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Leliana opened the flap to her tent and ushered Zeva in. "Well, our little Grey Warden is really causing a stir in Redcliffe, no?" she teased.
"Oh, Leli," Zeva moaned as she lay down on the bedroll. "What am I going to do? On one hand, Duncan says that we cannot allow our feelings to interfere with our mission to save Ferelden from the Blight. Then, when someone else shows an interest in me, he gets all possessive. He can't have it both ways! It's not fair!"
Leliana sat down next to her and began removing Zeva's armor, examining her wounds. "I know, my dear. It is a difficult position you are in. It is quite obvious that Bann Teagan has feelings for you. Yet you have said your heart belongs to Duncan. Would it not be best, then, to let Teagan down easily now, before it goes further?"
"Bah!" came a voice from outside the tent. The flap opened and Morrigan stormed in. "Let me tell you what you are going to do!" she insisted. "You are going to have a wonderful time with Bann Teagan while we are here in Redcliffe. You have made no commitments to that idiot Warden Commander. If he cannot be bothered to speak his feelings openly, he is not worth your time."
Morrigan moved to the bedroll and shoved Leliana out of the way, bringing a grunt of protest from the bard. "Move over! 'Tis I who has the magical ability here, correct?" She sat down next to Zeva and began treating her injuries. Although Morrigan wasn't a healer, Flemeth had taught her some techniques.
"I think you are wrong, Morrigan!" Leliana protested. "Though there are some obstacles to overcome, it is obvious that Duncan and Zeva care for each other. In time, he will open up about his feelings, and they will be together, I just know it!"
Morrigan lowered her voice dangerously, "In time, you say? Better for Zeva to grow old or die in a battle waiting for some useless man to sweep her off he feet, than to grab what pleasure is available now? 'Tis amazing to me the lack of sense some women have!"
Zeva felt warmth flow through her body as Morrigan healed her cuts. She sighed contentedly and smiled at the mage. "Thank you, Morrigan. That feels marvelous!" she said gratefully.
Morrigan nodded her head and replied, "You are welcome. Now, get some sleep. We have a big battle ahead tomorrow, I have no doubt, and we need our true leader at her best."
The mage stood and headed for the tent's exit. Before opening the flap, she turned back and looked at Zeva seriously. "Do not be a fool, Zeva. Love is fleeting and useless in the grand scheme of things. Pleasure is far more valuable, as it lasts longer." That said, she turned and walked into the night.
"You don't have to decide anything now, dearest." Leliana said as she crawled beneath the sheets and curled up next to Zeva. "When and if the time comes, you will know what to do."
o~~~~~~~~o
Duncan arrived at camp, his blood racing in his veins. 'Damn that bastard, Teagan!' he thought angrily. He had seen the look on Zeva's face as Teagan had fawned over her. She had been flattered, it was obvious, but she also seemed reserved with the Bann. It was likely that the interest only ran in one direction, then.
Good! he thought smugly. He would just have to make sure that he kept her away from Teagan for the rest of their time in Redcliffe. For now, he needed to concentrate on the mission at hand. He prayed that the Arl could be saved when they reached the castle in the morning.
Duncan moved to the campfire, and sat down next to Alistair. "Did Morrigan tend to Zeva's wounds?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
"Yes, Morrigan went into Leli's tent and came out a short time later. When I asked as to Zeva's condition, she gave me her usual grunting response, saying that Zeva would be prepared for battle in the morning. Then she walked to her tent, mumbling something about 'fool Warden Commander'. She really doesn't like you much, does she?" Alistair said, a grin on his face.
"No, I think not," Duncan admitted. "She does, however, seem quite attached to Zeva, and we may both wish to keep an eye on that."
"You think Flemeth sent her with Zeva and I for a reason? Something nefarious, perhaps?" Alistair queried.
Duncan rubbed his chin, pondering everything that had transpired since Zeva and Alistair had reunited with him. "It is quite possible. I would not wish to see harm come to either of you, so we need to be on our guard around the witch," he replied.
"Certainly," Alistair said seriously. "Now, you should get some sleep, Duncan. Sten and I have this watch and we will be waking Leliana and Morrigan next."
"Alright," Duncan said and rose, heading to his tent. "Goodnight, Alistair."
"Goodnight, Duncan. And don't worry - I won't let anything happen to Zeva." Duncan looked back and saw the wistful look on Alistair's face.
Oh, Maker! he thought as he entered his tent. If Alistair has feelings for Zeva, what will happen when he finds out about the two of us? He would have to speak to Zeva soon, so she could stop the infatuation before it grew deeper.
