DISCLAIMER: I base my stories on Intellectual Property (IP) owned by BioWare™ and EA™. I pretend to live in their world.
SPOILERS: I refer to information from the games, the novels and the comics. If you have not played or read, please beware.
This chapter contains dialogue from Dragon Age: Origins
CHAPTER 54: Whatever Is Necessary
9:30 Dragon, Haring === Highever
"It's a warden matter. We need to find this fortress and secure it. You need to stay here with Fergus."
Arms crossed, Mel stood at the window, her back to him, watching the activity in the bailey below. "You're taking Morrigan, Leliana and Wynne?"
"No, not Leliana and Wynne. Leliana can help with Mother Agnes; Wynne can continuing working with Nyla, and," he smiled, knowing how much the mage's survival meant to Mel, "make sure Nyla fully recovers. Petyr will stay too. He's Fergus' warden now. We sense no 'spawn, but he'll provide a warning if that changes. The other wardens and Morrigan will come with me."
"Need her skills?"
"One more mage with elemental skills will be useful, not to mention her skills as a spy."
"As long as she gives Shayle a wide berth." Mel turned around, smirking.
"She's not always a bird," Alistair chuckled, relieved that Mel accepted his plan. "We don't know what we'll find in an abandoned warden fortress and having a bird or mouse or…whatever will prove helpful. With our luck undead wardens will still defend the place; or Arlen's undead guards might relish having more wardens to attack. Or we'll find a complete ruin. We don't even know that it was any thing beyond a large hall or fortified tower." He shrugged giving her a lopsided grin.
She had told him what little she knew of Sophia Dryden and he had put that together with his own knowledge of Ferelden warden history gleaned from books at the Denerim compound. Neither of them had ever thought Soldier's Peak more than a myth. "Seriously, it could be filled with darkspawn if there's a Deep Road entrance. Caves often mean darkspawn. Levi said the entrance is through abandoned mining tunnels. For all we know this fortress is nothing more than a large cave where the wardens hid out."
"I know. You would think I would know about it, since it's on our land. How large can it be?" She chuckled. "I didn't think there was any fact Aldous didn't know, but he never mentioned Soldier's Peak." Her smile faded. "You have the pills?" She had a new supply, having gone to Areth for medicines and other supplies with Pippa. Neither man had wanted to join them, although the women had extended the offer. That's one thing I don't have to confront right now, Alistair had said. Nate had agreed.
"You can bring me mine and the new supply for everyone else," Alistair assured her. "The non-wardens won't get Blight sickness."
"Good. That area is pretty wild, but there are a lot of abandoned mines, so many potential darkspawn gateways. We've never explored it. Except for the old track paralleling the North Road, there are no roads and the terrain is too steep for farming or herding. You'll find a few villages, mostly abandoned. Your friend, Levi, must live in one of them, from what he told you, but I don't know the last time anyone worked those mines. Papa decided they were too expensive to reopen the one time he considered it. Do you need Kai and Zev?"
"Daveth and Taina are plenty stealthy and we have Morrigan. Zev and Kai should stay with you. "
"You already spoke with them."
He grinned and held up his hands, palm outward. "Guilty. Fergus needs all three of you. You know the city, Kai the Alienage and Zev can help with security and…well, spying. Someone needs to watch the templars and Sister Monica. Leliana's a bit obvious."
"She is," Mel agreed, "but Morrigan's been spying on them," her lips quirked, "as a mouse. We'll miss that." She wrinkled her nose, making a face at him. "I hate it when you're right."
"Me too, when it means we split up, but-"
"-Fergus and I have reconciled and you don't want to endanger that. He'll appreciate me staying, it's true." She shrugged. "Whatever is necessary,yes?" Mel eyed Alistair's noisy mid section.
"I'm hungry," he admitted.
"Your stomach speaks eloquently; you don't have to talk." Mel walked over and put her arms around him. "I'll miss you. It's only been a few weeks since we left Orzammar. Now you're going off again. Even if my ring stays warm, I'll worry."
He pulled her closer, kissing her ear. Mumbling into her hair he said, "It's only for a week or two. We're taking a couple of birds so we can tell you we succeeded. We'll also let Nate know the condition of the track. He's hoping he can use it to keep off the North Road for his march to Amaranthine; a surprise attack will help him take the city more quickly. He wants to take it before the Pilgrim's Path becomes passable for Howe's troops from Denerim and it's almost First Day."
"The Pilgrim's Path will be mud until Guardian."
Alistair's stomach grumbled again.
"Come on, warden. We better feed you."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Thank you," Fergus said coming to stand beside Mel on the Keep's wall walk.
Alistair and his companions had disappeared into the forest beyond Broughten Keep, heading for a little used pass leading to the equally little used track Mel had suggested they take. As a girl, she had ridden it often to gather plants and hunt. Too rough for large wagons, farmers and traders could travel it in smaller, lighter two wheeled carts to avoid the higher passes. If its condition had not worsened, Nate's army could use it to march to Amaranthine in secret and improve their chance of success.
"You're welcome, brother," Mel said, taking his arm. "I can be of more use here, helping get the city settled."
"You can and that will let me leave you in charge for a day or two while I take a tour of the countryside west of here. I need to see the condition of the farm holds before the refugees begin returning in Guardian and Drakonis. I want to make sure the lands are safe."
Mel looked at him, mouth slightly open. "In charge?"
