Chapter #11: Soldier's Peak


Orion

"And… here we are. Soldier's Peak." The group stopped as the fortress finally came into view after their time in the tunnels, a maze, a labyrinth that one could get lost in. Orion was glad this part of the world was the same, Levi and his dreams had gotten them through. "Maker's breath, look at the size of her. What a fortress!" Levi said in astonishment. Orion couldn't quite find the words, it was far more magnificent in real life than it was in the game. Surrounded by a thick wall with towers either side of the portcullis, the gateway was the only visible entry to the fortress, which acted like a funnel. It would force an attacking force to go uphill as they fought the slippery ground of snow and slush, all while defenders would be firing arrows and other projectiles. What a place, defensible. No wonder the old king had to starve the Wardens to death.

Then there was the keep itself, looming like a dark shadow in the grey sky, menacing, intimidating. It appeared as if larger towers had been built directly into the keep, adding more defence and giving defenders more angles to defend from. Not that they would need to worry as siege equipment would be extremely limited in the confined spaces of the Peak. He knew the insides well enough, rooms shooting off every hallway, bedrooms, kitchens, dining areas, rooms of learning and training. The inside was a place where people could live and train even when the weather outside was horrid.

"I told you the map would get us through the tunnels," Levi gloated, though the rest of the team, excluding Orion, gave him rather questionable looks.

"Soldier's Peak. Looks like it's seen better days. Better centuries more like," Alistair commented as they made their first steps towards it. The mountains gave it a shield like very few other castles, while a blanket of snow gave it great camouflage against being spotted. Only those who knew where this fortress rested would be able to find it, and the number of those people had just increased.

"Once the Wardens flourished, their ranks full, their caliber certain. Now they even accept people like you, Alistair," Morrigan's sharp tongue stabbed at Alistair and the other Warden's predecessors.

"Heeey," Alistair whined, though no one else said anything. Orion had told them why the Wardens here were killed and the order expelled.

"Some people call this place the lost peak. Before King Maric's decree, the last Grey Wardens of Ferelden lived here. I just got chills." The bard rubbed her upper arms while her eyes darted about the entrance. She seemed to be enjoying herself, but lost was the correct term, though not for long with what Orion was planning.

It was as they passed through the portcullis that he felt his vision blur and his head spin. He could have sworn he stumbled a little as the world around them changed, the colour being sucked from it as a vision played out for the lot of them. Orion had seen it many times and knew it would occur in other places too. It was a glimpse at what happened before the Wardens were defeated.

"What was that? Felt a bit woozy there. I'm not mad, am I? You saw it too?" Levi sounded ill as he spoke to Alistair, but the others all felt the same.

"I've heard an Orlesian ballad about something like this. A beauty trapped in a dream. In the song, Bellissa never wakes up." The thought of never waking up was something that terrified Orion, not death, but being trapped in the Fade becoming a demons' play thing.

"Your pretty friend here is making me nervous," Levi said.

"You're not wrong," Orion answered, throwing a glance at Leliana but leaving out which part he was referring to. The answer was both.

"How is this even possible? The place must truly be haunted."

"The Veil is thin here. The Circle Tower in Orlais is the same, Ferelden's tower and probably the other Circle towers, too," Orion lightly explained.

"You've been to Orlais?" Leliana asked quickly.

Orion just touched his nose and smiled. "Many times."

Alistair frowned while the realisation quickly found Valhen and Leola. "His game," the elf hissed, pushing past.

"Valhen! I wouldn't…" It was too late however as the elf wandered too far and the skeletons of long dead soldiers and Wardens began to animate.

"Positions!" Alistair yelled. Orion was quick to take a spot in the back, drawing his bow and knocking an arrow, though the target he started to line up was blasted by magic.

"Too slow, Orion!" Numerius taunted as he readied another spell.

Cheeky bastard. Alistair, Valhen, and Saphielle charged forwards with Havoc overtaking them and crashing right through one of the skeletons. The magic or whatever held it together couldn't withstand the charge and bones scattered.

It soon became apparent that there were many more skeletons than there were in the game. His memory recalled about twelve of them, but there seemed to be no end to this assault by the undead. His arrows barely did a thing to them, and even the ones with more flesh only flinched before continuing on their way.

Tarian pulled his blades out and charged, Leliana doing the same on his other side. Right then, sword fighting it is. Moving forward with sword in hand, Orion made for a one armed skeleton. He was already sweating, the fear almost consuming him as he approached what would be his second life or death encounter with a blade in hand.

The skeleton was slow, perhaps it was the colds doing, but Orion didn't complain as he parried the first and second blow, stepping out of the way of the next before beheading the monster. A smile crept onto his face, short lived as the smile was, he had gained confidence after defeating that enemy and moved onto the next.

Magic flew overhead, shattering the bone archers that were threatening to seriously injure or even kill some of the party. The battle was tough for Orion, grunting with effort and nearly slipping over from the bones that began to litter the ground. He'd never fought on snow before. It was the groaning that got to him though, like the movies he'd seen where zombies just moaned at their prey, approaching without fear or concern for their own existence. Their only purpose was to kill and eat, much like the skeletons the group was now facing.

