Everyone see the DA4 promo? That was fun. Looks like Tevinter will be our next stop. I'm also excited about the promise of starting our game out as a 'nobody' just like we did in Origins. It even looks like one of the characters we might get to start off as is a Grey Warden, judging solely by the silver plate boots and arid landscape that seems very Anderfels. Hurray!

Chapter 11

To Redcliffe and Beyond

Word of the Grey Warden's duel requests had spread quickly throughout the tower. If nothing else, mages were incorrigible gossips. By the time Victor and the other Councilors had gathered the mages, everyone knew most of the details of the meeting.

These meetings were held in the Great Hall, mostly cleaned up from Uldred's rebellion. The Corruption and bodies had been removed, broken tables and benches swept aside and replaced, and a small stage set up for the Councilor to sit on and address the other mages. Most of the blood stains had been removed as well, though some had bled into the ancient stone the Tower was built from, staining the floor and walls like dark blemishes.

Right now, the matter was up for general discussion, a time in which all the mages and apprentices could voice their opinions and concerns. This was their fourth such meeting and it was becoming clearer to Victor and the other Councilor that they would have to find a way to streamline discussion. So far, no one was adding much of value.

"We should help the Grey Wardens!" An apprentice cried out. "It's our sworn duty to Thedas!"

"But how can we do that with the Templars ready to kill us as soon as we step foot off this island?" Finn countered, looking nervous.

"This new Warden-Commander sounds promising. I'm sure she can talk with the Templars and get them to work with us."

"The Circle has always played a part in fighting the Blight." Cera argued. "Standing beside the Grey Wardens and fighting it will show that we are willing to fight and die for Ferelden, just like any other."

"We don't want to work with the Templars! We don't want them anywhere near us!"

"Oh, shut it, Denri! We all know that!"

"Don't tell me to shut it, Orzo!"

The rabble rousing grew louder amongst the mages, causing Victor to raise his staff and slam it into the stage's flooring. An echo sounded across the Hall, bringing the room to silence.

"The Grey Wardens have called for our aid against the greatest enemy Thedas has ever known. We will not meet their demands by acting like a pack of children." Victor stated, thoroughly shaming the agitators. "Now, Warden Commander Gytha has offered us aid in dealing with the Templars. I do not what form this aid will take but I feel we must seriously consider her offer."

"Why though?" an apprentice spoke up. "What makes her special?"

"She took down a den of Werewolves and beat a powerful spirit of the forest!" Eadric insisted. "And she saved all of Redcliffe! And she's a bloody Dwarven princess! If there's anyone who can deal with the Templars, it's her!"

Victor wasn't quite sure about that, but Gytha did seem promising. Privately, Victor wondered this was a sign from the Maker? A nudge, saying the path the mages were on was the right one. If so, how interesting it should come through a dwarf. He looked over his fellow Councilors, thinking about the opinions they had discussed before calling the meeting. Eadric was clearly on board and so was Niall. Petra was cautiously optimistic, wanting more detail from Gytha about how she intended to help. Wynne was encouraged by anything that promised negotiation with the Templars and encouraged that Gytha seemed an honorable sort.

Surprisingly, the next mage who spoke with Godwin, who had been keeping a low profile since they had found him cowering in an armoire. However, Godwin spoke boldly and plainly. "No one wants to say it, but I know we're all thinking it. Serving the Grey Warden is fine and all. It's our duty to Thedas-"

"What would you know about duty, Godwin!?" a voice from the crowd mocked.

"But," Godwin continued, ignoring the criticism, "As to the matter of the Arl's son, we should consider accepting the request for help. For a fee."

An uproar from the assembled mages. Victor was quite shocked at the suggestion and the greed of Godwin. Quite a few snarky remarks were made comparing him to the Lucrosians, a fraternity most thought very silly. Wynne was the first to make her thoughts known, filled with outrage.

"We will not barter with the life of an innocent boy." Wynne replied, giving Godwin her most disapproving look. Godwin bore it well enough and was undeterred.