"Da thought you capable eight months ago; surely you're more capable now." He pulled her into a hug. "It wasn't your fault…or Da's. All of us knew Howe had a nasty streak, but no one expected what he did. I understand that now, but I needed to be here, to listen to you, and to know what happened that night. I was harsh in my judgment. I'm sorry."
Stepping back so she could look at him, Mel smiled. "I do understand, but I'm glad we're us again…well, as much as we can be us again after all that's happened. I'll do whatever you necessary, but we need to decide about the prisoners first, don't we?"
Fergus rested his forearms on the battlements. "The prisoners. I may need your help, and Nate and Pippa's, in tempering my judgments. Honestly, I want to hang them all, but-"
"-you don't want to become the man you hate."
"I don't and those soldiers have been in that dungeon for too long…at least the less guilty ones."
"What are the options? You and Nate must have discussed it."
"Endlessly…mostly because of me. We need to decide who to release on parole and when; who to try and how long we wait. The refugees should have a chance to present their evidence, not just the city folk, so we need to hold some until Drakonis when the refugees come home. Finally, we need to choose how to punish the guilty."
"Well, that's a small task." She frowned. "No one should be released until Nate takes Amaranthine."
"Unless, and this is his idea, we parole some and they form an Amaranthine company in his army and fight with him."
"How could he trust them?"
"He'd choose ones he knows and is sure of. Ones he believes his father threatened to gain their cooperation. Ones who were not here with Howe and his Vigilant Shield that night. Truth be told, he and his lieutenants already began talking to them. Getting names, when they arrived, who they served with, that sort of thing, without hinting at an amnesty or parole. Einarr and Silven are helping. Mostly sorting the worst lot from the others.
He rubbed the short hair covering his head. "They have found that there are very few Shield here now. Howe took them with him."
"The Shield initiated the worst of the attack, before they opened the gates to the main body of the army, but all Howe's troops participated." she leaned over the battlement next to him.
"Most of the troops we captured came in Bloomingtide or later," he continued, "to replace the ones who attacked the castle with Howe in Cloudreach. Seems Howe decided to replace the troops, rather than keep losing soldiers to ambushes by the city folk - or at least a vigilante arm of the city folk."
"Attacks?"
"Soldiers out alone or in pairs kept turning up dead. Each one had a teardrop carved on his cheek; it meant killed by Highever patriots in retribution for the attack. Punishments failed to stop it. Fergus grimaced. "Killing three city folk for each dead soldier can depopulate a city pretty quickly and that means less income for Howe, so he moved the original troops to Denerim and let the city know they were gone. He convinced the merchants and artisans to cooperate, kept his troops outside the city patrolling the countryside and reinstated the city guard. Apparently it calmed things down…in Higheverport anyway. We know it didn't in the countryside given all the refugees in Long's Reach."
"You're saying none of them are here now – not the Shield and not the army that attacked us? Are these troops any better?"
"We'll have to make that decision after listening to the evidence." He stood up. "I'm going to let Nate make the choices. Creating a unit to go with him would relieve the crowding in our dungeons, but it's a risk for his army. After he captures Amaranthine, I can send any others he thinks deserve parole home. In the meantime, I'll have them build holding cells for themselves inside the castle to relieve the crowding. It's warming up," He saw her eyebrows raise. "well, for the Coastlands. Above ground has to be better than below ground. The worst will stay in the dungeons until I have time to judge them."
"There's no easy answer is there? Sounds like a workable plan."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Come in."
Gelisa had a musical voice that might be captivating in other circumstances. Leliana put the thought out of her mind. She opened the door and stopped, staring. Nyla and Gelisa sat on Gelisa's cot. The two had known each other before, as they had all taken to saying, to identify the time before Howe's attack. A Chantry sister sat opposite them on Nyla's cot. Leliana's eyes narrowed.
"Who might you be?" Dressed like that she's clearly a traditionalist, wimple and all. Traditionalist or conservative, both words described clerics who feared mages, adhered to a strict view of the Chant and wore full head covering, long sleeves and voluminous gowns.
"A friend, Leliana," came Gelisa's quick reply. "I asked to see her. This is Sister Mildreth."
The sister smiled at Leliana from under her wimple. She touched the head covering. "I wear it to be more invisible, although now that the Accord is reinstated, maybe I can trade the wimple for a simple veil. I am one of Mother Agnes' aides. I would say adviser, but since Cloudreach, she has chosen to…not hear most of what I say."
"Not hear?"
"The Mother believes everything works out for the best…eventually, after prayer and enduring the trials sent by the Maker."
"Enduring? So pray, but take no action?"
"Sadly, yes, or maintain willful ignorance of the true state of affairs."
"You do not believe the same?"
"I do not. Nor do I fear mages. Serving here, before…I loved it, but since Cloudreach, it's been a nightmare. I can only pray that we have finally awakened with Teyrn Couslands' arrival."
"Sister Mildreth entered the Chantry as an herbalist and historian," Nyla said. "She would often join Gelisa and me in the garden, collecting plants, and making potions. Mel knows her, if you need someone to vouch for her."
"And what if that was a clever way to spy on all of you?" Leliana stood, arms crossed, in front of the now closed door.
The two mages looked at each other, too surprised to answer. Gelisa blew out a breath.
"I can't prove I wasn't, Sister, only swear it," Mildreth answered.
"I think I can," Nyla said. "Mildreth knew my whereabouts from the start of Howe's occupation. She often attended births to witness for the Chantry. She was with us the night of the attack and told me to hide with my friend, Essa, the midwife. She brought me a wimple and clothing. She steered the templars away from Mistress Essa's little house, saying she knew us both. Mildreth kept us safe for months."