As he cut down his fourth skeleton, his body had warmed considerably. It wasn't just the fear and excitement, but the way he had to move and fight to save his skin. Just how much can magic really heal someone? He had read about magic healing cuts and deep wounds, mend broken bones in mere moments, but what was the limit? His thoughts were blasted from his mind as a wave of heat struck him. He was fighting by the staircase where Leola had sent a fireball forth, turning the skeletons on the stairs into ash and stunning the others. The surviving skeletons amounted to almost no challenge as the team cleaned them up and stood at the bottom of the now blackened staircase.

The snow and ice, even the gravel had been blasted clean off leaving a sooty mark. The centre was dark, staining the stone while it became lighter, eventually blending into the stone near the ends. There were just a few wounds, mostly Havoc and Saphielle. They were mended before the party entered through the large wooden double door.

As they gathered in the room, they were greeted by ghosts, or memories, apparitions of some kind. They all knew Warden Commander Sophia when they saw her ghost. She wore heavy armour, had a shield with a griffon painted on it, and was talking to a mage. Even with Orion's warning, Levi looked to his ancient relative with pride in his eyes. Orion had told them all about what was waiting for them, Sohpia's walking corpse, skin corrupted by the darkspawn taint and her body no longer her own. Instead it was the vessel for a demon now, one that would try and tempt them to let it go on living, experiencing their world. The ghosts vanished with a defiant cheer and Orion was called back to the present.

"So brave, even when starving. And my great-great-grandmother stood with them," Levi said.

"Humans and their kings," Valhen scowled as he moved about the room searching.

"Was this King Arland a tyrant?" Tarian asked.

"Not much is known of King Arland. The war of succession that followed his death, now that was a piece of work," Levi said, sounding amused at the history he knew. "Lasted nearly a decade and almost burned Denerim and the palace to the ground. Loads of history was lost. Maybe there are answers to that inside. But I've gabbed enough. Lead on my friends." Many heads turned to Orion wanting more information.

"He's not wrong, much of the history is lost and light still hadn't been shed on it. Though I can say this, King Arland slaughtered many people, even wiping out several noble family lines. The Couslands were a part of that slaughter for supporting Sophia," he told them.

"Wait… then who are our Couslands?" Numerius asked. The air hung still, cold and dry as they waited for more yet again.

"I didn't say all were butchered. But a Cousland Teyrn was executed and a number of others. Though their bloodline survived and continues today." He beamed a smile, the Couslands were a favourite family of his. He turned to see a look of shame on Alistair's face, and only he knew the reason for this. "Onwards, this fortress isn't going to be rid of the skeletons and demons by itself." His tone had cheer in it, showing that he was confident about reclaiming the keep for the Wardens and their purpose of defeating the blight.

He warned of demons in the next room, though they proved no match. As soon as the Arcane Horror summoned its underlings and they started forward, they were halted with three arcane bolts that dropped three of the weaker demons, while the Arcane Horror took three arrows in quick succession before it too crumbled to the ground. There was a chuckle at how easy it was before they moved to the next room.

Alistair led the way in, his shield thumping as a barrage of arrows struck consecutive hits on him. Again Leola summoned her fire and blasted the skeletons on the higher ground, eliminating the archers and leaving the rest to fall to the blades of the Wardens and the fangs on Havoc.

Once the room was cleared, the group searched for anything useful. Orion figured there would be little to find, but given that the games had only given so many options and not everything was interactive, he found himself snooping. The walls were lined with swords and shields between the old wooden beams, short stone benches were perfect for sitting and resting while there were a number of bunk beds and armour stands.

"This is an old barrack room." Alistair was amazed by it all. "The Wardens… how far they have fallen since back then." There was pain in his voice now.

"They will rise here again, Alistair, under your guidance and that of Nesinni and Gorram, too." He gave a knowing smile that served its purpose. Alistair's joyful, almost carefree smile returned to him.

They all took a moment to rest, the battle outside had been the largest, larger than Orion had told them it would be, too, and he found people looking at him. What I wouldn't give for Nera to be here. Numerius came over though and leaned against the wall, staff in hand.

"So, the number of skeletons out there."

Orion just sighed, knowing this would be coming. "Look… in every playthrough of the game, there was never, never that many. This must be different, changing because… because the system the game was on couldn't handle the amount of enemies they wanted? Because this is real or just because that is how many skeletons were able to be raised?" Orion didn't know the correct answer, but he knew the layout and so far that hadn't changed.

"Could it be because there are more of us now? More Wardens, that is." He looked about the room and began counting. "Six, six of us here and another what, nine of us at Honnleath? You said there were two in the game, perhaps this world is compensating, making things more difficult." Numerius' guess had Orion thinking. If the numbers of the Wardens had changed, why not the numbers of the darkspawn, the amount of demons and human enemies they would face during the battle against the blight.

"Where once there were two, now there are fifteen." Orion said coldly, and not because they were part way up a mountain covered in snow.

The party fell into their little groups, Havoc sticking next to Orion who patted his canine companion. The Mabari held a special place for the people of Ferelden, anyone who with a Mabari was said to be someone of worth, though Orion wondered what people would think of an outsider having one.

