Ch 31 Shepherd and Sheep

Redcliffe Castle

The first thing I did when I returned to Redcliffe was to separate from the group and go to the village's smithy and have the blacksmith add a faceplate to my helmet. After that, I met up with everyone else at Redcliffe. By the time I got there, Darrian had already handed over the ash.

Later…

Wynne: "Did you think you would be able to hide what you did from the rest of us?"

Wynne confronts us about what happened at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, right after she, Aedan and Alistair return from Arl Eamon's room.

"It seems someone ratted us out." Said Morrigan looking at Alistair as he looks around nervous.

"We… I never had any desire to hide Leliana's death. If no one had told you, I would have."

"You care so little about others that you would destroy the one thing that would give them hope." Said Wynne angrily at Darrian.

Morrigan: "Calm down, grandma." Said Morrigan in an uncaring tone.

Wynne turns to Morrigan. "I tolerated your behavior before, but now this has gone too far! Leliana is dead! And the Urn destroyed!"

"That woman attacked the Warden over a pot of holy dirt." Said Sten, seemingly annoyed by Wynne.

"I thought you had some honor, Sten, I was wrong." Said Wynne looking at Sten coldly.

She then turns to Aedan. "Get rid of them, Aedan! These people are evil!"

Well, it was nice to have companions to fight alongside with while it lasted. I guess I have to fight the Archdemon by myself now.

Aedan: "No."

"What?" Said Wynne, shocked.

Aedan: "I need them to fight the Blight."

Wynne: "They have tainted the Urn and killed Leliana, and you are going to let them stay?"

"I've been wondering, are the ashes really ruined?"

"You Poured Blood On It!" Yelled Wynne.

"So? It might still have the power to heal, and if the blood really removed the healing power, maybe we can just, take out the part that has blood on-"

"It's not about the power! Those are the ashes of the Maker's bride! And you defiled them!" said Wynne, screaming in my face.

Aedan: "I understand, but what's done is done, and I still need them to fight the Darkspawns. We will decide what to do with them after the Blight."

Wynne looks Aedan straight in the eyes. "It's either them or me."

Aedan looks away. "Don't do this…"

Wynne: "Choose!"

Aedan: "Darrian is one of the few Wardens we have left… and…" He looks over to Morrigan.

Wynne shakes her head, disappointed. "You are not the person I thought… I hoped you were. I was sadly mistaken and I regret ever fighting for your cause. I hope that the Darkspawns take you." She then looks at all of us. "I hope they take you all, you people are no better than them."

I couldn't believe what I just heard. My mind is still processing what she just said as I watch her storm out of the castle.

"I can't believed she just said that…" Said Alistair, clearly disturbed.

Morrigan: "I can."

Mithra: "Typical shemlen behavior, we elves never abandon our own."

Alistair suddenly grabs Darrian by the collar and pushes him toward the wall! When Darrian's body hits the wall, Aedan pushes Darrian's body up.

"I just lost a rare spirit healer because of you!" Said Aedan coldly, then drops him down.

Aedan: "Now I have to write a letter to the Circle and tell them to ignore Wynne."

He then suddenly kicks a chair and screams. "What is wrong with people?! There's a DAMN BLIGHT! Darkspawns are running around unchecked! Why would she do this? She was with us when we saw the Archdemon in the Deep Roads, she knows there 's a Blight! Why would she just leave like that?! Am I the only person with any sense left in this world?"

"What did you not kill her? She is a deserter." Asked Sten.

"So are you." Replied Aedan, picking up the chair he just kicked. Yeah, you really shouldn't kick other people's furniture.

"I am not. I have recovered my sword. I can now return." Said Sten, lifting his greastsword.

You mean Aedan recovered your sword. Aedan's been running around Ferelden doing all sorts of random quests.

Sten: "And after the Archdemon is dead, I would have completed my mission and restored my honor."

Good for you.