"And yet, you were captured."
"Knight-Lieutenant Gethin and his templars wanted every healer, apothecary, and alchemist detained. Essa is…was a healer and apothecary, that was known. I suspect he offered a bounty and eventually someone needed the money. Hiding my magic from common templars passing by is one thing; hiding it from a Knight-Lieutenant inside the house was quite another."
"You have reason to believe a templar would offer bribes?" Leliana asked.
"Don't be naive, Sister," Mildreth said, pursing her lips." He wouldn't be the first. Gethin's a fanatic. He believes all healing is magical in some way. Aside from setting broken bones, sewing up a cut or pulling a bad tooth, he thinks all cures can come from prayer and all illnesses come from sin." Sister Mildreth's tone had turned bitter. "He has a sergeant, two common templars and Sister Monica who followed him. The other templars manage to mitigate what they think are his worst actions, but they have no idea what he's done in that dungeon or elsewhere.
"Monica ensures no one knows the worst by keeping false records. She either claims mages have been sent to other Circles or completely neglects to record them. That Tevinter adviser to Howe, Nicephorus, and Howe's agent, Rogier, made sure no one saw mages taken away. Despite their beliefs, I know coin changed hands. I don't know how much or what the templars did with theirs, but I know Monica sent her share to her family; bad money to a good cause, I suppose. They are poor farm holders near Vigil's Keep."
"So, Howe could have threatened her through her family?" Leliana observed.
Mildreth's mouth dropped open. "I hadn't thought…but possibly. Even so, she fears mages and believes as Gethin does. They believe in doing what ever they think necessary to protect the rest of us from mages."
"Is he from Amaranthine?"
"No, he came from Kirkwall last spring, just before the attacks." Seeing Leliana mouth open, she hurried to add that he had no connection to Howe. "The attacks surprised him as much as anyone that night. The templars actually protected some city folk, but soon saw the opportunity Howe offered by rescinding the Accords. He hated the freedom for mages he found here. I suspect he and Howe's people discovered that their goals coincided - end the Accord and cage the mages. Or as we've just learned, send them to Tevinter.
"The good news is that it is a small conspiracy, despite its horrific results. Mother Agnes is guilty of inaction after obeying the directive from the Grand Cleric ending the Accord, but she knew nothing of Nicephorus or sending mages to Tevinter."
Leliana pursed her lips. "Grand Cleric Elemena favors Orlais, not Tevinter. Should I believe she is equally unaware that Howe's allows his Tevinter advisers to send mages home?"
Mildreth shrugged. "I can't say, but I would guess that is true. We didn't know this NIcephorus was a mage. Nyla and Gelisa told me today that he led the testing. Gethin must know, but I did not, nor am I sure Monica did."
"He masks his magic," Nyla said. "I've never seen anyone do it so thoroughly."
Leliana finally sat down next to Mildreth. "Will Mother Agnes listen and take action now?"
"I hope so, but her faith in prayer and her belief in people's ultimate goodness are both her greatest strength and greatest weakness. Perhaps you, the Teyrn, the Arlessa and I can convince her?"
Nyla chuckled. "Take Lys…Mel…she has her mother's powers of persuasion."
Leliana smiled. "I don't know the Teyrna, but Mel is persuasive, although the Revered Mother might see only the girl and not the woman's she's become."
"And you must remember," Mildreth cautioned, "there is only so much she can do given the Grand Cleric's agreement with Howe. Temporarily re-instating the Accords won't please the Grand Cleric."
"She can enforce the Accords now, no? That alone should solve most of the issues, now that all the mages have been released from the Chantry's dungeon. Perhaps she can transfer the Lieutenant and his adherents? And speak with the Sister. Certainly some punishment for her would be appropriate?"
Mildreth nodded. "All good ideas, Sister. The Teyrn, the Arlessa and Lady Melysande should suggest them to Mother Agnes."
"And perhaps, Wynne can ask for some templars from the Circle Tower?" Nyla said. "I know there were problems there, but surely they could spare one or two, ones whom Wynne knows would be…more tolerant?"
"Or perhaps we could ask for former Highever templars to return?" Leliana looked at Mildreth.
"Most went to Kirkwall. Knight-Commander Meredith will not give them up easily. She will also block the return of templars assigned to the Kirkwall Chantry; she believes all of the templars in Kirkwall are under her command. Grand Cleric Elthina allows Meredith great latitude. Kinloch Hold is a better option if they can accept more mages."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
As had become their habit, Fergus and Nate settled in what had been Arl Broughten's study after supper. Fergus had provided a supply of various Free Marches whiskey to supplement the late Arl's stash of fine brandy. Some nights, they invited others to join them to discuss plans, but most evenings they simply reminisced and relaxed. On this night, they first discussed the progress they had made dealing with the prisoners. Nate had formed a company of paroled Amaranthine pike wielders. Of the troops who made up the Amaranthine parolees' unit, Nate knew most of the soldiers or their families. The parolees' role in his army would be to protect his archers from both cavalry and infantry attacks.
Fergus and Nate paroled others, pending Nate's conquest of the City of Amaranthine, mostly those vouched for by soldiers Nate knew. These parolees would remain at Castle Cousland, building a shelter for themselves, until Nate's hold on Amaranthine proved secure. Once built, the parolees could move out of the dungeon cells. This would leave a manageable number of more culpable troops in the dungeons. As far as Fergus was concerned, the remaining prisoners could stay there a long time. By the time the two men poured their second glass, they had moved on to reminiscing which, tonight, led them to a new plan for Nate's attack on Amaranthine City.