"So what do you think will happen to all those people we left behind in Lothering?" Alistair's voice carried, the room wasn't that large after all and he didn't hide what he was talking about.

"Some of them will find their way to Denerim. Many will die. As the Maker wills," was Leliana's somewhat cold response. Orion knew that the majority of the Lothering population would die, many were too ill equipped to be moved from their homes and would fall in due time.

"Don't you wish you could have stayed there? To help more people I mean," Alister asked.

"If the blight isn't stopped, everyone will die. This is the greater good we're serving, both of us, all of us, here and fetching the golem." Leliana's answer made Orion feel a little better about everything, though just a little. He had never made life or death decisions before. Most of his experiences were deciding what food he would eat, what he would wear for that day, what he was going to do on the weekend. All unimportant and small now.

"So it's all right to let some people die for the greater good? I… I'm not so sure about that. I felt bad leaving those people there. All panicked and helpless."

"Alistair," Orion called, "how would you have helped them? Sure, we are a group of experienced warriors, but we have little money, nowhere to take them. Once Loghain finds out there are still living Wardens, he will spread rumours and send people against us."

"Then we fight them, prove to everyone that Loghain betrayed the king," Alistair argued.

"And who would people believe? A group of young and currently unimportant Wardens or the Hero of River Dane, the man who was at King Maric's side through the most decisive battles that freed Ferelden against Orlais?" Orion paused for just a moment, letting Alistair think upon it. "We need to gather allies and support, find evidence of his misdeeds and then, and only then, can we hope to rival and surpass him.

"The worst is yet to come. You will need to steel yourself before then, you know this," Leliana said as she rested a hand on Alistair's shoulder.

"I've never been very good at that. The steeling myself part."

Orion laughed at his words. "Then you can learn to do it alongside me. The biggest thing I killed before coming here was a mouse, and only then it was an accident," Orion said while Leliana and Numerius chuckled.

"An accident?" Alistair asked.

"I didn't see it, stood on it. Always hoped it died quickly," he answered with a sad smile. "And now that I've been here in Thedas… I've had to kill things as large as humans, and in the future, other humans too." His gaze met with Alistair's and the remained there with their eyes locked.

"All this foolish talking will be allowing the demons to prepare. Are you not in a rush to reclaim this dreary tower?" Morrigan's unenthused voice broke the silence and made a point. The faster they proceeded the less demons would be able to be summoned.

There were a couple of rooms after that, one empty and one filled with demons. The three mages led the way in, dropping three of them before the Alistair and Havoc bolted past and knocked two more down. The rest were dispatched with ease before Saphielle knelt read an ancient book. Orion waited, ready for when the world would shift and they would see another memory.

It revealed the first part about a rebellion, something Orion had told them about on the way to the Peak and now they all had another example of his knowledge being truthful. Levi looked scared, as if Orion might do something to him and stayed away from him. The man couldn't believe that what he'd been told was true, even some of the others still weren't completely convinced.

Up they went, further into the keep and past doors that were sealed or would take too long to get through, that and because Orion urged them onwards, he knew the way and prepared them all. He knew there was another memory they were about to experience as they entered the large room where the Warden mages had summoned demons to aid them in their fight. And when it happened, Orion couldn't believe how scared he was. The demons strafed right through him to fight the ghosts of men before another spoke, telling of its hunger and how the mages had weakened the Veil. That's when he saw the young Avernus turn and command the mages to retreat, leaving Commander Dryden to deal with both the King's soldiers, and the demon that had slipped his control.

He began to wonder if one of his current companions could do such a thing, decide to leave him or several of their party to fend for themselves. Or would it just be him that was left alone to face uncertainty in a terrible situation. Orion locked up, feeling a cold that wasn't because of their location, but one of isolation and fear. But he was torn from his worries as a new battle began.

The battle against demons and skeleton mages - the former Wardens - began. The demons were thankfully affected by arrows, allowing Orion to stick out of this battle and pick the best shots to assist the others. Still, many of his shots missed and he heard the arrows rattle and skit off the stone walls, the odd snapping of the shafts making him feel embarrassed. Sure he had gotten better, but under the stress of the situation he found himself still struggling.

The Wardens, however - along with Leliana, Morrigan and Havoc - were tearing through the demons while Levi stayed safely out of the way, trying not to draw even the slightest bit of attention towards himself. Ice magic was slowing them and allowing the warriors and rogues to cut through them with ease, and the arrows that struck home had the demons beginning to crack. The battle was simple this time. No extra numbers, no surprise summons, the only difficult one was the Greater Rage Demon that took more than a dozen cuts and stabs before it slumped to the ground in defeat.

"The Wardens don't forbid blood magic. They take any means they can and use them towards victory… though this is only supposed to be against darkspawn and the blight," Orion said softly and Numerius and Leola went about casting healing magic.

"The Wardens have more sense than most it seems. No magic is dangerous, it is simply there are fools who use it incorrectly," Morrigan stated as she started towards the next door.

"Fire magic, Warden skeletons await us on the other side," Orion told her. Morrigan flashed him a smile and opened it up. An explosion and a glow of red filtered through as the screams of the undead burning reached his ears. Better than the living, better than the living, he told himself before going on.

