Duncan's group entered the cavern by a lower entrance; his heart pounding at the confusion of emotions that had suddenly flared within him that were not his own. His heart almost stopped as he saw Alistair bending over Aeronwen, his entire being seemed to radiate his love of her. Duncan felt the taint swell within him and wanted to tear him apart. He remembered how close Alistair and Aeronwen had once been, how they had talked for hours and those glances that had held such warmth. He felt the growl swell within his throat, she was his and he wasn't going to let a mere boy take her from him. He was startled as Jowan ran passed him, clambering up the stone to Aeronwen's side.

Jowan paled; what could only be described as teeth marks had indented her left arm and side, bruises darkening against the skin, puncture wounds evident. What appeared to be wounds made by claws were also apparent across her body.

"She lost consciousness a few minutes ago." Alistair gasped. "We managed to stop the bleeding I think."

Jowan gently cupped her cheek. "I'll make this better Aero I promise." He winced as she shifted beneath his hands as his magic flared, soft whimpers leaving her lips.

Alistair moved reluctantly to Zevran's side to give Jowan room to work, anger flaring when Duncan did not give Jowan the same courtesy. He felt as though his breath caught in his throat as Duncan gently cupped her cheek, whispering softly. He watched in torment as Aeronwen opened her eyes, Duncan pressing his lips to hers in a tender kiss. He turned sharply as fingers dug into his wrist realising Zevran was doing his utmost to restrain him.

"I'm here now Aeronwen." Duncan murmured soothingly.

Aeronwen glanced to him feeling an ache she couldn't understand. Why had she expected Alistair to be at her side? She leant against him drifting into unconsciousness as Jowan continued to tend to her injuries.

Alistair stumbled backwards, his throat constricting around the scream throbbing in his throat. The rush of joy he had experienced became the bitter taste of bile in his throat; his heart screaming in pain, pounding so fiercely he wished it would just stop. He tortured himself further as his eyes moved back to Aeronwen, Jowan's magic causing a faint blue glow to surround her. He realised Duncan was glaring at him and returned his look unflinching; Duncan gave an almost cruel smile as he clasped Aeronwen's hand bringing it to his lips. Alistair turned away his fists clenched, forcing back the need to choke the life out of the Commander. To have lost her once had been agony; to lose her twice left him staring at his blade, understanding why Zevran had sought death so eagerly. He felt the fight leave him, his arm slipped from Zevran's grasp and he turned and walked towards a pile of rocks slumping down onto them. He raised weary eyes as Marrok moved to him glancing to Aeronwen and whining softly. "What would you have me do?" He whispered despairingly.

Marrok growled and gently gripped his arm in his jaws and tugged.

"Marrok enough!" Alistair hissed. "The potion is too strong, she can't fight it."

Marrok gave a soft whine and padded over to Garrett, gripping his discarded pack in strong jaws and moved back to Alistair. He dumped the pack at Alistair's feet and pawed it.

Alistair frowned and opened the pack, pushed back by Marrok who nosed around revealing the vial of honey coloured liquid. Alistair felt his heart thump, glancing to Marrok who he would swear was smiling.

xXx

The group moved on from the cavern and found a small defensible room to rest in. Sten had carried Aeronwen who was in no state to walk, only conscious for a few moments at a time.

Morrigan had refused to be carried, but she had allowed Aedan to support her and to Jowan's surprise had complimented him on his healing of her leg. Now they were settled once more she kept casting concerned looks to Aeronwen.

"She will be okay." Aedan stated softly, though he could not hide his own anxiety for her. "She heals quicker than any of us and Jowan will patch her up."

"My mother told me that love and friendship were a weakness I could never afford; that I had to be strong no matter the circumstance. My mother was harsh, but I believed it to be necessary." She glanced to Aedan who was listening to her intently. "I … I find myself weakened of late."

Aedan gently squeezed her hand. "Morrigan love and friendship are not weaknesses; in fact they can be the very things that give us strength to keep going."

"She didn't hesitate, risked her life to save mine." Morrigan shivered. "If she knew of the things I have done …"

"Morrigan you are more than your mothers training, I can see that and so can Aeronwen."

Morrigan turned away. "Then you are both wrong."

Aedan let out a deep sigh. "Morrigan your mother is not here; it is you making the decisions, it is you in charge of your own actions, make your decisions based on what you believe to be right, not what your mother would dictate you do."

Morrigan raised her eyes; it would be so easy to give into the love pounding through her heart, but the purpose she was with the Wardens loomed over her, her mother's words tormenting her. "I must be strong." She whispered.

Aedan gently cupped her cheek. "There are many kinds of strength my love." His lips gently caressed hers, his heart pounding as she surrendered to him.

xXx

Alistair glanced up as Niyra settled down next to him. He tucked the vial back into his pack, staring at it wasn't helping matters.