One of the first things Bryce Cousland had done as Teyrn, after the Rebellion ended, was to control smuggling along the Waking Sea coast, with the help of his well informed wife. During the Occupation, the craggy north coast of Ferelden had offered hidden coves and secret caves for smugglers supplying the Rebels and the black market. Teyrna Eleanor came from a family of noble smugglers and traders and herself led privateers, during the Rebellion, as the captain the Orlesian's called the Seawolf. With her family background, Eleanor knew the coves and caves best suited for smuggling. With peace came the desire to control and tax trade. Both Teyrn Cousland and Arl Howe ended most smuggling in the early years of the Dragon Age. The Couslands knew smuggling continued to the far west, in Long's Reach bannorn ruled by Eleanor's family, but there they tolerated it. The west had no port; and given the small amounts involved, smuggling provided the most efficient means for the bann's people to trade with Nevarra.
In Amaranthine, a hidden harbor, which the Orlesians never discovered, connected to tunnels beneath the city and, during the Rebellion, allowed Bann Esmerelle to bring in goods for both the black market and the Rebel underground operating in the area. At Rebellions end smuggling into the once prosperous City of Amaranthine burgeoned, with Bann Esmerelle's tacit approval, after the Orlesians sacked and abandoned the port. Smuggling provided more income than taxes, so she allowed it to flourish.
Once Arl Howe took over his Arling, he convinced Esmerelle to shut down the smuggling, but the cave and tunnels remained. As boys, Fergus and Nate had discovered them when sailing along the coast near the city. Only accessible at low tide, the boys had found the cave's entrance and sailed in. Once inside, they found the cave roof arched upward over a harbor large enough to accept two or three galleys. Surprised to find a pier, they tied up and explored. They soon realized the tunnels led beneath the city.
As they reminisced about the games they had played in the sheltered cove, they quickly understood that the smuggler's hideaway offered a secret entrance under the city walls. Send in troops and, as they had in Highever, the soldiers could open the gates to their main force. The two had looked at each other and laughed. Clinking glasses, they toasted their plan.
A knock on the door interrupted their celebration. It opened and Mel poked her head around the door before Fergus could respond.
"Come," Fergus said.
Leliana followed Mel into the room.
"Gethin's gone along with his sergeant and two templars," Mel announced. "Two of the Rasiae saw them slink off along the same path Alistair's group took the other day. They must have seen the wardens leave, and now, with the snow is beaten down, Alistair's path will be easy to follow."
"Walking or riding?"
"Riding – and they're templars, they're used to traveling in the forest chasing mages. They won't be easy to catch and the wardens are walking…."
"It's a good thing we've let everyone believe we're wintering here with no plans to attack Amaranthine," Nate said. "They'll head to the Vigil to report. They'll confirm who we are, but they won't give away our plans. Sweet Maker, we didn't know our plans until tonight."
"Why didn't the Rasiae shoot them?" Fergus asked.
"Fully armored templars? Don't be daft," Nate said. "Two Dalish hunters couldn't stop them, even if their first instinct isn't to disappear into the forest."
"Nothing we can do then. Just hope -"
"-Fergus, they might be chasing Alistair and the wardens. The lure of the bounty on the wardens, the capture of three mages and an excuse to escape from here after we found out what he'd done may have been too much for Gethin and his men to resist." Mel spoke sharply. "Alistair won't expect to be followed. And once they say you're here, Nate, anyone in Amaranthine City or the Vigil will assume we plan to attack."
"Alistair will be watching, Mel," Leliana said. "Morrigan searches ahead and behind."
"You're right," she conceded, "but they don't need an attack."
"If Morrigan sees them, she'll make sure they don't surprise her companions."
Mel's lip quirked. "That is true. They'll set a trap, but they'll still have to fight."
Nate stared at his drink. "You have a point about what my father and his people will assume." He looked at Fergus. "I should leave sooner rather than later. Good thing we came up with this new plan."
"It solves our templar problem," Leliana said. "We wanted them gone and they're gone. I do not believe they will hurt our wardens or your plans for Amaranthine City. If they attack Alistair and his company, they will not survive."
9:30 Dragon, Haring === Soldier's Peak
The wardens, Morrigan, Sten, Oghren, Warden and Shayle looked at the three dead templars.
"Why did they attack us?" Oghren grumbled.
"Warden bounty," Alistair said, sheathing his sword. "And capturing mages. Turning us in with an apostate or two might lessen their punishment for dealing with that 'Vint mage. Even the Grand Cleric can't completely ignore deals with Tevinter."
"One escaped."
"Wit' an arrow in his side," Daveth snapped. "We kin hope he won't git far."
"Liam, I need you over here," Morrigan said, urgency in her voice. Taina lay next to her, bleeding from a wound to her head.
The group gathered around. Beads of sweat covered Liam's brow as he healed the dwarf. Daveth knelt beside her whispering her name. Finally, her eyelids fluttered. She winced and raised a hand to the bloody spot on her temple.
"Andraste's Song, Taina, I wish dwarves weren't so resistant to magic." Liam leaned back, but waved away a lyruim potion. "Taina's fine. My mana will regenerate on its own. Daveth, are you sure you wounded the templar?"