Sleep came quickly, and with it thoughts of beautiful blue eyes staring into his, love burning in their depths...
o~~~~~~~~o
The next morning, fully healed and rested, the party arrived in Redcliffe Village and headed for the Chantry. They were met there by a representative from the Blackstone Irregulars. Zeva had spoken with a member of their order inside the tavern in Lothering, and had agreed to help them perform several tasks for coin. She obtained the new requests from the Order's chest and looked over the Chantry board, selecting several more missions which would provide them with money for provisions.
Zeva found Murdock in the Chantry, laying out plans with several members of the Militia for repairing the buildings in the village. He turned and smiled at her as she approached. "Bann Teagan said to tell you he would be waiting for you at the windmill overlooking the castle."
"Thank you," Zeva said and turned to go.
"Wait, miss," Murdock said from behind her.
Zeva turned back and looked at him quizzically. "Yes?"
"I, well, I owe you an apology." Murdock explained. "I wasn't the most polite to you when you first arrived. I really didn't think we could count on outsiders to help us with those monsters, Grey Warden or no. But you proved me wrong. My men all survived thanks to you and your friends, and I just wanted to say thank you." His face blushed red as he spoke.
"You are most welcome, Murdock. I am glad we could be of assistance," Zeva said and walked away, smiling widely.
o~~~~~~~~o
Teagan stood silently on the cliff near the windmill, overlooking the castle. He spoke softly as Zeva came up behind him.
"It looks so peaceful from here," he said and turned to meet her gaze. She could see the sadness and fear in his eyes and she reached out and grasped his hand.
"We will save them, Teagan. I just know it," she said, and smiled warmly.
"Thank you. Now, I had a plan to enter the castle once the danger in the village had been dealt with," Teagan began. "there is a secret passage into the castle, here in the mill, accessible only to my family."
"Wait," Duncan spoke up angrily. "You mean you had a way for us to get into the castle and you withheld the information? What were you thinking?"
Teagan glared at Duncan. "The village needed your help and I knew if you were aware of the passage you would enter it immediately. I do not think the town could have survived without your help last night."
"Maybe if we had gone in yesterday, we could have stopped the attack altogether before it started!" Duncan responded furiously.
"Enough!" Zeva yelled and both men turned to look at her, shock evident on their faces. "I have had about enough of whatever competition you two seem to be engaging in! What happened yesterday is past, and as you are SO FOND of reminding me, Duncan, our duty is to the mission before us!"
Duncan cringed, hearing his own words used against him, knowing the meaning behind her statement. She was right, however. He took a deep breath, calming himself, and turned back to Teagan.
"Zeva is correct, Bann Teagan," Duncan said contritely, "I know we are all under a lot of pressure. Please tell us about the passage into the castle."
Teagan looked at Zeva and blanched at the anger in her eyes. "Yes, well, there is a tunnel in the windmill which connects Redcliffe Village to the castle. The door is opened using the Guerrin signet ring. We need to... By the Maker!" Teagan said and looked past the group.
Approaching the cliff, at a run, was Lady Isolde of Redcliffe. Zeva recognized her right away. She had spent much of her teenage years at Redcliffe Castle and knew the Arlessa well, though she had no love for the woman; especially now, after hearing how she had treated Alistair.
Isolde ran to Teagan and spoke in her thick Orlesian accent, "Teagan, thank the Maker you yet live."
Teagan stammered, "Isolde...you're alive... how did you... what has happened?"
"I do not have much time to explain", Isolde began. "I slipped away from the castle as soon as I saw the fighting was over. And I must return quickly. And I... need you to return with me, Teagan, alone."
"Maybe we should all go to the castle," Zeva said, interrupting the pair.
Isolde turned, a haughty look on her face. "What? Who is this..." she began, before recognizing the Warden. "Zeva, is that you? Why are you here?"
Alistair spoke up nervously, "You remember me, Lady Isolde, don't you?"
"Alistair, of all the... why are you here?" Isolde began in a superior tone, when Zeva walked to her and pointed a finger in the Arlessa's face, making her back up a step.
"Don't you DARE act self-righteous and high minded around him, Isolde! For your information, Alistair is a Grey Warden and he has just saved your entire village; something which you seem to care nothing about! " Zeva spat, eyes glittering murderously.
"Zeva is correct, Isolde." Teagan said softly, moving closer to the two women. "If it had not been for Alistair and his companions, the village would be lost and I would be dead."
Isolde, looking sufficiently frightened, backed up a few paces and took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "I am so very sorry, Zeva. I did not mean to seem ungrateful. It is just that so many horrible things are happening at the castle and I don't know what to do."
