Meanwhile in the Market District...
Sirius Black was officially tired of listening to nobles bitch and moan about this or that while the world was literally on the brink of disaster. Thankfully Leliana was much more in her element, eavesdropping and making notes about who was upset at this or that minor squabble.
So someone's brother was missing after going off to hunt down a mage- even if Sirius were feeling charitable towards a templar, it was obviously a dangerous job. Not coming home alive after something like that shouldn't be shocking to anyone.
Finally, after a couple of very boring hours spent putting on a smarmy face and following her around a tavern and multiple stores, they were back outside and going to head back to Arl Eamon's manor. With any luck, Harry and Morrigan would be back soon.
A loud bang drew his attention off to the southeast exit of the market.
"What the hell was that?" he wondered.
"They closed a gate," Leliana said as she pointed to a portcullis that had been brought down blocking the path to a bridge heading south. "I hope that isn't a sign of trouble. Do you think they would try to start a battle in the middle of the city?"
"An ambush?" Sirius frowned. "I can't say I would be surprised if nobles paid no heed of killing commoners that get in their way, but I would think it would be terrible for the economy."
"I'm going to find out what's going on," the bard replied before she hurried across the square. Sirius saw a guard with a bored look on his face leaning back against the wall and he perked right up at the pretty redhead that came over to talk to him.
At another time, he might have been a jealous man, but in this case Sirius could see the way Leliana worked the unsuspecting man for information with little more than a bit of open body language and pleasant vocal tone. It was obvious why she had been such a skilled spy- and that thought took him back to his younger days, watching a few Bond movies with James and Lily all those years ago.
Sirius daydreamed about transfiguring his clothes into a tuxedo and trying to seduce her in some scene at a swanky casino. "Black... Sirius Black," he muttered to himself with a wry grin on his face as she came back towards him.
"Easily done," she said.
"But of course," he agreed with a wink.
Leliana sighed and began to explain. "It is being said that there is some sort of plague that has popped up in the Alienage. That's why they closed it off. They're hoping that it won't spread to the human population. As usual, if a few elves die, no one will really care."
"Sounds like trouble," Sirius murmured. "Probably the type of trouble that Harry would want to delve into."
"Perhaps we should go see if he has been able to save the queen then," she suggested.
"I was just thinking the same thing." He offered up his arm. "Shall we, my dear?"
"What a surprise!" she teased. "A proper gentleman found even in the noise and much here in Ferelden? I am shocked."
"I'll have you know my parents spent many years trying to beat the proper sort of manners into my head," Sirius snorted. "Not that I listened to them or did anything they would have approved of- but then, they were complete arseholes."
At the same time, Harry was thrown in the back of a covered wagon and driven through the streets towards Fort Drakon, a massive fortress overlooking the city that was situated on a hill. They'd pushed him around a little at first, but it wasn't too painful.
Now, if they tried to torture him, that would be something else entirely. He hoped his captors didn't stoop that low though; after what he'd seen of Howe's deeds, Harry's anger was already a bit on edge.
"You'd think after so long I might have learned to keep a cooler head," he chuckled to himself.
The two armed men riding along with him in the rear of the wagon gave him strange looks as they rode on.
It seemed that Harry had succeeded in his task once they returned to Eamon's. Sirius heard that the queen was safe and sound, now in some sort of discussion with the Arl of Redcliffe about the Landsmeet. He supposed that was all a good thing, and with any luck, it wouldn't be something where he would have to get into the middle of any arguments.
"I'm going to go find Harry," he said to Leliana. "If you want to go see about the nobles-"
"No, I'd rather make sure he is back too," she replied. "I trust Harry more than any nobles, especially in this case. He has no stake in the politics, and thus, I would rather speak to him about what we heard earlier today regarding Bann Alfstanna and Bann Sighard before we approach Eamon."
"Right," Sirius agreed as they headed towards the guest wing where they'd been given quarters.
Opening the door, they found Morrigan pacing the floor.
"Where's Harry?"