"Yep. He won't be attackin' us again."
"We should track him down," Sten said.
"He's a templar, Sten. He's used to moving through the woods quickly and, despite the armor, even quietly. He won't be easy to track." Liam stood, stretching.
"He is the prey now, not the hunter. Why would he be difficult to find?" Sten said. "He will leave a trail of blood from his wound
"Templars hunt mages, it's true, but they must also make sure they are not the hunted. The very mages a templar hunts, might ambush the templar. They learn to be careful." Liam remained crouched next to Taina, placing a poultice on the remains of the wound.
Sten thought for a while. "Just another reason you should leash your Saarebas. Even the mage hunters can fall to them."
"Just stay aware as we travel," Liam said, "and know that this Saarebas will attack that mage hunter on sight." He looked at Morrigan.
"I will look for him as I scout."
"Don't attack him alone," Alistair said. "Return and we'll find him together. Honestly, I think he'll head for the North Road and go to the Vigil or Denerim to report in. He won't attack us on his own." Alistair looked at his companions, but no one disagreed. "Let's move out. The map Fergus gave me shows an abandoned village just ahead. We'll make camp there."
"We should make sure no bandits or squatters surprise us in this village," Sten said.
"Good thought, Sten. We'll set a watch as usual. Morrigan-"
"-I will go there first and return immediately if the templar or any others have taken refuge there."
After the encounter with the templars, the wardens met no other travelers on their journey from Highever. Given their plan included traveling over a little used mountain pass and along a snow covered road to reach the mining tunnels leading to the abandoned fortress, they had chosen to walk and leave the horses behind. The unnamed pass out of Highever had put them well to the east of the city. The trip had been cold, stormy and as quick as they could make it. When they reached them, the caves where Levi Dryden had agreed to meet them offered welcome shelter from the constant snow and sleet. They set up camp in the relative warmth of the caves to wait for Levi.
"So you sent a message to this Levi person from Lake Calenhad Docks?" Morrigan asked, scanning the interior of the cave with its many exits. "How do you know he will meet us? One could get lost in this cave complex."
"I'm trusting him, Morrigan."
"Hmmpphh." Morrigan sat closer to the fire and crossed her arms.
"Glad you approve," Alistair said, smiling. "He and his family live in a village nearby, which is how he discovered these caves. He'll check for us."
As they spoke a figure emerged from one of the tunnels.
"Warden. I was afraid the storms would delay you, yet here you are."
"Levi, good to see you again."
"Good you're settled in here. We'll leave early tomorrow. It's a morning's walk and, well, I can't guarantee there won't be any squatters. I haven't explored very far into the courtyard. There's still bodies lying around."
"Opposition, now that would be novel," Daveth muttered. "Bodies could mean undead. Get your blades ready, Taina and stay away from the biggest warriors."
Taina chuckled. "What are a few undead wardens or darkspawn to us?"
They found out the next day.
Morrigan and Jowan stood on the steps leading up to the entrance to Soldier's Peak casting over the head of Daveth who shot from a few steps below them. Alistair, Sten, Oghren and Shayle fought with earth and sword as waves of undead attacked, while Taina darted in and out, blades flashing. Liam, guarded by Warden, healed from his position on the steps near Daveth. The undead wardens and Fereldan royal troops kept coming. Slashing, bashing and pommeling drove them to the ground where they died again. Shayle had become accomplished, after Orzammar, at placing boulders and rock falls that damaged the enemy and left Sten, Oghren and Alistair unharmed. Arrows, ice and lightening raining down from above also missed the warriors and picked off additional attackers, as they woke to the new battle. Levi huddled to one side, out of harm's way. He had stated clearly that he was a merchant and trader, not a fighter.
Finally, all the undead had died again, never to return or at least that's what the companions hoped.
"I sense spirits here…inside," Morrigan announced.
"And a very thin veil," Liam added. "I suspect we'll have more undead and probably demons to fight inside."
"Nothing new to us," Alistair said, grimacing. "We can hope it's simple demons and undead, with no darkspawn and blood mages."
"No blood mages would be a good thing," Liam agreed, "but I see little difference between fighting darkspawn and demons, to be honest."
Morrigan shot him an annoyed look. "Unless you're a woman," she snapped. "I would expect that sort of comment from Alistair, not you."
"I apologize. You're right. I'm looking at it as a male warden." He reached out, but Morrigan stepped away. "I won't forget my promise."
"I hope not. I hope none of you forget it."
Chastened by Morrigan's comments, the group entered the door Alistair held open. No malevolent beings met them in the entry hall, only evidence of the wardens' plight in the form of another vision. It only confused the companions further, leaving them wondering why the wardens battled with King Arland and what had happened to Sophia Dryden, Levi's great-great-great-grandmother. More bits of evidence appeared in the form of visions as they fought their way through the first floor.
Entering the second floor, at first they thought they had made it past the demons and undead, but Morrigan shivered and looked into the next room.
"The veil is torn here." Morrigan looked towards the far side of the room. "This is the source of the demons; we will not pass without a fight."
Liam joined her at the archway leading to the next room. "Blessed Andraste, someone created that tear, it's not accidental."
Morrigan, her teeth clenched, held her staff at the ready. "I agree. Perhaps we will face a blood mage."
"Shall we just go in and challenge what's there?" Alistair asked.
"We shall defeat it," Sten said. "Best to confront it and end it quickly."
"Killing demons fails to satisfy," Shayle muttered. "They do not squish."
