle him too much.

I had only met him once before, seeing him off to the Chantry as he went to join the Templar Order. The Irminric back then had been nervous, but resolute. He had been bright-eyed with enthusiasm, but held wisdom in knowing his path would not be easy. I remember being a bit of a brat and demanded a promise that he'd only go after the bad mages, the ones who hurt people. My parents had been horrified; he had been understanding and gave his word.

This Irminric only had one thing in common with past: bright eyes. But this one was bright-eyed with delirium. I cautiously reached out and felt no fever. Strange.

"Who?" he rasped. "Alfstanna?"

"No, Irminric," I answered. "It's Serenity Cousland. The little girl with bright red hair."

"Bright red hair? Red, like blood." He shakily reached up to tug a lock of hair that had fallen over my shoulder. "Promise. Made you a promise."

"That's right." I smiled warmly.

"I kept it," he suddenly said. "I went only after bad mages. Went after one, blood mage. Had him. Lost him. Was attacked. I failed."

"Easy," I soothed. "I'm glad you kept it. Who did you go after?"

"Jowan, his name. Attacked templars. Attacked mages."

Jowan, the mage from Redcliffe. "He went into Circle custody a few months ago."

"Good…" He groped for something on his hand. After a few tries, he managed to pull off a ring. "Alfstanna. Give. Please."

"I will," I promised, carefully taking it from him. "We have a healing mage here. Let me help you to her."

"No. Sleep. Be fine." Some sharpness finally appeared in his eyes. "Loghain. Loghain attacked."

…So that's how Loghain managed to reach Jowan in the first place. "I'll bring him down."

"Good." He pushed himself into the far corner and curled into a ball to sleep.

Hesitantly, I left and returned to where my companions were. The other prisoners had already escaped. "So, Howe next?" I suggested with mock cheer. I undid the clasp for the chain around my neck and slipped Irminric's ring onto it. It clanged against Hespith's as I put the necklace back on.

"Further down," Morrigan said. "They all told the same story. It seemed he was waiting for someone."

Was he now? "Then let's be proper guests and greet out hosts."

Howe was facing away when we entered the far room, flanked by a mage and a guard. But he knew when I arrived. "Bryce's little spitfire, still playing the man." He turned to face me, but avoided looking at me directly. "I thought it would have been made clear to you that your family was gone, dead and forgotten."

"You don't forget," I pointed out calmly, feeling myself going cold. "Why else would you say that?"

"Your parents died on their knees," he told me, trying to wound my spirit. "They died pleading for me to spare them."

For the first time, I was actually happy the Gauntlet had shown me the truth. "For once in your life, can you not lie? You know even better than I do that they never submitted, especially so disgracefully." His eyes widened from shock. "They tore apart every shred of confidence you had. Father, bleeding to death, even wounded you in a duel, with your own blade I must add. Mother sniped every one of the guards you tried to send at them and after me." I smirked as the shock turned to fear. I finally understood why Agrona reveled in that moment; it was almost addicting. "You may have killed them; you may have told yourself that you were the victor, not they. But you knew, in whatever heart you have, that you had lost. You knew that Bryce Cousland, my father, had bested you once more, that Eleanor, my mother, had rejected you one last time."

"Quiet!" he snapped. "You know nothing!"

I spread my arms, practically inviting him to take a free shot. But he didn't. He was too afraid. "And here I stand before you, the proof that shatters all your lies, both to others and to yourself. Here I stand, the proof that you truly did lose that last battle. Here I stand, proof that you will always be bested, be overshadowed, by a Cousland."

"…There…!" he spat. "There it is! Right there! There's that damned look in the eye that marked every Cousland success that held me back! That blasted light that shone in Bryce's eyes when he outmaneuvered everyone!" He finally looked me in the eye. "You… you have made something of yourself, it seems. One of the Grey Wardens who unites the lands against the Blight, the one who saved Orzammar from a civil war, the one who challenges, and the ability to defeat, the Hero of the River Dane. Your father would have been so proud." He palmed an axe and dagger. "I, on the other hand, want you dead more than ever."

I just smiled my sweetest smile, unhooked my greatsword, and replied, "I wish you well on your trip, Uncle."

The statement startled him enough that he only just managed to dodge my opening blow.

I should have done the smart thing and killed the mage first, then the guard. I should have left Howe to the mages who could have killed him in two seconds.

But emotions have no intelligence and I was very emotional at this point.

It didn't help that the Taint in my blood was roaring like a dragon, coursing through and strengthening every blow, accelerating every movement.

It didn't help that the world was slowly shifting so that Howe was completely in focus, but everything else was blurred.

It didn't help that I was completely numb.

Howe was mine.

I swung and he caught the blade between his axe and dagger. He hissed as pain ricocheted up his arm. He was sweating and his eyes were filled with terror. I could have overpowered him right there. I could have killed him right then.

"Poor little Rendon," I cooed instead. "Always thinking he's death when he's nothing more than a little man scared out of his mind. Nothing more than a pathetic coward who only knows how to take. Nothing more than a stain on nobility who no one will mourn. Nothing more than a failure to all who know you."

"Shut up!" he snapped.

I bared my teeth in a wicked grin and pulled back suddenly. As he stumbled forward, I swung my greatsword and neatly amputated his arms. The blood splattered everywhere.