"Look, fighting for freedom and all is well and good, but in order to survive we need money. It's as simple as that. How do any of you plan to feed the Circle once the food runs out?" A silence followed, and Godwin, with a smirk, continued talking. "What, you all think it just magically appears? Like the Tranquils who cook our meals lost their connection to the Fade only to gain a one to an unlimited granary and slaughterhouse? No, we must pay for food. For everything!"

Some murmuring from the mages; some of it, to Victor's shock, in agreement. A younger apprentice, not well known for his quick wit, spoke up. "I don't mind fighting the Blight. It's our duty to do so. But to save some noble man's son from possession? If that were one of us, the Templars would just let us die!" The apprentice fell silent, thinking over it, and then snarled at the realization. "Wait a minute! That was us and the Templars were going to Annul the whole Circle!"

"But we didn't allow that to happen and now we're accountable for our own actions!" Petra countered. "Is this who are to be? People who allow a child and fellow mage to be lost to demonic horror just because we feel insulted? Or worse, because someone couldn't foot our bill?"

Victor silently thanked Petra, who seemed to have cut off any support for Godwin. With a simple shrug and muttered comment only he could hear, Godwin sat back down and allowed the other mages to discuss. Conversation was focused on the Arl's son, and soon a consensus was reached to help the boy.

"If nothing else, it shows that the mages are useful and can serve Ferelden without the Chantry over our shoulders." Eadric announced. "We should help, even if it's for a shem noble."

Ignoring the insult toward Arl Eamon, Victor pounded his staff against the stage for attention. "All in favor of sending a contingent of mages with the Warden Commander to assist Redcliffe?"

Every member of the Council raised their hand, along with the majority of Mages. Godwin and three others did not. With the vote agreed to, Victor and the other Councilors broke off to discuss who to send and, most importantly, who would be tasked with confronting what sounded like a very powerful demon in the Fade.

While the Mages consulted amongst themselves, Gytha and her party remained in the Entry Hall. A blue, shimmering barrier had been erected in the doorway between them and the rest of the Tower, guarded by two mages and a Tranquil. Gytha was calm, leaning against a large marble column in the center of the room, enjoying the familiarity of solid stone on all sides of her.

By the Stone, how she missed Orzammar.

"Soooo…. how long do you think they're going to keep us waiting?" Alistair asked, pacing back and forth. He was tense in the Circle in a way she had never seen before. Gytha assumed it was the Templar training in him. Alistair was no coward when confronted with magic – he even seemed to have some fascination with it – but there was certainly a level of discomfort with the subject for him.

"They'll have their answer when they have it, Alistair. There is nothing to be done until then." Gytha replied, quite used to having to cool her heels while others talked. She had hoped to be above that. She was almost above that. Then… Bhelen…

Fighting back the growing bile at the thought of her traitorous younger brother, Gytha focused on what Alistair was saying. "Well… there might be something…" Alistair ventured. When Gytha gave him a look, he tentatively continued. "We could, you know, for arguments sake… forget about the mages and ask the Templars to support us."

"Excuse me?" Gytha asked, eyes critical. Alistair blushed and continued to blush harder when he noticed the eyes of the other party members on him. Leliana seemed contemplative, and Sten raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. Trian merely cocked his head, firmly on Pack Mother's side.

"Well… um… we could go to the Templars and ask for their support. As allies. Yes, they are in service to the Chantry, but each Templar Order is, in theory, serving the nation they are stationed in. It would be a lot easier to persuade Knight-Commander Greagoir and even the Grand Cleric to help fight the Blight than it would be to negotiate a peace between them and the mages. Right?"

"It would be glorious for the Templars to serve the Maker by fighting the Darkspawn." Leliana supported. "Surely the Grand Cleric could be persuaded of such course of action."

"That's a terrible idea." Gytha cut them off. "The Templars can in no way rival the mages and the power they would bring to our army."