Another vision appeared when they crossed into the next room. It showed the king's men fighting the wardens. As they watched, Warden-Commander Sophia Dryden urged her wardens on and ordered the Warden Mage she called Avernus to summon demons against the king's troops. He succeeded in tearing the veil with his blood magic, but failed to control the demons he called. When the demons turned on the wardens, Avernus retreated with his mages, leaving Sophia and his fellow wardens to their fate. The vision faded and the veil tear swirled as a rage demon pushed through.
Another battle ensued, this time with undead wardens appearing on summoning circles and aiding the demon who appeared through the veil tear. The archers and mages targeted the four undead wardens, killing them and weakening the demon. The warriors focused on the rage demon, quickly destroying it.
"What was that?" Oghren grunted. "Those warden things kept that demon thing alive."
Morrigan and Liam exchanged looks. Liam spoke. "The veil is torn. Demons can come through at any time. It needs to be sealed. Morrigan and I will have to study it."
"Sealing veil tears, particularly ones created by a mage, can be complicated," Morrigan said. "We do not know the spell he used to create it."
A disillusioned Levi crept back from his hiding place. "That warden used blood magic. He summoned a demon and Grandmother Sophia knew!" His shoulders slumped. "We thought she was a great woman…almost a queen, not…whoever that was."
"Wardens do use whatever magics are necessary to defeat their enemies, Levi," Liam offered. "Those enemies are usually darkspawn, but the wardens here were fighting for their lives."
"Perhaps more answers lie ahead," Levi said, straightening his shoulders.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Not the answers I wanted to hear," Levi mumbled as they left the study and the possessed body of Sophia Dryden behind. "First blood magic, now my great-gran's possessed. And you made a deal with her!" He glared at Liam and then turned to Alistair. "I thought you were in charge, not the mage!"
"Truth will out." Morrigan smiled at the young trader.
"I trust Liam's knowledge and instincts when it comes to magic and demons, or I did." Alistair looked at Liam, showing confusion and anger. "What are you thinking, Liam?"
"That she may be the only one who can close the Veil. Do you want to kill her and leave the Veil torn?"
Alistair breath puffed his cheeks. "No. It needs to be sealed. You're sure you can't do it? You and Morrigan?'
"We could, eventually, templar," Morrigan said, before Liam could answer. "Once we spent enough time deciphering the original spell and determining exactly how. Time we do not have."
Morrigan's contemptuous tone reminded Alistair of their first weeks together. He could hear Mel telling him to think before he spoke. He breathed deeply several times before he spoke. "It was a valid question, Morrigan and you gave me a good answer." Please stay in my head, love, and tell me what to do or I'll throttle her and then she'll turn me into a toad. "Alright everyone, be prepared. I suspect we'll find more undead wardens before the day is out. Let's see what's in this Tower the demon wants destroyed."
The magical seal over the door to the Tower had dissipated, but, as Alistair had predicted, more undead guarded the bridge to the Tower. Taina scurried in between undead wardens to defuse the very real traps scattered along the walk, while the others did away with the defenders.
"Sten. Oghren. Please stay by the door. I don't want to be surprised by more undead attacking from behind."
"Wise precaution, warden."
'What if you run into a mass of them inside?" Oghren asked.
"If you hear me screaming like this: Aaaahhhhheeeeeek, come in to help."
Sten rolled his eyes, but Oghren snorted. "Will do, Warden."
"If you're finished acting like a five-year-old, perhaps we should move on," Morrigan snapped. "I sense powerful magic in this Tower, but the Veil here is stronger."
Alistair bowed and motioned her past the door Daveth held open.
"Well, this is a pleasant room," Alistair said. "Note the elegant arrangement of the crates, the-"
"-lack of undead," Daveth finished.
"That too," Alistair chuckled. He opened the door to the next room and groaned as undead swarmed. "Now this is more like it. Attack!"
With the undead gone, Liam poked around the items on a table. He glanced through the parchment quarto containing the Warden mage's notes. "Morrigan, look at this." She joined him and read:
The taint allows us to sense the darkspawn. The longer we survive with the taint in our blood, the more potent it becomes. Unfortunately, this corruption will eventually overwhelm the Warden; over time, it devours both mind and body, leaving nothing. But what if the spread of the corruption could be stopped, or contained in some way? What if the Warden could become more powerful, without having that power kill him? How great would that power be? Would it be enough to stop the demons?
The Joining ritual is crude. We take into ourselves the blood of the darkspawn in the most obvious way. Most die from the corruption immediately; it is, after all, poison. There must be some way to refine the Joining. Isolate the true power that is found in darkspawn blood, and leave behind the evil that kills us.
"He's trying to find a better Joining potion? That's not a bad thing, but what does he mean by more powerful?" Liam murmured to her.
They looked at the bottle on the table containing some alchemical liquid, as Taina picked it up and uncorked it.
"Wait," Liam and Morrigan said in unison. "We don't know what that does."
"From those notes over there," she pointed to a large volume on the floor, "it gives a warden additional powers. That has to be a good thing."
"Not if it shortens your life.'
Taina stopped, the bottle raised partway to her lips.
"There may be a price for those powers," Morrigan snapped. "Don't be foolish. I will study the potion. Determine the ingredients and the effect."
Taina put the bottle down and corked it. "Makes sense."
"Maker's Mercy, Taina, I think that blow to the head addled your mind," Daveth said.