"Arlessa, we only wish to help," Duncan said calmly, placing his hand on Zeva's shoulder and pulling her gently away from Isolde. Zeva shook his hand from her shoulder roughly and walked back to stand with Alistair, who was staring at her, eyes wide and mouth open, a blush creeping up his cheeks.
Duncan groaned inwardly at Zeva's anger toward him, but kept his eyes on Isolde. "I am Duncan, Warden-Commander of Ferelden," he said. "Believe me when I tell you we did not know anyone was alive in the castle. We want to help, but we must know what is going on."
"Of course, Commander," Isolde said quietly, and turned to Teagan. "A great evil has taken over the castle, Teagan. The dead awaken and roam the castle, eating the flesh of the living. The mage responsible has been caught and imprisoned, but the attacks continue. And Connor," she said, desperation creeping into her voice, "I think he may be going mad. We have been kept alive so far, but he refuses to leave the castle.
You must come back with me, Teagan! You are his uncle! You can get through to him. Please, I beg you!"
Zeva spoke up, " tell me about this mage, Isolde."
Isolde shifted her feet and looked at the ground. She is hiding something, Zeva thought suspiciously.
"He is... an infiltrator, I think. He was hired as a member of the castle staff. He was caught poisoning Eamon and thrown in the dungeon. Shortly after his arrest, the monsters began attacking the castle. I have been unable to get him to remove the curse placed upon us", she added, her voice cracking.
Morrigan spoke from behind them, "Do you think 'tis a demon which has invaded the castle?"
"Demon!" Isolde cried. "Maker help us all! Please Teagan, come back with me now. I know you could order your men to follow me when I return to the castle, but I beg you not to. I was only allowed to leave because I begged. I said Connor needed his uncle. But I must return soon."
Teagan sighed and looked at his sister-in-law. "I will return with you Isolde." He smiled at Zeva, whose eyes were wide with worry. "I must speak with the Grey Wardens alone before I go, however. Please wait for me at the castle gates."
"Of course," Isolde said and hurried away from the group.
"Are you insane?" Zeva said angrily to Teagan, moving to his side and grasping his arms. "You know this is a trap!"
Teagan smiled warmly down at the Warden. "I know it is, Zeva, but this is my family. You know yourself how important that is." He slowly ran his thumb down the side of her face, bringing his lips to her forehead and kissing her lightly. Morrigan smiled wickedly as she saw Duncan clench his fists, his fingernails digging painfully into his palms.
"Alright, but if you are going in with Isolde, we will be coming in through the tunnels," Zeva said, a look of determination on her face.
"As you wish, Milady," Teagan said, smiling softly. "I knew you would insist." He pulled back from her and addressed the group.
"I have no illusions of being able to handle this creature alone, but you have proven to be most formidable, Zeva. I know you can succeed where I would not." He handed his signet ring to her. "You will need this ring to open the door."
He looked at Duncan sternly and announced, "Eamon is your top priority. If the worst should occur, just get him out of the castle. Myself, Isolde, everyone else - we are expendable. Can I rely on you for that?"
Duncan nodded and opened his mouth to respond, when Zeva interrupted, "NO! I will rescue you all, I promise!"
"You truly are the strongest woman I have ever met, my dear. When all this is done.." Teagan's eyes glowed and he paused, "just be careful, Zeva."
With that he turned and walked away.
Zeva watched him go, then turned to her fellows and said, a determined gleam in her eyes, "Let's get moving. I have a bad feeling about this."
"As do I," Duncan said quietly, and followed Zeva into the windmill. "As do I."
o~~~~~~~~o
The adventurers followed the tunnel into the castle's dungeons. Alistair opened a doorway into a dimly lit hallway and drew his sword and shield. At the end of the hallway were several skeletal soldiers, attempting to reach someone inside a cage on the wall. The prisoner was crying out in pain, as the undead stabbed through the bars with short daggers.
Alistair hurried through the door, followed closely by Duncan, Sten and Zeva. Nihlus charged ahead of the group and launched himself onto one of the undead, knocking him to the ground and ripping at his throat. Leliana and Morrigan brought up the rear. Sten and Alistair attacked the two lead skeletons, while Duncan and Zeva moved past them to engage the final two.
When the last of the undead lay destroyed, Zeva looked around at her companions. All were uninjured. She walked toward the cell where she had first seen the skeletons, and a voice called from inside it
"Hello. Is there someone out there?" a male voice called.
Zeva stopped before the cell and took stock of the prisoner inside. He appeared to be a mage, tall with close cropped black hair and dark blue eyes.
