The Wardens weren't even across the threshold of Redcliffe Castle when Isolde and Teagan rushed toward them. "You're back!" Bann Teagan said. "What happened? Were you able to find the Ashes?"
Alyssa held up a small glass phial with what looked like grey dust inside.
"Is that?"
She nodded.
"Andraste's grace," Bann Teagan knelt and blessed himself.
Isolde was less reverent. She snatched the phial from Alyssa's hand and rushed upstairs to where her husband was still in a coma. Alyssa shook her head, "She knows that this didn't come with instructions, right? There wasn't anything in Genitivi's research that looked like a dosage amount or a ritual. She's going to waste the only ashes we have."
Teagan's face went pale, "We need to stop her!"
"Better move your ass," Alyssa crossed her arms.
Leliana sighed exasperated and pushed through them on her way to the Arl's room. "We're not done yet, and if you're not going to help get the hell out of the way." Teagan and Alistair were hot on her heels.
Isolde stood over her husband. The only way anyone knew he was alive was the gentle rise and fall of his chest. Other than that, he was non-responsive to every kind of stimulation they could think of: noise, pain, shaking. Nothing would revive him even though the local physician said that there was no trace of the poison that was killing him before. The demon made good on that promise, at least. She uncorked the phial and was about to up-end it over the Arl when Bann Teagan, Alistair, and Leliana crashed into the room. "STOP!" Teagan shouted. He sprinted across the room and grabbed it from her hand, corking it to keep the ashes secure.
"Give that to me! Are you mad!" Isolde rushed him and fought to gain control of the phial. They battled in a tug of war to gain control of the ashes, shouting at each other, all while Alistair and Leliana stared and feared the worst.
At this point, Alyssa had made her way upstairs. "You've gotta be joking." Isolde and Teagan escalated to scrabbling and pushing each other. Limbs were flailed, hair was pulled, Isolde slapped Teagan a few times to get him to let go. "Careful Teagan, there's no cure for rabies," Alyssa scoffed.
"Stop it! Stop, both of you," Leliana shouted, "One of you is bound to—"
Isolde pulled too hard, and the phial flew out of her hand and smashed against the stone fireplace. All of them stared, faces pale, at the shattered glass and ashes scattered into nothingness, falling into cracks in the floor. Isolde wailed, falling to her knees and crying uncontrollably. The rest of them were stunned speechless.
Except for Alyssa. "I had a feeling this would happen." She held up a leather pouch with another phial sticking out of the drawstring opening.
"Then what was smashed?" Leliana asked. Her voice was still shaking from the shock of seeing the only cure destroyed.
"Part of last night's campfire."
Isolde jumped to her feet and threw herself at the mage, practically foaming at the mouth, "You bitch! You apostate whore! How dare you! I'll have you branded for this!"
If Teagan hadn't caught her mid lunge, they really would have lost all chance of helping the Arl. "Calm down, woman! Get hold of yourself!" From the way he was straining, the noble lady was stronger than she looked.
Alyssa handed the pouch to Leliana, "You're the only one capable of using this properly. Please help him."
Leliana took the pouch. There was distinct energy thrumming from its contents that filled her with a peace she never knew possible. She looked back at Alyssa, "I don't understand. How did you know she would be so reckless?"
Alyssa said solemnly, "I see how she treats people. She doesn't care about humiliating someone, and she doesn't listen because she thinks she knows better." She gestured to the pouch, "Some of us learn from our mistakes. We ask for forgiveness. Try to make up for our sins. And understand when redemption is out of reach for one reason or another." At this, the Warden Mage lowered her eyes and headed for the door.
Not to be outdone, Isolde broke free of Teagan's grip and shouting after Alyssa, "I'll see you tranquil for this insult, apostate!"
A familiar voice kept Isolde from calling the guards to arrest the Warden, "Wh-where am I?"
Teagan gasped as Leliana stepped back from the Arl's bedside. "Eamon! I can hardly believe it."
"Teagan?" Arl Eamon tried to sit up, "What has happened?"
"Be calm, brother. You have been deathly ill for a very long time." Teagan guided Eamon back down to the bed as he started to explain what had transpired.
Leliana went back to Alistair's side, still holding the leather pouch. "How did you do that?" he asked, putting an arm around her.
She shook her head, "I'm not sure. I prayed to the Maker, and then there was this golden light all around me. My hands knew what to do. I knew what to say." Leliana looked up at Alistair. "Andraste's Grace filled me; I could feel it."
Alistair pulled her into an embrace, "You did it, love. You did it." He kissed the top of her head.
She realized, had Alyssa not switched the ashes, the Arl would have been lost. Lady Isolde would have blamed Alyssa, probably had her made tranquil. Leliana was still shaking from the experience, "I need to lie down for a while, Alistair. I'm not feeling myself right now."
"Of course," Alistair escorted her from Arl Eamon's room. "Arl Eamon will need some time with Isolde and Teagan. We'll stay the night here, at least. We could all use some rest after that."