Next day…

I had my doubts about the so-called miracle ash, but to my surprise it actually worked. We used it on Arl Eamon, and he was already out of bed the next day. I wonder if the Divine Blessing would have done the same?

Arl Eamon: "I am in your debt. Will you permit me to offer you a reward for your service?"

"Other than join forces against Loghain? No." Replied Aedan.

Arl Eamon: "I will spread word of Loghain's treachery, both here and against the king. But it will be but a claim made without proof."

"Without proof? We are the proof! And there have to be more survivors from Ostagar." Said Aedan angrily.

Arl Eamon: "Loghain has named you traitors and he will just call any survivors deserters and criminals. No, we need someone with a stronger claim to the throne than Loghain's daughter, the queen."

Bann Teagan turns toward Famon. "Are you referring to Alistair, Brother? Are you certain?"

Arl Eamon: "I would not propose such a thing if we had an alternative. Teagan and I have a claim through marriage, but our claims will be no better than Loghain's. Alistair's claim is by blood."

"Congratulations, all hail King Alistair!" Sneered Morrigan.

Alistair: "And what about me? Does anyone care what I want?

Eamon: "You have a responsibility, Alistair. Without you, Loghain wins. I would have to support him for the sake of Ferelden. Is that what you want?"

Alistair: "I… but I… no, my lord."

Eamon: "I will call far a Landsmeet, a gathering of all of Ferelden's nobility in the city of Denerim. There, Ferelden can decide who shall rule, one way or another."

Aedan: "But before we proceed, there is the matter of the mage."

"Have him brought here, Teagan. I wish to see him." Commended Eamon to the guards.

Not long after, the guards came back with Jowan, bound and gagged.

Eamon: "Jowan. You tried to assassinate me and set into motion a series of events that nearly destroyed everything I cherish. What have you to say in your own defense?"

The guards remove his gag.

Jowan: "Nothing, my lord… other than to say I am sorry. I expect no mercy for what I have done."

"I'd like Jowan to join the Grey Warden." Aedan says suddenly.

Eamon: "Oh? That is… unexpected. But that I cannot do. He is a maleficar and I cannot unleash him on a land already wrecked by war and chaos."

"Are you sure it's not because you personally need him dead?" Said Morrigan with a smile.

"MORRIGAN!" Shouted Aedan.

And Morrigan turns and left.

Aedan: "I apologize for my companion. She is Chasind and do not understand our ways."

"I understand, I will forgive her. But I cannot for the maleficar. He must pay for his crimes."

Aedan: "Then I evoke the Right of Conscription!"

Teagan: "Why would you go so far far a blood mage?"

Aedan: "I just lost a mage, I need someone to replace her."

Eamon: "I am sorry, but only a Warden Commander can use the right."

Aedan: "Me, Alistair and Darrian are the only Wardens left, and I am their leader, I'm practically the highest ranking Warden in Ferelden!"

Eamon: "Nevertheless, you are not a Warden Commander."

Stubborn. Usually people all do whatever Aedan wants by now. You must really, really want or need him dead.

? "Then you have no problem if I evoke the Right of Conscription, right, old friend?"

I turn to the voice behind me… So he lived.

Redcliffe Castle courtyard

I load an arrow into the longbow and fire at a strawman's head, but the arrow flies over the target's left shoulder.

"The wind must be strong today." I said to Dog at my side.

Dog: "Woof!"

"There is no wind today."

I turn and saw Kitsune.

"Is the meeting over?" I asked.

Kitsune: "No, I just left."

"Why?"

Kitsune: "The same reason you left, I'm not interested in what they have to say."

"I didn't left because I was disinterested in the meeting, I left because I could tell I was not welcome."

I load another arrow, and take aim.

"What happened to your armor?"

"The First Flame somehow altered it, I have no idea how, but I had to get rid of it. It stood out too much."

I left them in a chest in the temple. I even melted the lock. So now if someone wants my armor, they would have to work for it.

Kitsune: "That man, he was our first guide."

I turn my head towards her.

Kitsune: "Lady of the Darkling saved him, and he's been serving as the guide for the other party."