He fell to his knees, already in shock from the pain. "Maker… Maker spit on you!" he managed. "I deserved more, you little-!"

I placed a foot on his throat and shoved him to the ground as hard as I could without killing him. "No," I told him coldly. "Oren did. Oriana did. Father did. Mother did. Nan did. Ser Gilmore did. Aldous did. Mother Mallol did. The guests did. The servants did. The knights did. Highever did." Silver fire roared down my blade as I brought the sword high above my head and tilted the point down. "But the Maker does not bend to the whims of his children." Using every bit of strength I had, I drove the blade straight through Howe's head and buried it into the stone floor below. The fire danced back and around my arms before disappearing. The faint scent of burnt flesh told me that it had cauterized the wound. Not that I would have noticed if it hadn't as the blood from what was left of his arms had formed a very large puddle.

I staggered back from the corpse, reeling. It felt like some great weight was finally off my shoulders. I haven't felt this… this free since Highever fell.

I was almost giddy. But that could have been the Berserk wearing off.

"Dear, what did you do?" Wynne asked me hesitantly. Almost as if she was afraid of something. Strange, she's never been afraid of me.

"It was her eyes, hag," Morrigan retorted scornfully. "She has no idea what you're talking about."

"What about my eyes?" I asked, scanning the area. The mage and guard were dead. Good, we could get Anora out of here…

Wait, I was panting and sweating. Did I get hit? Was I in shock? I felt nothing. Oh, don't tell me I'm still numb! No, I felt something burning. Underneath my skin, my blood? No, the Taint. It was… it was moving. It was still roaring.

"They changed," Morrigan answered bluntly. "They looked like the High Dragon's." …They what? "And they were most certainly not doing that before. Granted, I do not think you have ever shown this degree of anger before, but that alone should not have triggered it. Did you eat or drink something unusual recently?"

Eat or drink… the concoction! It must have reacted with the dragon's blood, somehow, and done… done something unexpected. Is that why the Taint is acting this way?

"I'm not sure," I half-lied. "What do you think this new… new set of abilities or what not are?"

"How about another boost in strength?" Leliana suggested. I looked to find her crouching by Howe's body. "You broke the floor."

"I… what?"

Leliana stood and looked me in the eye, smiling slightly in amusement. "The floor is cracked. I think you broke it." That's when I noticed that the hilt of my greatsword, which should have been around the neck and chest, was actually closer to my hips.

…Oops? "Okay, on that note, let's get out of here. Morrigan, Wynne, I will happily sit for tests when we are safely back at the Arl's Estate." I tugged the sword and discovered that I couldn't remove it. I tugged a little harder, but it wouldn't budge. "Oh, you're kidding me! Another lost sword?" I sighed, and ran a hand through my hair. It had half-fallen out of the hairpiece; I'd fix it later.

I'd have the time, after all. There shouldn't be any more fights.

Whatever happened down in the dungeons had more serious side effects. No wounds, but that might have been a relief. I kept hearing the Taint roar, demanding that I return and mutilate Howe's body in retaliation, that I turn his body into a bloody pulp so that no one would ever identify him. It yearned to make sure he could never receive a proper burial. It longed to make sure his spirit would never find rest.

But I am a Cousland. I am a master of control and manipulation, even of my own self. So, I did not turn around and obey it.

But the result was me being very tired, sweaty, and generally looking like I was ill. I told Morrigan to knock me out if I turned around. Showing concern, she agreed and civilly told Wynne what was going on. Wynne promised to do the same and kept a good eye on me, no longer afraid but very concerned.

"Lady Serenity!" Erlina exclaimed worriedly when she caught sight of me. I must have been quite the sight. Exhausted, sweaty, panting, bloody… I was a right mess.

I waved off her concern. "Just a… a backlash, I think. Don't fret. Is the barrier down?"

"It is." She gave me a look that said she didn't quite believe me, but trusted me. "She wanted to wait for you to arrive, though."

"Well, I'm here." I smiled tiredly. "Let's get her out of here."

The door opened slowly and a woman dressed in a guard uniform carefully exited the room. I recognized Anora's ice blue eyes instantly

"Little short to be a guard," I jested.

"It seems the months have been kind to your humor," she retorted, rolling her eyes. Still, she looked rather worried when she got a good look of me. "It seems that may be the only thing that they were kind to."

"I'm fine."

"Of course, for a Cousland is always fine."

"My ladies, I do insist we get moving," Erlina pleaded. "The crowd outside has grown quiet."

Great… guards… "Let's move."

We managed two feet when we found ourselves facing heavily armed guards with their weapons trained on us. Cauthrien was blocking the doorway. She, alone, I could probably take, even in this state or without a weapon. But not with all the guards. Not without risking Anora, who we had to get out.

Plus, I really wasn't in a state to fight and I had promised Agrona.

This… this is going to be very interesting.

Author's note:

…I'm not sure how good this chapter is, but I have to say it was rather fun to write. For those who don't remember, Serenity left Duncan's dagger and her knives back at the estate, so when she lost her greatsword, she lost all her weapons.

The promise to Agrona will be elaborated in the next chapter, but it was shown in a previous chapter. I promise.

The interaction between dragon blood and the alchemical concoction is from my own head and I'm sorry if you don't like it? It's to help explain something that will happen later.

Next chapter: finishing up what Agrona's been doing this entire time.