She left it at that, though had a lot more to say on the matter. She was not particular impressed by the Templars – whom her father and tutors had told her many stories about. They were the Chantry's military, though the Chantry firmly denied the usage of such a descriptor. But they fought the wars their "Divine" deemed necessary to secure her power. They were a bit of a boogeyman for the Assembly and Merchant caste, for if the dwarves overstepped on lyrium deals then there was the threat of Templars attacking. But now, having seen them for herself in Lothering and now here, Gytha found them to be a motely bunch. If they had the power to drain magic from mages, why had they not simply done that and seized the tower? And how had they even allowed the tower to fall to demons in the first place? Wasn't their Order's entire existence based around preventing such a thing, yet they fled like coward? The Templars she had seen in the encampment across the lake all seemed beaten down and rather worthless.

But the mages. They looked tired, but they had spirit.

Next to her, Leliana looked ready to protest. Gytha cut her off with a criticism. "I wish you had not told the mages we saved the Dalish clan from Werewolves in order to gain their trust." Gytha reprimanded in her most severe tone. "It makes it sound like the elves only complied with the Treaty because we did something for them."

Leliana looked ashamed, but her dressing down wasn't finished. "I agree." Sten added in his deep baritone. "The mages are bound by Treaty to comply with the Wardens. We should not have to grovel and barter for them to do their sworn duty. So far our mission has been running errands for people who are compelled or should feel compelled to help the Grey Wardens end the Blight."

Alistair just shook his head. "Look, I didn't mean to say we shouldn't stay loyal to the mages. What I meant was that if things don't work out here, there are always the Templars."

"Very well. If we need to learn how to flee a fortified position or protect old women, the Templars will be our first stop." Gytha responded. Both Leliana and Alistair were scandalized by that assessment of their religion's "holy" order of warriors, but Gytha heard a snort from Sten. She considered that a victory. Wanting to change the subject and be productive, Gytha followed up with another question. "Alistair, in all your Templar training, did you ever cover tactics for taking back this Tower if it were lost?"

Alistair's confused expression was her answer. "Err… no. The idea the Templars would lose control of the Tower was silly."

"Evidently not." Gytha said. "But I am trying to understand if it is even feasible for the mages to hold onto this Tower for long. Who knows how long they might be stuck here before we can figure out a solution."

Sten was more helpful. "This Tower is highly defensible." he commented. "The stone that built this tower is of superior quality, and water is always an excellent deterrent. The best way for the Templars to win is to infiltrate the Tower through stealth, a difficult task since the mages all know one another. Otherwise, the Templars should starve the mages out. I did not notice any docks for fishing or cultivated land on this island. This Tower must be supplied by boat, which no doubt ran according to the Templars."

Gytha considered that. "And who knows how much food the mages might have left for a protracted siege." Sten grunted in response.

"Plus the Templars can't just swim across the water." Alistair added. "There are all sorts of nasty things in the water surrounding this Tower. The Templars make the mages dump refuse and bad potions in it. It has a habit of… changing things."

Well, Gytha was certainly glad she didn't know that before she hoped in Kester's flimsy wooden boat. But, for all intents and purposes, the Tower was safe from invaders and would only be weakened by famine. The Templars would lay siege, but even so, there had to be a way around it. Even the most well oiled machine had cracks. Corruption was everywhere in the world, and an upbringing in Orzammar politics had taught Gytha had to exploit that to her own gain. Perhaps the Circle had its own cracks? Surely not all mages were on the up and up like this Council of Magi appeared to be?

No, no one was ever as "good" or moral as they seemed.

A humming noise interrupted her thoughts and Gytha looked to see the magical barrier disintegrating. Once it vanished, three of the mage Councilors – Victor, Niall, and Wynne - and some other mages stepped through.

"The Circle mages have spoken." Victor informed her, "We will aid Redcliffe and save the Arl's son from the demon. As to the Treaties, we are eager to assist the Grey Wardens. The Circle will not shrink from its duties. The only trouble is the Templars may not allow it."