To the right there was a door, one sealed with a warping magical field about it barring their entrance. The other was a door that Orion knew would lead face to face with the possessed body of the Warden Commander.

They all filed in again, Orion taking the left along with Leliana while Tarian took the right. The three mages stooped in the centre back while the others stood front and centre, Alistair standing at the front and coming face to face with the possessed body of Sophia.

"Step no further! Get this annoyance away from me. This one would speak with you," the demon said as it turned around. The darkspawn corruption had marred the features of what must have been a beautiful woman.

"Why would I speak with you, demon?" Alistair asked, his voice sharp and his hand at the ready.

"Because this Peak is mine. This one is the Dryden. Commander. Sophia. All these things," it chuckled.

"Grandmother?" Levi spoke with surprise, but the demon ignored him.

"You have slain many of the demon ilk to get here. This one would propose a deal."

"And why would you expect any of us to make a deal with a demon?" Tarian called.

"What is one woman-child compared to your might? Strike me down if my terms offend. A fool this one would be to betray the Wardens," it explained.

"Is there anything of the real Sophia left inside you?" Leola asked.

"This one has tasted her memories, seen her thoughts and hidden places. But she is food for this one, no more, no less."

"Why do we entertain this demon?" Morrigan asked.

"I agree, Orion said demons aren't to be trusted. I say we kill it," Valhen sneared, drawing his blades and gunning for the demon.

"Fools!" it cried out, summoning the dead Wardens that laid in the room to its aid. Leliana and Orion took down the first, Tarian slayed a second while the mages all unleashed fire spells past the front line. The walls were scorched and the demons burned, but still the demon inside Sohpia, brought its skill at arms and its hunger to live against them.

It clashed with Alistair first, swords ringing and armour bitten into by the blades of each opponent. He hoped Alistair could win, defeat this enemy by himself, but he began to get overwhelmed. An arrow zipped past the demon cutting open its cheek while Valhen appeared behind the demon. It knew and turned, its blade extending towards Alistair's face who stumbled and fell backwards to avoid the blow. Her shield collected Valhen nicely and sent him tumbling awkwardly off the table and onto the floor.

It was at this point the demon was struck with an ice spell and Orion followed up with loosing an arrow at her. The demon's shield blocked it, though a second arrow caught it in the neck. Blood spurted and the demon's pale eyes showed its rage. Still it pressed forwards, striking at Havoc to which resulted in a sharp whine. Blood dripped from its sword as it closed on Leola.

Earth and dirt fell to the ground one of his favorite spells sent the demon flying. Stonefist, it struck her cleanly, avoiding the shield too. The armour crashed against the wall, yet there was barely a second before the demon surged forwards, right towards Orion and Leliana.

Orion made for his sword, dropping his bow in favour of protecting his life. He and Leliana got their blades up, Orion deflecting Sophia's strike while Leliana made an attempt to stab her that was blocked. The demon screeched, then was silent. A blade had slipped through its head from the side, Alistair stood there, pale and shaken. When the blade was withdrawn, the body slumped to the ground and everyone cautiously relaxed.

"Damn demons. This is why Templars are needed," Alistair commented.

"That's… a matter of opinion… and a much larger discussion," Orion breathed.

"I can't… I can't believe you were right," Levi said as he came through the door and stared at Orion. "You knew, you knew everything… how… how can that be?" The man looked both defeated and scared.

How did he get there so quickly? "I'll tell you about it, after we finish reclaiming the Peak. Ok?" Levi just nodded and fell silent, gazing at what used to be his great-great-grandmother. "And we'll bury her too."

The team took a break in that room, looting what they could with Orion pointing out that the armour of Sophia was of high quality and that it could be used as a symbol. The Warden commander armour would need to be polished and cleaned of all filth, but that was something they could do after they'd reclaimed the Peak.

"Alistair, you and I will go through the next door with shields. I'm going to take two from the skeletons." Alistair looked puzzled as Morrigan caught on.

"Archers await us it seems. A good plan, leading by example," she commented.

"Right, I will do the same. A shield wall while the mages take them out," Alistair agreed.

"Not without taking out the couple of melee skeletons first, but then yes. It will be a relatively easy push from here." Orion grabbed his shields and Alistair nabbed a spar for himself.

As they approached the door that led to the bridge that linked them from the keep to a separate tower, Orion grew nervous. He had never willingly put himself out front as he planned to, to be the focus of enemy arrows. One wrong move and he knew he could become riddled with arrows and his quest to return home would end there. Alistair took point and charged out once they went out into the cold. Orion heard arrows striking the shields and then felt one strike his left shield as he stepped beside Alistair.

"Down!" called Numerius and the two shield bearers obeyed. Fire spewed over their heads, the warmth comforting in the cold air, as were the cries of the undead. More arrows struck their shields, one piercing the ancient defence on Orion's right, but then Numerius called that the path was clear. "Brave man, considering," the mage said as he helped Orion to his feet.

"Brave or foolish?" Orion asked with a self mocking smile.