The man looked at Zeva with surprise and spoke cautiously. "You don't look like one of the Arlessa's guards. Who are you?"
"My name is Zeva Cousland and I am a Grey Warden. You must be the mage who poisoned Arl Eamon." Zeva spoke calmly.
"Um... well...yes, I am, actually. My name is Jowan and I am a mage from the Circle Tower. Look, I admit I poisoned the Arl, but I did it on the orders of Teyrn Loghain!" the mage exclaimed.
"Loghain?" Zeva asked. "He arranged for you to assassinate Arl Eamon?"
"Yes, Milady." Jowan said. "Although I am not responsible for anything else that has happened here! I was already imprisoned when the attacks began."
"Right," Alistair drawled, "and we are supposed to take the word of an assassin?"
"I swear!" Jowan cried. "Lady Isolde hired me to tutor her son, Connor, as he was beginning to show signs of magical abilities. She had no idea that Loghain planned on killing Arl Eamon."
Duncan moved forward. "Wait! Connor was showing signs of magic? Could he be responsible for what happened here?"
"Possibly," Jowan said. "I had that idea, myself. He doesn't know enough to cast powerful spells, but he may have inadvertently torn the veil to the Fade. That would explain the reason for the undead attacks."
"Did Eamon have any idea of Connor's abilities?" Zeva asked.
Jowan shook his head and replied, "No. None at all. She said that if he knew, he would do the right thing and send the boy to the Circle Tower for study. She refused to give up her son."
That stupid bitch! Zeva thought. This was all her fault! Maker, when I get my hands around her throat...
As though he could read her thoughts, Duncan stepped next to Zeva and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Isolde will answer for what she has done here, Zeva; but first we must ensure the lives of Connor and Eamon."
She nodded and turned back to the mage. "Alright, I am going to release you from this cage and you are damned well going to help me fix this mess you have helped to make!"
"If it is all the same to you, I think I shall just wait here," Jowan said timidly.
"Maker, you truly are a coward, aren't you?" Zeva asked angrily. "Fine. Stay in your cage. But know this, mage, if anything happens to Connor or Teagan because of your crimes, I will see to your execution personally!" With that, Zeva turned and stormed off, the rest of the party close behind.
o~~~~~~~~o
The group fought their way through the castle, encountering more undead and several lesser demons. They located Owen's daughter, Valena, in a storage closet, frightened but unharmed, and Zeva told her how to escape through the tunnels.
Finally, they reached the courtyard of the castle. Ser Perth and his men were stationed outside the main gate, awaiting someone to let them in. Leliana and Morrigan headed for the gate while Sten, Duncan, Alistair and Zeva headed for the front door of the castle.
Suddenly, they saw a looming figure in the distance. What in the Maker's name? Zeva thought, a moment before she was violently pulled toward the creature. She landed with a loud crash to the ground and lay on her back, unmoving.
"Zeva!" Alistair yelled and ran after her, followed closely by Duncan and Sten. Morrigan and Leliana turned from the gate and began attacking the creature from a distance.
Alistair was the first to reach Zeva and he grabbed her arms, pulling her quickly to safety. Duncan, Sten and Nihlus attacked the Revenant, raining blows upon it until it was finally defeated.
There were still skeletal archers to defeat, and the team turned their attention quickly to their remaining opponents. Once the last monster fell, Duncan turned quickly to where Zeva lay and saw Alistair cradling her in his arms. He ran to their side, and knelt down next to them. "Morrigan! Get over here!" he called desperately.
The mage rushed to Zeva's side and began running her hands over her, looking for injuries. After a moment, she looked up. "'Tis nothing serious. The Revenant hit her with a powerful spell, and the fall knocked the wind out of her. Give her a moment and she will come around. She placed Rejuvenation on Zeva and after a few moments, the Warden's eyes opened.
"Maker's Breath," Zeva moaned, and struggled to sit up. Alistair helped her and she looked around groggily. "So, guess I missed that battle, huh?" she said, smiling weakly.
Alistair laughed, "well, I know you only did it so you could get a nap. That's so not fair to the rest of us."
"That's me," Zeva said, "always looking for the easy way out. That's why I chose the Wardens, right?"
Duncan and Alistair both chuckled at this. Duncan stood and offered Zeva his hand. She took it and he pulled her up. For just an instant he was holding her and he felt as though his heart would burst. Then she pulled away, blushing slightly and helped Alistair up.
Leliana opened the main gate to let in the Redcliffe Knights. Together with Ser Perth and his men, the party opened the front door of the Redcliffe Castle and entered the main hall.
They were completely unprepared for what they would find...