Gytha nodded her head happily. It was the best she could hope for. At least the mages weren't trying to wiggle their way out of their sworn duty like those sodding Dalish. "I am pleased to hear this. Let it never be said that the mages of Ferelden do not do their duty to their nation."

It was a patronizing thing to say, but she noticed that all the mages brightened at the comment. Something told Gytha the mages did not receive many compliments, patronizing or not. "As to the Treaties," Gytha continued, "I understand the worry that comes with them. For what it's worth, I swear by my Ancestors that the Grey Wardens will not abandon you, and I pledge our Order's support to your cause."

'Such as it is.' Gytha thought, though again, Victor and the other mages were pleased. Perhaps they thought if they could win over the Grey Wardens then perhaps the rest of the Ferelden would follow. Gytha couldn't speak to that, but she would do her part to insure the mages fought alongside of them.

"The mages of the Ferelden Circle thank you." Victor replied, giving a small bow. "I must admit, your presence seems to be a sign from the Maker Himself. Perhaps, we are on the right course."

Gytha merely nodded her head, though was a bit disconcerted to hear talk of the "Maker" from one of the mage leaders. Would she ever escape this nonsensical religion? She did not have to dwell on that question long as Victor was laying out specifics. A team of five mages would accompany her back to Redcliffe, with Councilors Wynne and Niall among them. Gytha was concerned that five mages would be too few, but was assured it was enough. Four of them, led by Niall, would conduct the ritual to send the fifth – the elderly mage Wynne – into the Fade to confront the demon.

"Are you sure you are up for it, Wynne?" Gytha asked bluntly.

"Your concern is touching, but I will be alright, child." Wynne replied with a smile and soothing tone. Gytha returned the look. Was 'child' a way to put her in her place? Perhaps. Gytha rather liked the snark.

"Wynne is very powerful." Niall told her. "Best Healer you'll find in Ferelden." Wynne gave a humble nod at the comment, and Gytha noticed that none of the mages looked the least bit scandalized by such a claim or attempted to dispute it. Her estimation of the older woman went up more.

"Very well." Gytha replied. To her delight, the mages were ready to depart at once. Each of them had heavy bags over their shoulder of supplies, stuffed to the brim with scrolls and lyrium. While the mages moved to join the rest of her party, Victor spoke to her directly.

"Warden, if I may have a moment to ask you something."

Gytha nodded and stepped to the side with Victor, pleased to have a chance to speak to the leader of the mages. The true leader. Greagoir and Irving seemed to consider him so, and while there was a Council of Magi, Gytha noticed that they all seemed to look to him for guidance and to speak for them. It was only natural. Like the Assembly and the Monarch in Orzammar.

'Though notably less violent. So far.' Gytha thought.

"I wanted to ask, Warden. Is Jowan still alive?"

Gytha considered that. Yes, there was a story there. His reaction to hearing Jowan's name was enough to prove that. "He is. Bann Teagan, Bann of Rainesfere and the Arl's brother, has Jowan held in the dungeons for now. He is awaiting the Arl's judgement."

"So, the Arl is likely to recover?"

"Yes. He is gravely ill, but once the demonic influence has been removed from Connor, I am told he will awaken." It was a bald face lie, but Gytha thought she sold it well to a mage who would know more about demonic influence than she would. Not well enough as there was a hint of doubt across Victor's face. Gytha quickly changed the subject. "Jowan caused much distress at Redcliffe and his actions led to the death of many. I do not think the Arl will be merciful once he recovers."

She gave Victor a moment to consider this. He was not very good at hiding his emotions, so Gytha could see the range of anger, sadness, and confusion play across his face. "If I may," she asked, "You two have a history, do you not?"

Victor nodded. "Jowan and I came up together in the Circle. For a while, we were best friends, but we started to drift apart. I grew into my role at the Circle but Jowan fell behind."

"Judging by everyone's reactions, I'm guessing Jowan wasn't the most popular or talented mage in the Circle?"

Victor held back a scoff. "No, he was not."