Taina grinned. "Maybe it did, but I still love you, cloudhead."
Morrigan sniffed and put the bottle in her pack. Warden whined at the door.
"Let's go," Alistair sighed and opened the door to next room. They stopped just inside the door. The room resembled a charnel house. Bodies and bones littered pits, torture instruments and cages swinging from the ceiling.
"I did not think anything could surprise me," Morrigan said, "but this…what was done here?" She jumped as a voice spoke from the dais on the other side of the room.
"I hear you." A mage, bent over a table, had his back to them. "Don't disrupt my concentration. Even now the demons seek to replenish their numbers. Are you to thank for this welcome, but temporary imbalance?"
Jowan gawked. "The old warden mage? You're still alive?"
The others started forward, but stopped short of the steps to the raised platform.
"Only just. I have only a short time left."
"We have seen your research, mage, and read your notes," Alistair stated.
"And I suppose you disapprove, as all shortsighted men have done. Forbidding my research. Why are you here? What is your intent?"
"We came to recover the warden fortress, but now we want to rid it of demons," Alistair said.
"And we don't condemn your research, only your methods. You used blood magic, you summoned demons and worse, you tore the Veil. That is unconscionable," Liam added.
"We do whatever is necessary. We were fighting for our lives. As a warden you should know that."
"You weren't fighting darkspawn. You didn't face the end of the world, only the end of your world. Whatever is necessary doesn't apply." Liam spoke forcefully, but calmly, his hand on Alistair's shoulder. "Tell me, how have you survived all these years?"
"The Chantry foolishly forbids blood magic, even though there are so many secrets to uncover. As my body decayed I found ways to extend my life, but that can only go so far."
"If you are as powerful as you seem, you should not require blood magic, old man," Morrigan hissed.
"Ah, you shun the practice, do you?"
"I do. I am not Chantry trained, but I have not found the need to resort to blood to augment my power."
"Interesting. An apostate who is not a warden. And what would you do if surrounded by templars?"
"I have never been surrounded by templars, nor will I be. I would know they approached and evade or destroy them."
Avernus smiled. "The confidence of youth."
"You find us amusing?" Alistair asked.
"Naive, warden."
"After ya tore the Veil - what happened then?" Daveth asked.
"What use would storytelling serve? The tyrant, Arland, is long dead, as are all our noble co-conspirators. Sophia's corpse may walk and talk, but she too is no more." Avernus sucked in a breath of air. "Do you not know your history? You are more than a warden," he said, pointing at Alistair. "You carry Arland's blood."
"I- what- how could you know-"
Avernus sniffed. "-you're ignorant of your own history I see. Blood of a dragon flows in your veins."
Mouth dropping open, Alistair could only gape at the old mage.
"Blood of a dragon! What nonsense," Morrigan muttered, but Liam looked at his brother warden with concern.
Avernus continued, ignoring the stir his comment had caused. "Arland ruled with fear and poison. Treachery pitted noble against noble in terrible battle. We thought him a monster. We gathered allies to rebel, but the toll of years has erased our failure hasn't it? It seemed so pressing then, but the kingdom lives on."
Taina, ignorant of the human story, asked what had led to the final, disastrous battle.
"Too many mouths to quiet. Even sorcery can only go so far. So we met with Teyrn Cousland. With him on our side we had a chance of victory. Instead, the King's guard ambushed us. Commander Dryden and I barely escaped."
"So Rendon Howe wasn't the first evil bastard in Ferelden?" Daveth said. "And the Couslands remain a target for them."
"So the Couslands survived? They lost so many family members that day. I saw the Teyrn's head on the meeting table…with an apple in his mouth. Arland's butchers slaughtered enough Couslands to make them…pliable. And to make us desperate.
"For months after, I prepared the summoning circles and researched the darkest depths of the Fade. That moment was a triumph of demonic lore. Dozens of demons called by my hand," he said, proudly. "But with so many variables, I suppose calculation errors were inevitable. I was so close."
"Your error was in summoning them at all," Liam said, his voice stern.
"From a warden that means something," Avernus conceded. "Particularly from another mage. I'm so tired. So old. Let me undo my greatest of mistakes. Let me cleanse this place. Then…then I will accept whatever justice you feel I merit."
"I have a question, Ser Mage," Levi said.
Avernus glared at the young merchant, but nodded. "Go on."
"Sophia, did she know what you planned?"
He nodded, thoughtful. "She gave the order. I would have summoned the demons any way, but she knew and approved. Only under Wardens can true magical research continue. A chance to rediscover the secrets of ancient Tevinter."
"And we know how well that ended," Alistair said. "Darkspawn. Blight-"
"-Chantry lies told to subjugate mages and keep them docile."
"And you know that how?" Alistair scoffed.
"How do you know they are right? Their faith would have you swallow a great deal with small comfort."
" 'Tis true," Morrigan agreed.
"Ser mage, do you have any proof Sophia was a hero? She was my great-gran. I'd like to cleanse my family name."
Avernus laughed. "The boy who braved the mists. So you heeded my call?" He laughed again. "And you're a Dryden. The cosmos has a sense of humor."
"Call, what do ya mean call?" Daveth asked.
Avernus nodded towards Levi. "He was but a boy when he entered the tunnels below the Peak. His heart pure; his character certain. In dreams I gave him the keys he would need. He would be my deliverance."
"In dreams?" Morrigan crossed her arms. "Would you have us believed you are somniari?"