"Brave," Leliana said with a smile, "for protecting those who needed the time to take out our foes." This made Orion blush, but Valhen wasn't in a patient mood and was already storming across.

"Wait! There is a door beyond that one. Don't open it until…"

"I'll open it and a mage can blast the next room with fire. Is that the idea?" Valhen snapped. Orion could only nod and follow on. For a leader, he didn't really feel particularly in charge.

But the plan went well with no one suffering an injury. The smell of rotten flesh burning was something that had Orion fighting his stomach contents though. He wanted to gag, it might have even been better to.

"What… what the fuck… Maker." Alistair's voice drew all attention to him who was kneeling on the ground next to…

Fuck.

He turned to Orion. "You knew?"

"I did… I forgot to mention… that part," he said nervously.

"What part?" Leola asked.

"The part where the man just through these doors experimented on his fellow Grey Wardens. Where he killed them all and for what? Nothing." Alistair looked furious.

Orion took the vial with a concoction in it from the table. "Almost nothing. But this… I am unsure if it's worth the trouble." They stared at it. "It will give whoever drinks it new abilities, but the drinker must be a Grey Warden. If they were not… well, ingesting darkspawn taint doesn't usually end well, now does it?"

"Monster," Alistair sneered.

"Curious," Morrigan mentioned.

"Enough, we can talk about this later. Secure the Peak and rest. That should be our only concern for right now… But I do ask that you leave Avernus alive, despite what he's done." As expected, Alistair flipped and both mages were also quick to question his desire to see the mage live. "You're all dead!" Orion yelled. "You Wardens." He looked to Alistair and sighed. The tension between the two and in fact the group had grown. "All Wardens live shortened lives, yet Avernus has lived what now? Two hundred odd years? How did you think he did that?" He could see it sinking into Alistair's mind but for the others they all stared at him.

"What do you mean shortened lives?" Leola asked.

"The price of becoming a Grey Warden," Alistair mumbled. "No one tells you that until you join, and by then it's too late." The other new Wardens all looked on, stunned that they hadn't been told.

"What other things have they not told us?" Valhen stepped up to Alistair who looked away.

"That to kill the Archdemon, the one who strikes the final blow also gives their life." Orion said uncomfortably. This angered Valhen even more but Tarian put a hand on his shoulder to pull him back from Alistair.

"Don't touch me! Filthy city elf," he cursed.

"We're all Wardens now. Better get used to having filth from all corners around you," Tarian growled back.

"How long do we have?" Leola asked.

"It depends on each Warden. How old they were when they joined, their willpower, their resistance. But as for a general assumption, I believe it was mentioned to be somewhere around thirty years… give or take a few," Orion answered her. Orion didn't want to burn them anymore by telling them that Wardens during a blight have a shorter lifespan.

Though he didn't know exactly why, there was evidence in books and games, the lore of the world that showed Wardens experiencing their callings earlier during blights. Many experienced it as early as ten years after their Joining, but all of those blights were much longer than what the fifth blight was supposed to be. The first blight had lasted for nearly two hundred years, the second less than half that but still only shy of a century at ninety years long. With the third blight being fifteen years and the fourth only twelve years, and the fifth blight lasting only a little over a year in the game, Orion didn't see the point in telling them this possibility when this blight was so short lived.

"That's… not so bad." Tarian answered. "I mean, I was going to be executed after what happened, so an extra thirty years is a blessing for me."

"For you," Valhen spat, walking away from the group and staying silent.

Orion gave them all a few minutes before telling them to get moving. Avernus was just through the door and one more battle lay before them. There would be another talk when the group was reunited, talk about the Warden's life limit and the leadership of the group. Valhen and Reimar were both against Orion, and against the leaders it seemed.

The room they entered was large, the ceiling holding far above them while on the floor there were four square pits with a wooden pole stretching up from the base. Atop them torches were mounted and burned, though for one to light them it would be difficult. Best left to a mage to light those. There were spikes on the left hand wall, just past that were cages designed to hold humans. Bones rested at the bottoms of them while a body still with its flesh was supported between the spikes. It never did mention why Avernus had left it there all those years.

Then there was the mage himself standing atop the platform at the head of the room. Three staircases made for multiple ways up and the tops also had torches burning. The room was warm enough, though perhaps the warmth didn't reach the corpse that hung there. They gathered at the bottom of the stairs, Alistair and Orion at the centre with the other fanned out and more than ready to attack.

"I hear you… don't disrupt my concentration." Valhen cursed the man who turned. With a disapproving look, he made his way towards the group. "Even now the demons seek to replenish their numbers. Are you to thank for this welcomed but temporary imbalance?"

"We know your crimes Avernus. You're a monster," Alistair spoke.

"Careful. This… man, has dabbled in matters forbidden by the Maker. He may look frail, but don't trust him." Leliana's concern was shared by the others, even Orion was cautious of the mage.

"So the Maker told you that, did he?" the mage mocked. "Short-sighted men have forbidden my research, not any god. Enough. Why are you here? What is your intent?"

"You had to know that summoning so many demons was foolhardy," Numerius said.