I take aim again.

"So, still trying to convince Alistair to become king?"

Kitsune: "That has already passed. That man is now trying to convince others to join the Grey Wardens."

WHAT?! I release the arrow out of surprise and turn toward Kitsune.

"Duncan is trying to make everyone a Grey Warden?"

Kitsune: "So?"

Redcliffe Castle Basement

I push the door open and rush into the Basement, and waiting there is Alistair and Darrian.

Alistair: "Is there something wrong?"

Behind the door to the dungeon is where the meeting is being held. I walk up to the door, but Alistair moves in front of me.

"Did Duncan tell you to stop me here?"

Alistair: "Not just you."

"Oh, so Duncan is the master of Redcliffe Castle now?"

Alistair: "We're just borrowing the dungeon."

I look Alistair in the eyes. "Tell them the truth."

Alistair looks away. "We did…"

"Not "death is a kinder fate", or "the Joining is dangerous" or "there is no turning back" garbage!"

Engaging in combat is dangerous, but drinking Darkspawn blood is just a dice roll.

Alistair: "Please, just leave."

"Half of them could die."

Alistair: "You said before that you didn't know anything, and that the Joining and Grey Wardens might be the only things that can stop the Blight. Why stop us now?"

"I am not stopping anyone, I just want the people inside that room to know that the Joining might kill them!"

Alistair: "If they don't want to join, they can refuse."

"Maybe before you tell them that they might all die from drinking poison."

"That's not true…" Said Alistair, looking away.

"It's clear as day why Jory died."

Alistair: "Jory drew his sword…"

"Because Duncan approached him with a cup of poison even when he said no."

Alistair: "Darkspawn blood is not poison…"

"You purposely withheld information to con people into joining, then you force them into a situation that makes them choose between potential poison or the sword! After Jory knew about the risk of dying from drinking Darkspawn blood, he refused to join, but you people just said "there is no turning back", or "you had been warned that the Joining is dangerous" garbage. No! He… we weren't warned! All of us just thought we were enlisting to fight the Darkspawns!"

Convincing people to sacrifice themselves with glory, redemption and half truths. You people are no different than the Gods of Lordran.

Alistair holds out his hands. "You are causing a commotion…"

"Enough, Alistair! You are not stupid! You are about to become king! Stop dancing around the truth! Jory was dead the moment he learned the truth about the Joining and refused to join! There is a reason why no one knows about the Joining! Just tell them the truth!"

NO MORE! I refuse to let anyone die out of ignorance!

"And what then?! How many Grey Wardens would we have if everyone knew about the Joining?! Our numbers are too few as it is!" Said Alistair, raising his voice for the first time.

"You finally admitted it."

Alistair: "Do you really think Duncan wanted to kill Jory? If you only knew how much the Grey Wardens sacrificed, how much Duncan sacrificed for Thedas."

"The Grey Wardens' sacrifices might be honorable, but there's nothing honorable about sacrificing the unknowing and unwilling."

Alistair: "During the Blight, we all need to make sacrifices, some sooner than most."

"Risking your life to fight for your realm is different from being tricked into drinking poison blood."

Alistair: "Without the Grey Wardens, Thedas would've been destroyed four time over!"

"Even so, I only ask you to tell them the truth and let them decide for themselves."

Alistair: "Will you be there the next time? And the next? You only care because you happen to know them!"

"You are exactly right." I said without pause. That is exactly the kind of person I am. In the end, all I care about are the people around me. "What about you? Do you really want to see your friends force into choosing death or a potential deadly situation?"

Alistair: "Either way, live or die, they will join the ranks of the greatest heroes in Thedas."

"You sound like Sten, except he never lied. So blinded by the Grey Warden's glory, you're willing to kill your friends over it."

Alistair: "What do you know?! You didn't even have the guts to go through the Joining! You are a coward!"

I have no rebuttal, and I wasted enough time. I tried to walk pass him but he grabbed my arm.