"Tell me to butt out if you want to, but what in the green hairy Void is going on with you and Aeronwen because neither of you seem the type to do the dirty on anyone and that's a real quick rebound for you?"

Alistair shook his head, swallowing painfully. "Not a rebound." He whispered choked.

Niyra placed her hand over his. "Ali spill."

Alistair sniffed back the tears angrily and glanced to Aeronwen who was sleeping; soft moans of pain leaving her lips, Jowan staying by her side. "It's a long story."

"You going somewhere?"

Alistair gave a choked laugh and rubbed his face. He glanced to her, compassionate hazel eyes holding him fast and Alistair found himself spilling out the whole sorry tale, far enough away from the others that they would not be heard.

Niyra listened in silence things beginning to make sense. She had certainly never liked Leliana and Alistair had never seemed to be that happy around her. "You let her be taken; didn't you, you and Zevran?"

Alistair stared at the stone. "Yes."

Niyra nodded. "Murdering your own friends, man that bitch couldn't sink any lower. A fitting end if ever there was one."

Alistair looked to her startled.

"What? Unless you forgot I was all up for leaving the bitch down here, what else did you think would happen to her?" Niyra glanced to Aeronwen. "She is gonna be pissed when that potion wears off, especially with what she is having to put up with. It makes sense though; I didn't understand why someone as strong willed as Aeronwen would put up with that much shit from the Commander, not that he isn't suffering too, but … well it just makes sense now."

"I had her back Niy, she remembered."

"So that vial you've been staring at since you sat down; that's not some poison to take out the Commander is it, coz as much as he's a pain in the ass I think we need him."

Alistair shook his head. "It's an antidote."

Niyra narrowed her eyes. "You have an antidote and you haven't given it to her? What am I missing?"

"It might not work and when we left the Peak I was so angry with her." He lowered his head. "I'm a bloody fool Niyra in more ways than I can count."

Gently patting his hand Niyra nudged him. "You're no fool Ali, just a guy in love. If I might make a humble suggestion, give her the potion. Worst case scenario nothing happens and you're no worse off." Niyra shifted slightly. "Look I really don't mean to stick my nose in; but Aeronwen is struggling, has been for a while now; she needs people around her who care for her. Love can be real shitty and I get why you stay away from her; really I do, but she needs you. The way she looks at you sometimes; she might not consciously realise, but a part of her knows she loves you so man up and be there for her."

Alistair chuckled. "Yes ma'am."

Niyra smiled broadly before getting to her feet. "Good man." She shook her head slightly as she walked towards Oghren. "A human listening to a duster, it's been quite the day."

xXx

Jowan moved from Aeronwen and rummaged through his pack for another lyrium potion, he would need to make more and their supplies were running perilously low. He glanced up as Alistair approached him.

"How is she?"

"She's stable; but only because of her increased healing ability; anyone else would have been dead from those wounds."

Alistair knelt beside him and passed him the antidote to the love potion. "Jowan I need you to give this to Aeronwen."

Jowan's eyes widened. "Alistair this is hardly the time!"

"This is the only time!"

"Alistair I'm trying to save her life."

"You just said she was stable."

"Yes and I'm not going to risk putting more strain on her body!"

"Give her the damn potion Jowan!" Alistair snarled, gripping his wrist.

Jowan stared at him wide eyed. "Alistair I …"

"Back off Alistair." Garrett snarled, having noticed the sudden tension between the two and moving swiftly to Jowan's side.

Alistair shuddered as Zevran gripped his arm having also noticed the conflict between the two men; his hands falling to his sides as he slumped against the wall before putting his head in his hands. "I'm sorry." He gasped. He looked to Jowan tears in his eyes. "I had her back; just for a moment, but I had her back and now …" He bit back a choked sob. "Please Jowan; please just give her the potion."

"Alistair I don't know if it will be enough. What if all it does is create more conflict within her? She's my friend, I can't do that to her. She's been through enough!"

Tears spilled down his cheeks, each breath choked and torn from his raw throat. "She remembered Jowan. Please I'm begging you."

Jowan glanced to Garrett knowing if their roles were reversed he would be the one begging. He lowered his head and took the vial.

Alistair shivered in relief. "Thank you."

xXx

Aeronwen slowly opened her eyes eagerly licking the drops of water Jowan had been putting on her lips. Her entire body throbbed with pain, hissing as she clutched her stomach. She was grateful to have survived, but it had been like no fight she had ever encountered and it had left her terrified. She had once thought herself a capable warrior, now she realised what skills she had meant little in the face of the Archdemon. She struggled against the despair curling within her knowing that some at least was influenced by the taint itself and if she gave into it she would truly be lost.