"Perhaps. But it was survival. Tell me you wouldn't do the exact same?" Numerius didn't answer the old man. "For months, I prepared the summoning circles, researched the darkest depths of the Fade. That moment was a triumph of demonic lore. Dozens of demons called by my hand." His old, wrinkled face, saggy eyes, and large ears all seemed different as the man smiled. So old and decrepit as he was, Orion knew that he could still put up a strong defence. "But with so many variables, I suppose calculation errors were inevitable. I was so close."

"You are to blame for all this. There are some things you just don't do," Leola argued, another mage standing against him, another Warden.

"From a Warden, that means something. So tired, so old. Let me undo my greatest of mistakes. Let me cleanse this place. Then…" Orion smiled softly as Avernus continued , "then I will accept whatever justice you feel I merit."

"Commander… my great-great-grandmother knew of the demons?" Levi asked.

"You are a Dryden? The cosmos has a sense of humour," the mage laughed. "She gave the order." Avernus answered simply. "I would have summoned the demons, anyway. Only under Wardens can true magical research continue. A chance to rediscover the secrets of ancient Tevinter."

"You do remember how that ended? The Black City? Darkspawn?" Leliana asked with just a touch of anger in her voice.

"Chantry lies told to subjugate the mages. To keep them docile," Avernus answered swiftly.

"How do you know the Chantry is wrong?" Leliana fired back.

"And how do you know they are right? Their Faith would have you swallow a great deal for small comfort." Avernus smiled at Leliana who was tense.

"I like the old man. Your Chantry is nothing but a tool," Morrigan commented. A blade scratched against the scabbard and Orion grabbed Leliana's wrist. He held it firmly as the bard met his eyes. He saw a fire in them, one that he couldn't extinguish, not against Morrigan at least.

"She isn't worth it, and we need her," Orion said softly.

"Do we?" Leliana snapped. Orion knew she was quite religious, but there was more to the bard than just that. There were so many questions about her.

"Tevinter. A place where mages rule and slavery is everywhere. The worst place on Thedas to be sure and you want to march right after what they did? Destroyed the elves, scattered them to the winds and enslaved them. Brought the blight upon the world and consort with demons." Orion didn't know much about Tevinter, save that he had his own opinion about them and didn't like them, save for Dorian who showed the better side of the country. "Levi."

"Ah… right. Master mage. My family name has been worth less than dirt for over a century. Do you have any proof that Sophia was a hero?"

"Your great-great-grandmother was the best of us." The way Avernus spoke told much about his admiration for his long dead commander. "Brave, charismatic, fiery. Utterly devoted to the fight. But still we lost. We fought against a tyrant, you know? So full of vigor, then. So blind to the consequences. But proof… there's none to be had."

"Sorry, Lev,." Alistair said.

"I… I had hoped. But thank you, Wardens."

"The time for questioning is over," Orion's voice carried and he finally let go of Leliana's wrist.

"So be it. My only request. If justice or vengeance drive you, stay your hand until the demons are dealt with."

"Until the demons are gone and the Veil is repaired. We are allies," Orion answered.

"That will do. We must go to the great hall. 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," Avernus instructed, and although the party was torn, they did just that.

Avernus led the way back across the bridge and into the main keep area, even inspecting the body of his old commander. There he spent a few moments muttering prayers before steeling himself for what was to come. Orion looked to Leliana who had seemingly calmed down, though her and Morrigan were on opposite sides of the group now.

The great hall was still empty, just like it was in the games, which Orion was thankful for. The group settled in, taking up various points around the room as Orion explained what he recalled. He took his spot next to Leliana and gave her a nervous nod. She didn't look happy though, understandable since two mages were taking shots at her belief. Not that Orion believed in the Maker. Though since he didn't back her up, he figured she might be angry with him, too.

"We must act quickly. The demons are clawing on the gates," Avernus said from the centre. "The Veil must be closed. I will unravel the summoning circles I drew so long ago. Waves of spirits and demons may come through. Dispatch them," he instructed, though it was obvious to all that they would be fighting demons one last time. "I will begin. First, I must summon the magical energies... I feel them, they're coming!"

The first circle brought forth just three Lesser Rage Demons, which were disposed of swiftly with simple magic from Numerius, Leola, and Morrigan. The siblings grinned to one another, enjoying their victory.

The second was a mix of Lesser and Greater Shades, but these, too, were quickly overcome by the much larger party they'd sent to reclaim the Peak. He wondered if demons ever got scared, if they simply wouldn't come through the Veil since their kin was just being slaughtered. But then he wondered if they considered each other as such to begin with.

The third provided a bit more of a challenge, Ash Wraiths and Lesser Rage Demons appeared and went right after the mages this time. Alistair blocked one, Havoc charged another while the mages defeated the rage demons. With all of them focusing on the much larger and more threatening foes, they, too, fell quickly. Orion had loosed just one arrow, not wanting to miss or, god forbid, strike one of his allies.

The final one was just a single demon, but a more powerful one. The Desire Demon rose and arrows flew at it. Magic was released and blistered through the air towards the demon, all the ranged combatants wanting to end it with one large scale attack. Only the demon was still standing and as Alistair and Havoc charged, they were frozen in place before a swift follow up spell shot towards Leliana and Numerius.