"That's what I would like to know as well," she answered angrily. "He said he was going to follow right behind me. That was fifteen minutes ago. How soon, I wonder, should I wait before starting to worry that he's once again doing something foolish?"
"What happened?" Leliana asked.
"Our magic made short work of the primary task," Morrigan waved off rescuing the queen with ease. "Harry then decided to search the dungeons as Anora revealed a Grey Warden had been captured, and he wanted to see about any other prisoners that may have been in need of our help. Howe and his men stood no chance against Harry, but once we had finished emptying the cells, he stayed behind in order to check on possible reinforcements.
"He told me he would just be a few moments, and then he would be coming back," she finished before throwing herself down in a chair.
"What's going on?" Oghren asked as the rest of their little group came along.
"We heard raised voices and became concerned," Wynne added.
"It's a little crowded in here," Sirius said.
"Is the dog mage saying something about my size?" Shale raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled nervously. "No, of course not."
"Then explain where our fearless leader is," Oghren said. "He better not be busting heads without me!"
Morrigan retold the tale of her afternoon and Sirius began to consider what they should do next. He hadn't been to the estate that afternoon, but...
"Why don't you just apparate back there to check on Harry?" The answer seemed simple enough once it came to him. "Disillusion yourself first, just in case. If there are any problems, come back and get me. Then we can start side along apparating the others if there is a battle to be had."
"Alright," she agreed. "I shall return shortly."
"I hope she's right," Wynne fretted. "Perhaps there is more going on than what we suppose."
There were many sneers among the soldiers that Harry was marched past while being led through Fort Drakon Of course, there were also a few worried looks that he saw- those were men smart enough to know better than to antagonize a powerful magic user. For the most part, they were just normal men.
However, when he reached his destination, he found those who were much worse.
Torturers.
Their victims were also in sight- several men and women who had been stripped of their clothes, beaten and mutilated. Corpses that hadn't been disposed of yet- and that was the kindest way Harry could put it in his own mind as he tried to stay calm. He grit his teeth and waited until they took him to a cell, just holding back the anger in case he could find others to rescue.
"So this is the mighty Grey Warden?" one man sneered. "He seems too docile to me."
"I suppose we can take care of that," another snorted.
The only problem at that moment was that his arms were bound behind his back. But what was the old saying? Pain is only temporary?
His joints snapped and popped while the magic of the Hallows swept over him.
"What the bloody hell is that?" the first man cried out as he backed away.
The bindings were no match for the dark magic that flowed outwards, and soon a burst of raw force shoved the armed men back violently. Two of them were killed instantly as they smashed into the walls. The black cloaked figure stepped over to the loudest of the torturers and leaned down over him.
"Maker! Have mercy!"
A deep, hollow laugh was his first reply.
"Did you show your victims mercy?" came the raspy voice hidden in shadows. "But you are in luck because death... Death is mercy."
A skeletal hand reached out and clasped the man's throat, cutting off the last of his screams.
"I am going to kill him!" Morrigan seethed when she returned.
"Oh shite," Sirius exhaled. "What did he do?"
"He was captured!" she angrily retorted. "They're taking him to Fort Drakon. We'll have to go rescue Harry now. How could he be so stupid!?"
"Well, I've never gotten a chance to lay siege to a castle before," Oghren said as he played with his beard for a moment. "I guess there's a first time for everything."
"We could try to sneak in," Leliana suggested.
"How would we pull that off?" Sirius asked.
"I still have my Chantry robes," she replied. "Technically, I am still a lay sister, after all. I could try to bluff my way in."
"By yourself?" Morrigan sneered. "I won't leave Harry's fate to-"
"Actually, I was thinking I could take Sirius with me," Leliana interrupted. "A sister with a big, strong mabari guard to get her through the rough city streets wouldn't be too strange of a sight. And once we get inside, then Sirius..."
She turned to him and he was already nodding, taking up the plan in his head. "I could get his scent to track him down, use magic to make us disappear and then we follow Padfoot's nose straight to my errant godson. Problem solved. Hopefully without too much pain and suffering."
"You're not invincible, you know," Oghren countered. "A couple of softies like you- it would be better if you had some brawn with you to bash heads open, just in case things get rough."