"Believe what you will, you're here are you not?" Avernus' gaze drifted away. "Sophia, your great-great-great grandmother, was the best of us. Brave. Charismatic. Fiery. Utterly devoted to the fight, but still we lost. We fought against a tyrant you know. We were so full of vigor then. So blind to consequences, but proof? There's none to be had beyond my word."
"So tell me," Morrigan asked, "exactly what induced you to experiment on your companions? To create this…chamber?"
"Stopping the demonic tide. Correcting the miscalculations of the past. But blood magic wasn't enough. Blood magic comes from demons and they could counter every bit of lore I knew. Darkspawn taint, now, that is alien to them and it has power. The wardens use it to sense darkspawn - a crude use of the power. My research has discovered so much more and hinted at even greater heights should I continue. This knowledge could not only save Soldier's Peak…with it wardens could grow even more powerful."
"You tortured and sacrificed your fellow wardens," Alistair accused.
"It was necessary, vital. The few meager years they would have spent trapped in this tower were nothing compared to the greater goal. I gave their death meaning."
Morrigan and Liam exchanged glances, but said nothing, and then Morrigan smiled. His curiosity is engaged. We could learn from this vile little man.
Alistair, Daveth and Taina exchanged looks. Alistair's hand went to the pommel of his sword.
"If justice or vengeance drives you," Avernus said, looking at the three wardens, "stay your hand until the demons are dealt with."
Alistair relaxed his grip and nodded at Liam. "You deal with him. I'll follow your lead."
"Sophia…or the demon the possess her…still lives," Liam said. "We must deal with her first."
"You are wise not to trust it. And after it is dead, we will go to the great hall and there I will repair the damage I caused so long ago. There will be peril. Demons will fight us every step of the way. Come." The old mage led the way out of the tower.
The demon possessing Sophia confronted them on their return, but they quickly dispatched it and the undead she called to help.
"The imbalance will not continue for much longer," Avernus said, standing over Sophia body. He looked down at his Commander. "It made this fight far easier, but we must now seal the Veil. Come, I'll need your help. Demons will come through as I undo the spell. Kill them and let me work."
The group moved into the great hall and Avernus began casting, the other three mages forming an arc around him. Daveth stood to one side, Warden in front of him, losing arrow after arrow as the warriors clustered around the tear, battling each new demon as it came through, while Taina attacked from the other flank. Finally, the last demon fell and no more came through the tear.
"It is over. The Veil is strong now…"
Morrigan narrowed her eyes and glared at the ancient mage.
"…stronger at least" he amended. "Warden," he addressed Liam, "I said I would submit to judgment and so I shall. Can I be left to experiment in peace?"
Alistair and Daveth both open their mouths to protest, but kept silent as Liam stepped forward. "You must atone. Research ways to help wardens, and do so ethically. No live subjects. Work to improve the Joining potion; help us end the Calling. That alone will make us more powerful. Morrigan is not a warden, but she is a powerful mage who knows many of our secrets. We will speak with you, work with you, if you agree."
"With what time I have left I will do this. It may take months or years for my research to reach fruition, but when it does I will send for you."
"No, we will check on you. Alistair is Warden-Commander-"
Avernus snorted, "-Charming."
"Charming or not, you work for the wardens of Ferelden, in our fortress. He is our commander and I am Warden Constable."
Avernus bowed. "Thank you for this, Constable." He hesitated and then said, "Commander. I acknowledge your supervision." He left the hall and returned to the Tower.
Liam looked at Alistair who nodded back; he and Morrigan followed the old mage to discuss his research. As she walked, Morrigan fingered a small pouch of Wildsflower seeds she had retrieved from her pack.
Levi joined the group, braver now with the demons vanquished and Avernus gone. "You did it. The Peak is safe again. Not sure that fellow Avernus didn't deserve the gallows, but," he shrugged, "I trust you know what you're doing, wardens. I only wish there had been proof about my great-gran."
"The past doesn't offer redemption, Levi," Liam said. "You know her story. You can tell your family and then all of you can look to the future."
"Well, speaking of family, I better get back to them. Can you find your way out?"
Daveth and Taina both nodded. "I don't get lost in tunnels, Levi, once I have a landmark or two," Taina said, smiling.
"Levi," Alistair spoke. "What will you do now?"
"Get back to trading, I suppose. It's what I'm good at. We'll stay in the old village just below, where our family's lived for decades."
"Would you and your family come here? Make it your home. You could store your goods, live here safely and help us fix up the keep."
"We would, warden. I can't think of a safer place, what with Howe's rampaging and the Blight. My cousins a blacksmith and others would prefer working here for you to trading. We've heard there are tunnels leading to the sea." He looked at Taina. "Maybe you can find the path? It would provide all of us with another supply route."
She chuckled. "A challenge? You're on."
"We'll be exploring all the tunnels. I don't want to be surprised by 'spawn some dark and stormy night," Alistair said.
"Got it boss. We'll make this place safe."
"What day is this?" Daveth asked. "Is it First Day?"
Alistair shook his head. "I've lost track, Daveth, but why not celebrate? It's a new day for this old Fortress."
A/N: Thank you for reading. If you have time, please review. I appreciate all followers, favorites, kudos and comments.
Thanks to my wonderful betas Kira Tamarion and Elyssa Cousland whose efforts make this a better story. Any errors are mine.
Thanks for the reviews and comments: Judy, SnowHelm, MIke3207. Thanks to all who favorited, followed and gave kudos. I hope you continue to read and enjoy.