Orion charged, shoving Leliana out of the way. Although she landed on the stone floor, she took the lighter hit as frost encrusted Orion. His eyes widened in fear as he found himself unable to move as the battle erupted around him. He heard a lot of grunting, spells landing and being deflected, he even saw Numerius use a magic shield to protect himself, though he looked drained afterwards.

Finally there was an echoed scream and the room fell silent. Orion knew it was the demon's last breath as he could see Leliana in front of him, looking concerned as she touched his frozen fingers and cheek.

"Leola! Orion needs help!" she called.

"Simple fix, step aside." He didn't feel anything until the stiffness gave way to his lack of balance. He stumbled and found himself falling before Leliana caught him.

"My hero," he teased.

"I just didn't want you to stand on another mouse," she taunted right back. Orion couldn't help but laugh, his first kill had been a mouse and now he doubted they, or at least Leliana, would let him live it down.

"It is over. The Veil is strong now. Stronger, at least." Avernus sounded tired, very tired now that their shared goal was complete. "I said I would submit to judgment, and so I shall. Can I be left to experiment in peace?"

"Kill him," Valhen said loudly.

"Why? His research hasn't been done before. We should at least record what he has learned," Morrigan sung.

"Orion… this is your call. You know more than any of us… what is right?" Alistiar said.

Orion looked to Avernus and closed his eyes. He could feel the pressure of the Wardens, of Morrigan and Leliana, of Havoc lapping at his fingertips too. His research was terrible… but the hero needs it. He knew what the best choice was, it might not be correct but it was what needed to be done.

"I steel myself for this decision, as it is not right, it is not justice." He looked to Alistair who was surprisingly calm. "You must atone, Avernus. Research ways to help the Wardens across Thedas. Ethically." He stepped forwards. "I will have you watched, I will read over your research, every bit. You are to record everything and present it to me to judge."

"With… what time I have left, I will do this. It might take months or even years for my research…"

"It will Avernus, or at least parts of it will. And you will call for myself or Alistiar wherever we might be."

And with that, the old mage left back towards his tower, leaving the Peak cleansed and the Veil repaired. Orion sighed heavily and turned back to the group. There were mixed expressions, much doubt. But he had made the right call.

"You've done it, all of you. Soldier's Peak is safe again," Levi said, stepping forwards now. "That old geezer deserves the gallows if you ask me. But… good people will do queer things to survive. It is just a shame there is no proof to redeem my family."

"Don't look to the past for redemption. Look to the future instead," Leola smiled. "I look forward, we all must. Past what horrors the blight may yet show us."

"Yes, but I am at a loss. Perhaps I should start plying my trade again. You've got a whole fortress now. I'm not a fighter, but I'm a fair trader. Any chance I could stay on?" Levi asked. "My cousins have been looking for a safe place to store trade goods. And the Peak will do nicely. Whatever we Drydens have to offer are yours, for a sizable discount… Thank you for fulfilling Duncan's promise."

"Looks like we're done here then. A demonic invasion thwarted, a Warden base safely rescued. We do good work," Alistair stated.

With small congratulations being given to one another, save for the more salty pair of Valhen and Morrigan, the Wardens and companions made their way downstairs. But not before Orion stopped them at the fireplace where a portrait rested upon the mantle.

"Alistair," he smiled. "Care to recite the Grey Warden oath?" The group, mostly Alistair, looked at him skeptically, but since Orion knew things and he figured something good would come of it, Alistair went right ahead.

"In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice." As he concluded with pride on his face and teaching the others their words, a mechanism could be heard behind the wall.

This is going to be good. Orion moved back and joined in the observation as a chest slid out from a hidden compartment next to the fireplace. It was old and grey, yet not a spot of rust had tarnished it. "Go on, open it," Orion encouraged.

Alistair did so as the chest was not locked, just previously hidden. Inside Orion knew of two things that they would find. Asturian's Might, a longsword for the commanding Warden when construction of the Peak was finished. As Alistair pulled it out and slid it from its scabbard, the blade seemed to glow white and blue against the grey of the stone and black soot of the fireplace. "Silverite." Alistair breathed, his eyes alive with a delight Orion had not seen before.

"A weapon worthy of a commander, don't you think?" Leliana commented from her position up the stairs, leaning against the railing.

"Orion… You should," Alistair started.

"Are you stupid?" Orion chuckled, moving away from the blade. "My skills with a blade are shit," most of the group seemed to agree as their laughter filled the hall. "It would be wasted on me, and Leliana's right. It suits you." The most senior Warden among the group just grinned, pulling the blade free and raising for all to see. "The blade, it has the ability to weaken nearby darkspawn, or so it was in the game. I'd be interested to know if it has an effect here."

Alistair was more than happy with the sword, swiftly replacing the sword on his waist with the new silverite blade of the former commander. Orion knew it would be put to great effect with Alistair, but what he didn't know was the small amount of wealth and other items that the chest also held. Sure, there was the Shadow Belt, but there were jewels, coins of gold, silver, and bronze. Ancient books and a list, though the names on it were faded and mostly useless.