Teagan: "What's going on here!"

We turn toward the right and saw Bann Teagan walking in with two of his knights.

"What would happen if I told him about the Darkspawn blood?" I ask Alistair.

"Don't…" Pleaded Alistair, hand on the hilt of his sword.

"I asked what is going on here?!" Commanded Teagan.

I used this chance to pull my hand away from Alistair.

Alistair: "A Misunderstanding!"

"A misunderstanding?" Said Teagan, raising an eyebrow.

"We just had a little too much to drink, that's all." Said Alistair, doing a drinking motion with his hand.

Teagan looks around while Darrian approaches me and whispers. "Leave, I'll talk to you outside."

Teagan: "Fine than. My brother agreed to let you use the dungeon and even called away the guards, but do not forget, this is still Redcliffe Castle, not Warden's Keep."

Teagan and his men turned around and left. Before I follow his lead, I turn to Alistair one last time. "If one of them refuse the Joining again, will you do the deed or will you leave it to Duncan again?"

Redcliffe Castle Main Floor

Once I was outside, Darrian followed me out.

Darrian: "I already told Zevran about the joining, and asked him to tell Oghren."

"Only Oghren and Zevran? What about-"

Darrian: "Sten and Mithra would never join the Order, Jowan had no choice to begin with, and Morrigan and Fox left before the meeting was over."

"Thank you."

Darrian: "And besides, Duncan only have one or two blood vials right now."

Two blood vials… mine and Jory's?

As if on cue, the door to the basement opened, and Sten, Mithra and Zevran came out.

"Where's Oghren?"

Zevran: "He agreed to join the Grey Warden."

"Did you tell him about the Joining?" Asked Darrian

Zevran: "I did, He joined knowing the truth."

I let out a sigh. It was his choice.

"I might have joined as well if you hadn't told me the truth." Said Zevran to Darrian.

Mithra: "What truth?" She then turns to me. "And what were you screaming about out there?"

Darrian: "Nothing for you to worry about."

Alistair may not believe it, but I do understand, even though I've only known this world for a few months, I understand, I understand it more than Loghain it seems - Grey Wardens are needed. Right here, right now, only the Grey Wardens can save Ferelden. But I just couldn't stand by and let people I consider my friends die.

Redcliffe Castle courtyard- After diner

I pull out five throwing knifes I bought from Bodahn not long ago, walk ten paces from the training dummy straw man, and quickly turn and throw all five knifes in rapid succession. Only one hit. When Dog stood up, I have to remind it again we are not playing catch.

"Growl…" But instead, Dog Growls and bears its fangs at something behind me.

I turn and see Duncan.

"Easy boy." Said Duncan as he reaches for his head.

Dog: "WOOF! WOOF!"

Duncan immediately pulls his hand back. "I need to talk to Aedan about maybe have him go through the Joining."

I walk over to the dummy and pull out the knifes. "How about no."

Duncan: "It has been a long time, Baldwin."

I kept a close eye on him. He already tried to kill me twice.

Duncan: "I don't know what you did, but it will achieve nothing."

The people who didn't die will disagree.

"I didn't tell anyone about the joining." I said to him as I throw a knife at the dummy while keeping an eye on him.

Duncan: "I've been traveling with your friends."

"Acquaintances, I only knew the Knightess."

Duncan: "I know who you are."

That's not good. Seems like one of the Blades had a big mouth.

"And?"

Duncan: "I don't know how you know about Alistair, but-"

He's the one who told me.

Duncan: "Your scheme ends here."

Scheme?

Duncan: "Alistair has the chance to be the first Grey Warden King, and restore our influence in Ferelden."

"Did you know Alistair was a prince?"

Duncan ignored me. "For the greater good and for the sake of the people who trust you, I will not expose your true nature, but from now on..."

Oh, so you are just going to ignore me.

"Stay away from Alistair, servant of Lusacan." Said Duncan as he pushes open the door and walks back into the castle.

"Servant of what?"

To be continued