Things began to click for Gytha. Jowan was an outcast, easy pray for Loghain to pick up and direct to his political rival. Loghain probably hadn't intended the demon outbreak, but Jowan was a weak mage and poor tutor. He didn't seem to have any allies here, not even a friend who would argue for his repentance for being a blood mage.

"I think I should let you know that Jowan's fate is sealed. He poisoned an Arl and indirectly brought about a massacre on Redcliffe. But, if I were to argue for Jowan to be spared, would you approve?"

Victor thought about that, clearly conflicted. "Andraste preached forgiveness and mercy. I try to live as best as I can by that, but I do not know if I could offer Jowan that. But… but maybe I should. I failed him as a friend."

"How do you mean?"

"Before all of this, our rebellion and the demons before that, I was locked in the Circle dungeons." Victor confessed. "It was over Jowan's escape. I thought I was acting on the First Enchanter's orders, helping him trap Jowan and a Chantry Initiate who were planning to escape. But I was played for a fool. Irving betrayed my trust and I was thrown into the dungeons. That's what I thought at least. But I found Irving's diary and in it, he thought I could convince Jowan to turn away from his plan of escape, to have him remain in the Circle. I failed him, and his fear over becoming Tranquil drove him into becoming Maleficarum."

Gytha didn't quite see it like that. Jowan was a grown man capable of making his own decisions. In their short time together, she also found him to be incredibly whiny. "What exactly is a Tranquil?"

Victor frowned, for what reason Gytha could not discern. "It is a state of nothingness, really. All mages are connected to the realm of the Fade, the place where humans and elves go when they dream. I guess Qunari too since they have mages. The Fade is where us mages draw our power from. It was the first realm of the Maker and where His Golden City was before it turned black. Tranquility severs that connection, freeing them from their use of magic and also potential demonic possession. It is deemed 'appropriate' when the Templars believe a mage is too dangerous, but at the cost of a person's self-identity and emotion. Tranquil spend their time crafting runes, working lyrium, and doing other things for the Circle."

"It seems… a cruel fate. But at least they can remain useful and not dead."

"It is as good as dead." Victor spat. "It is cruel and wrong and an area where I vehemently

disagree with the Chantry."

Ashamed by his outburst, Victor gave the Grey Warden an apologetic look. Gytha did not seem particularly disturbed by the outburst though. "I take it this is another personal matter."

Victor looked downcast, but confided in her none the less. He was the trusting type it seemed. "Yes. Someone significant to me was made Tranquil. It's my fault entirely."

"How so?"

"After I was taken to the dungeons, nobody heard anything about me. An elf I was in love with, Rhett Surana, he tried to find out information through dark means, afraid I was dead or dying."

"By dark means, you mean blood magic, do you not?"

"Yes. But he was betrayed as well and made Tranquil."

"I'm sorry." Gytha offered. "I know betrayal all too well and how it warps a person."

Victor managed a chuckle. "I've read of Dwarven politics. I would imagine if half the stories are true, betrayal is just another day for you."

That got Gytha to chuckle as well. "Some betrayals are worse than others." She said, Bhelen's smug smile coming back to her mind. Shaking her head at the memory, she pressed forward. "If I may ask, what plans do you and the Council have for fighting for freedom?"

"We're still deciding." Victor told her plainly.

"Then may I offer advice?" Gytha asked. Victor nodded eagerly. "Agreeing to help the Arl and serve the Grey Wardens are steps in the right direction. But… you need to win the nobility to your side. Surely you have mages with noble ties, no?"

Victor thought on that. "Of course. But once someone comes to the Circle, they give up all claims to lands and titles. And if they did have any land or property in their name, the Chantry confiscates it."

Well that was rather shocking. The Chantry took the property of mages and kept it for itself? Gytha quickly understood the radical implications that had. How much land did the Chantry own that had once belonged to a someone they told the world was a "mage," and what Surfacer would question the Chantry? Especially when it had its own military force? The Chantry had quite the scheme going.

"But their family does not." Gytha continued, putting that ugly though from her mind. "I am sure that some lords and ladies must still care for their children, even after they are given to the Circle."