Clearing out the skeletons and burying Levi's great-great-grandmother was going to take a while, though with many hands Orion knew that they'd have the Peak cleaned in no time. He was already planning his next move, and how he wanted the fortress to be set up. A safe haven for the Wardens during the blight, and an outpost for them long after.

"Orion," came Leliana's gentle voice, "I wanted to apologise for my behaviour when they questioned the Maker."

"I should have told you Morrigan is a little… godless, but so am I," Orion informed her.

"I had not forgotten, I almost wondered why you didn't speak up when I recalled what you had said. Though I thought Alistair might speak, him being a templar in training prior to Duncan finding him." She grabbed the wrists of the Warden corpse while Orion took its ankles.

"I'm sure he had other things on his mind."

"And what do you have on your mind?" Leliana inquired.

"Food," he stated with a giggled coming from the red head. "It's been a long hard day. Perhaps some eggs and bread would go down nicely in a cold place such as this?"

Leliana had a smile about her though, something that had Orion thinking carefully. "Alistair is cooking tonight. He is in good spirits it seems, reclaiming an old Warden base and getting a nice new sword has changed him."

"Good, he needed this. After Duncan died he was always… different." They heaved the corpse onto the pile below where some of the others would collect it and take it outside.

"That was good of you, selfless. That sword was silverite, a rare metal that only skilled warriors or nobles tend to have a blade of," Leliana said as they made their way towards another.

"I stick with my excuse. It would be wasted on me." He flashed her a smile, one that she didn't fully return.

"But you would want one?"

Now this had Orion thinking, cautiously. "If there was a spare one, one that wasn't in use, then sure. But I'd rather get better at archery. Speaking of," he nudged her shoulder with a closed fist, "teach me. We have some time before the others will get here. I want to be of more use on the battlefield by then."

Leliana just smiled. That was something she could and would do. They continued taking out the bodies of the fallen, looting what goods they could and saving the armour and shields that appeared to be in decent condition. Orion knew Levi's brother could appraise them and test them before the others used them in battle, given the equipment was better than the stuff they currently had.

Once they had cleared out enough room, they started to set up what would be their quarters until the rest of the keep was cleared and cleaned. Orion found Sophia's room to be the best suited, for him at least and settled there, unrolling his thin mat on the stone floor. The bones were pushed into the fire that burned while Sophia's body was being tended to by her great-great-grandson before it would be buried.

WIth the fire crackling and Orion sitting with his back against the cold wall, the fatigue finally hit him. The realism over everything, the dead didn't rise on his planet, there was no magic, they didn't use swords and shields anymore. There was no blight and there certainly wasn't a spell that sealed someone in an icy casing.

"What are you thinking about?" came Leliana's voice from the doorway.

Orion lifted his tired and pained head, forcing a smile. "Home, my planet. What we do and don't have there. What are the benefits, which is more exciting."

Leliana had made her way over and slid down the wall next to him. "And, which is more exciting?" she asked.

"I'd say this world, Thedas. I've never had my life at risk on my world, it's scary and frightening, and exhilarating," he told her with a smile. "I'm worried about the others. What if the darkspawn that they are fighting are more than they can handle? What if there are dozens of darkspawn there, an ogre or three?" He groaned and pushed his head back against the wall.

"Relax." Her voice was soft and gentle, just like it always was. "There isn't anything you can do now. Believe in them, believe they will all return in one piece. And rest, you need to rest."

"I can't, I'm trying to dredge up everything I can remember about Origins. Everything that might be of some help or information I can use to twist the ending into an even better one." He sounded a little like a whiny child, but Leliana said nothing.

"Then try, but tomorrow. You need your rest as much as the rest of them." The padding of paws sounded from outside the room, heading towards them. "Oh, it appears Havoc has come to make sure you're doing ok, too." She giggled as the Mabari trotted over and licked Orion's face.

Disgusting. I know what's been in your mouth. He just patted the beast until it sat beside him. Slipping an arm over it, Orion stroked its side slowly. His mind slowly began to slow as he chose not to think about Nera and the other group.

"Have you found yourself a place to sleep?" he asked.

"No, but there are plenty of beds where most of us are sleeping, and they were already talking about a night watch." She pulled her knees to her chest and sighed. "What I wouldn't give for a nice Orlesian bed this night."

"Stay in here." The words fell from his mouth before he could stop them. Idiot! "I mean, none of us will need to stay up on watch. Havoc here has a keen sense of smell and he'll hear if anything approaches. Downside is, you might smell a bit like a Ferelden Mabari in the morning."

Thankfully, Leliana chuckled at his warning. "Then I will sleep here. I will sleep closer to the fire since you have your hound to keep you warm," she told him, getting up and going about setting up her own sleeping mat.

As Orion watched, his eyes began to feel heavy and he moved to lie down. A mistake on his part as the pressures and demands of the day proved to be more than his body could handle. "Leli…" he mumbled.

"Leli?" she giggled, turning about and finding Orion asleep. "Ah, safe journey to the Fade, Orion."

Putting his blanket over Orion, Leliana took to her mat and tried to sleep, too. She was more accustomed to battle, but after her time in the Chantry at Lothering, her body hurt more than it would have before she joined the sisters. She didn't last long either and the two of them fell into their dreams.