Jowan gently helped her to sit up, holding her steady as she took small slips from the flask. His eyes flickered to Duncan who had managed to drift off to sleep, the group taking it in shifts to get much needed rest. Biting his lip he uncorked the vial, he was unlikely to get a better opportunity. "I need you to drink all of this Aero."

Aeronwen swallowed Malcolm's antidote without resistance. It tasted sweet and she felt it rush through her body leaving a trail of heat, but the magic now gripping Aeronwen was ancient and beyond anything even this potion could combat and only Duncan's death would release her.

xXx

The passage of time was lost in the Deep Roads and Duncan knew time was not on their side. He knew he was forcing Aeronwen to move on before she should, but there was little choice. Their progress was slow, with both Morrigan and Alistair limping and Aeronwen needing to rest frequently. The dark song was becoming more compelling and he no longer wanted to fight, he wanted the peace that came with acceptance.

Aeronwen leaned back against the rock and shuddered holding her side, she was exhausted and in pain and she knew she needed more than a few moments rest. She sank to the ground stretching out her arm wincing as she gazed at the teeth marks and deep bruising visible between torn armour. However she took solace in the fact that both she and Morrigan were alive despite their less than desirable conditions. She closed her eyes feeling the taint grip Duncan, almost as though it sensed she was not strong enough to protect him. "Duncan you must block out that hideous sound."

"Aeronwen how can you not appreciate how beautiful it is?"

"It is the taint Duncan; the sound of evil itself, now block it out!"

"It's so much easier just to simply listen."

"Duncan I am too tired, I cannot shield you. Please; please stop listening, it is like talons digging in my head."

"Just relax love, it only hurts because you are resisting."

Aeronwen felt suffocated, struggling as Duncan fell under the sway of the damned song. He had fought so hard to keep the taint from claiming him, yet now she felt no resistance in him at all, the Deep Roads were claiming him. Her eyes flared open and she managed to get to her feet. She was suddenly furious that he had stopped fighting, that he was giving up. Holding her side she limped over to him. "Ancestors damn you Duncan! You do not have the luxury of giving into the taint!"

Duncan stared at her wide eyed, trying to gain some control. "Aeronwen I …"

"Do not give me excuses; we are all suffering down here, but you are the Warden Commander, it is your duty to survive this place so fight it, because I cannot take any more of that hateful noise scratching in my mind." Her chest was heaving painfully, her body trembling with weakness and exhaustion.

Duncan forced himself to turn from the song feeling the swell of the Archdemon's rage. "It is becoming more difficult."

"I know; but for all of our sakes, Ferelden included you have to keep fighting." Aeronwen rubbed her forehead. "Ancestors I am so tired."

Duncan caught her as she swayed, her eyes closing as she lost consciousness. He glanced to the others who were watching them in alarm. "We will camp here for a few hours." He carried her to Jowan and left her in his care; watching from a distance, the taint tugging at him once more.

Aeronwen regained consciousness moments later; she was feverish and agitated, glaring in Duncan's direction as he once more surrendered to the dark song.

"Aero what's going on?" Jowan whispered; terrified he had caused this by giving her the antidote.

"I am simply tired." She murmured.

Alistair saw the conflict; but took no joy in it, he was afraid for her, but despite the potion he knew there was something else going on between the Commander and the Guardian. He swallowed back the pain being near her caused and sat next to her as Jowan moved to his pack rummaging for a healing potion. "Aeronwen, tell me what is happening."

Aeronwen was desperate to confide in someone who would understand and elated that Alistair seemed to want to speak to her again, his distance from her had been crippling and she was desperate for her friend. "Duncan's Calling is upon him, it began the moment we entered the Deep Roads." She whispered so only he could hear. "I have held it back as much as I could, but the Archdemon and the taint is too strong in this place. I do not have the strength to protect him and he has stopped fighting of his own accord."

Alistair stared at her wide eyed, cursing himself that he had turned from her when she needed support the most. "You've been shielding him this whole time?"

"Our more conflicted moments are those when I am losing." She shifted slightly wincing in pain, continuing to whisper. "The bond is rarely offered when a Warden has been exposed to the taint for more than five years, let alone the number Duncan has lived with it. I have not had time to learn it; to be able to influence it in the way I could had I more time, I am fire fighting at most. It is exhausting and my experience with the Archdemon …" She swallowed painfully and met Alistair's worried gaze. "He tore into my mind and he lingers there still, through my bond with Duncan." She let out a deep sigh. "Damn it I should be healing, I should be stronger than this."

"Aero you were a chew toy for the Archdemon, that you survived at all is a miracle!" Jowan muttered returning with the healing potion, hearing the tail end of her words.

Aeronwen shivered. "I do not know what is wrong with me. Nothing makes sense; not my Kalsren breaking the bond, not my inability to heal the way I should, that I would feel this love so deep within myself and yet there be no manifestation of it and at times it seems so wrong." She flushed and looked away from Jowan and Alistair's concerned glances having not meant to speak of her personal relationship with the Commander. "Ancestors I am failing him." She suddenly pressed against Alistair's chest needing comfort and wept, muffling her sobs against him.