Victor shrugged at that, as though the idea was entirely foreign. "Maybe? The Templars do not allow us to write letters outside the Tower. We can receive letters though, but few do. It's easier for people to cut themselves off from the world. The Circle is our home, and always will be."

It was becoming clear to Gytha why mages went 'insane.' If she was forced to live as mages apparently did under Templars, Gytha though she might have turned to blood magic out of spite.

"Well, with your freedom, perhaps it's time to send letters to family members who could assist you."

"That's a good idea, but how."

Gytha had a suggestion for that as well. "Are you aware of any criminal enterprises in the Circle?" she asked.

"Excuse me?" Victor asked, looking quite scandalized.

"Smuggling operations? Laundering? Anything like that. This Circle must be a treasure trove of valuable things. Someone must be capitalizing on it from the shadows."

Victor looked as fragile as a Nug who had wandered onto the Proving Grounds. "Um… no. No, absolutely not. The Circle would never allow anything like that. I don't even know how someone would smuggle things out!"

"Victor, I do not mean to insult you." Gytha reassured. "Perhaps it is simply my ignorance of the Circle or just having spent too much time in the muck of Orzammar politics, but it's been my experience that these sorts of things are everywhere in the world. It is a nasty business and I thoroughly despise them, but they can also lead to some good in desperate situations. Orzammar would never have survived so many onslaughts of Darkspawn without them. In trying times, situations allow us to be flexible."

Victor nodded in appreciation, composing himself. "I'm sure that must have been difficult for Orzammar. I can only imagine what the dwarven people are forced to deal with every day facing down such horrid creatures as Darkspawn."

Now Gytha nodded in appreciation. Victor even seemed sincere in his comments. "It has not been easy for my people. But my point, Councilor, is that if such enterprises exist in the Circle in some form, perhaps you could use them to build support outside the Circle, free form Templar influence. In addition, these enterprises might be able to help provide you with things you need to survive. Food being one of those. I'm assuming the Circle already has a water source on hand, correct?"'

"Yes, there are natural, clean wells underneath the Tower we can pull from. If we get desperate, there's always the lake after boiling the water."

"Good. I just ask that you consider that. It would certainly help your position and provide us with leverage when dealing with the Templars."

Victor raised his brow, a look of satisfaction on his face. " Us'?" he asked.

"Us, indeed, Victor. I keep my promises. I will not abandon you or the mages, even after the obligations of our treaty are fulfilled. This I swear."

It was the best Victor could hope for. They returned to the rest of the group and Victor and made his goodbyes to his fellow mages. The mages who would be traveling to Redcliffe were anxious. Except for Wynne, none of the travelling mages had been outside the Circle since they were first brought there. Wynne was a soothing presence for them and Gytha suspected she would be a great help getting the mages to adjust to the outside world. For that matter, Gytha was willing to lend the mages help, knowing full well what it was like to walk out into the open world with the sky high above you. That it'd help endear the mages to her was a nice plus.

Getting them to like her was a necessity to show how serious she was for their cause. She hoped they could succeed in Redcliffe, she truly did, and thus prove themselves. She was willing to support the mages out of abhorrence of the Chantry and annoyance with the Templars, but in her head, Gytha already knew what a long shot it would be for the mages to actually succeed in their quest for freedom. Not only that, it would fracture the nobility and common folk alike of Ferelden who cowered in the face of magic.

'But if they live to fulfill the Treaty, perhaps there is hope for them yet.' Gytha thought, knowing there was a good chance she would be forced to abandon them before it was over.

Or, even after.

Don't be mad about Alistair wanting to support Templars! If you've played the DLC Darkspawn Chronicles then you know Alistair recruited the Templars. In fact, he makes a lot of bone headed decisions – and also has Leliana as a lover. His plan fails. Also, when discussing options in Lothering, Alistair even comments that the Circles are technically 'independent' of the Chantry which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard but ok. Alistair, your Templar training is showing.