Alistair held her; running his fingers soothing through her hair, gently caressing her neck. He met Jowan's concerned gaze; both men glancing to Duncan who was resting against the stone, his eyes closed a peaceful look on his face.

xXx

Azro came upon a part of the Deep Roads he recognised, he was half mad with hunger and the need for vengeance by the time he stumbled into Aeducan Thaig. He sank into a rubble filled doorway and held his stomach. The last deep stalker he had managed to catch had looked strange, but he was so hungry he had eaten it anyway. Since then he had felt feverish, his head hurt and he had begun to hear whispers. He moved sharply as laughter drifted through his mind. He shrank into the doorway shivering, his eyes wide as the whispers tugged at him. He heard the sound of footsteps and gripped his sword.

Two exhausted dwarves entered the Thaig, battle weary and the last of their company left alive. The whispers increased and Azro saw only Bhelen and with a manic scream he killed them both. He dragged them into another doorway stripping their armor and weapons, searching in their pouches and hungrily eating the hunk of dry bread he found. He slept a little, the whispers threading his dreams and coaxing him. When he woke he took one of the dwarven bodies hacking into it with the dwarf's own sword. He placed the severed limbs on the spikes left by the Darkspawn hoping to snare some deep stalkers. The other dwarf he stretched out, hanging him over a doorway, a warning to any others who would seek to harm him.

The whispers filled his mind and he sank into darkness.

xXx

Moral was at a minimum; the group was exhausted; battle weary and it soon became apparent that Duncan was not the only one struggling with the taint. Nightmares increased in their intensity and all four Wardens woke screaming from what snatches of sleep they could get. Aeronwen barely slept unless she lost consciousness, what sleep she did manage to get was filled with the Archdemon's claws digging into her body and she would wake screaming terrified that she would be of little use in the battle ahead.

Morrigan did what she could to shield Aedan; weaving all manner of protection spells, until she realised that all he wanted was to be held, to be reassured that he would see sunlight again. Morrigan opened up to him in a way she had with no other; telling him of herself as a child, of her curiosity and of the hand mirror she had coveted and stolen, only for her mother to smash it. She told him of her magic, of her few explorations of the world beyond the Wilds and confided in him at how overwhelmed she had been when she had joined them, how uncomfortable and uncertain. She was gratified that Aedan listened and shared stories of his own childhood, the bond between them deepening in the dark. She had even extended an almost gentle acceptance towards Flax, softly stroking her ears as she and Aedan talked. Morrigan grew afraid; loving meant being open to the risk of losing, but as she gazed into Aedan's eyes she realised to her surprise that he was worth the risk.

Zevran forced himself to move beyond his grief at least for the moment, to shield Alistair from the darkness trying desperately to claim him. He watched over him as he slept, held him when he woke shivering and terrified. Alistair's eyes would always seek out Aeronwen when he woke, the Archdemon torturing him with a new form of death for her each night. Zevran soothed him and did what he could to bolster his confidence that they would destroy the creature. Marrok never left his side realising how close the young Warden was to breaking.

Niyra was sharp enough to notice that Oghren was drinking more than usual and harder liquor though he had almost run out and she knew that would be when things would get dangerous. So she did what she could. She sought his advice on fighting those they encountered. They talked strategy as they moved through the tunnels and as they settled down at camp and she began to fight as his Second, knowing his own sense of honour would ensure he was in perfect fighting form to ensure he was not the cause of any harm to her. He drank less and even laughed a little more, Niyra's sense of humour rarely failing to lighten his mood.

It was Sten who pulled Duncan from his moments of blissful sinking into the song. He spoke to Duncan of the Qunari way and in the worst moments when Aeronwen would collapse in exhaustion from the struggle he would inform the Commander of the pain he would cause him should he decline to fight the influence of the taint.

xXx

Sten settled into a meditative pose and allowed his breathing to calm. He had just finished his watch and needed to calm himself before there was any hope of sleep. He understood of course that they needed the dwarven support, but this foolish trek into the Deep Roads was forcing them to pay too high a price. He glanced to the Commander who seemed to be the only one now resting peacefully.

His gaze moved to Aeronwen who was settled at the fire speaking softly with Morrigan, her face shadowed with pain. He had never experienced fear like it when the Darkspawn had taken her and the injuries she had sustained had left him speechless. Her bond with the Commander, a bond that at one point he had almost insisted upon was crippling her. It seemed that day by day the darkness claimed more of Duncan and he was taking Aeronwen with him.

He centred and focused himself; if he did nothing else in his life he would ensure Aeronwen survived this and when they defeated the Blight he would take her home, exile be damned.