"You just want to go because it sounds fun," Leliana countered, unable to completely stifle her laugh.
"Well, yeah, but I'm right too!" the dwarf answered.
"The drunken dwarf is not invincible either," Shale cut in. "However, I am. Just give me directions to this castle and I shall smash my way inside."
"I think you're all forgetting something," Wynne said.
"What's that?" Oghren asked.
"I haven't known Harry for too long," she replied. "But in that time, I have seen his skill with magic, some of which is more varied and powerful than anything I'd seen before, as well as his character. He would not surrender without good reason."
"Good reason?" Morrigan sneered. "He could have easily butchered his way through any amount of soldiers."
"Exactly, my dear," Wynne said. "So, why did he not do just that?"
"Because he's looking for information," Leliana asserted as her face suddenly lit up. "If he spent the day rescuing people who had been imprisoned in dungeons, then maybe he wanted to see if there were others he could free as well."
"And more important prisoners could theoretically have been taken to the largest garrison in the city," Wynne agreed. "Fort Drakon. However, that also brings up the one point I want you all to remember. With his apparition-"
Sirius barked out a laugh. "Harry can escape any time he wants."
"Precisely," Wynne smiled.
"No storming the castle then?" Oghren complained. "Damn you all, you just had to get my hopes up!"
A crack heralded the arrival of the missing man himself, who found himself squeezed into a corner of the crowded room. Harry raised an eyebrow. "Did I miss something?"
"You're alright?" Sirius asked.
"I am... as well as can be," he shrugged.
"Well, I guess all that fretting was for nothing," Sirius replied. "The show's over folks."
"I tell ya, next time Shale, you and me should just go off and smash our way into the castle anyway," Oghren grumbled as he opened the door.
"That would have been more interesting than standing around listening to all the worrying," Shale agreed as she bowed her head low enough to get out into the hallway. "Perhaps tomorrow will have a bit more violence."
Wynne sighed and let out a disgruntled laugh. "Those two are going to get themselves in trouble one of these days." She turned back to Harry. "Were there any prisoners you rescued at Fort Drakon? And what of those you found in Howe's dungeons?"
"Ah yes, that reminds me," Harry took a step over to the middle of the room. "Sirius, could you conjure up a couple of robes. We've got two men I rescued, but they weren't left with much in the way of dignity. At least, I assume Morrigan hasn't already freed them?"
"I had other things on my mind," she said with a glare. "Besides, I thought it would be better for you to deal with playing the hero. That is very much not my cup of tea."
"Should I be prepared to heal them?" Wynne asked.
"I didn't see anything life threatening, but I'll let you be the judge." He waited for Morrigan to produce the sleeping ferrets and Harry stifled his inclination to laugh. Laying them on the floor, she stepped back and allowed Harry to undo the transfiguration.
"That's Bann Alfstanna's brother!" Wynne gasped. "He does not look well at all. If he had been imprisoned for too long, he is likely going through withdrawals."
"How do you know him?" Sirius asked.
"He was a templar," she answered. "A good man, if a bit more pious than some of you may like."
"That's the nicest way someone's ever called me a godless heathen," Harry snickered.
"Returning him to his sister should strongly pull Waking Sea to our side," Leliana said. "If you've got Bann Sighard's son as well, that would also push Dragon's Peak into aligning with Redcliffe against Loghain."
"I didn't stop to ask their names," Harry replied. "Wynne, you might want to check the other fellow over first- he was on the rack when I found him."
"Oh my," she tutted as she began to cast a healing spell. Harry decided to wait for a couple of minutes as they would likely feel better after she was done, so he left both men stunned for the moment.
Once Wynne had finished, he awoke them both and Sirius handed over the robes.
"Where are we?" the older of the two asked.
"And what the hell was that thing?" the second added. "I saw some sort of demon down in the dungeon."
"You are at Arl Eamon's estate in Denerim," Harry said. "We rescued you, and would like to help return you to your homes, assuming we can do that safely."
"Irminric, your sister is here for the Landsmeet, " Wynne spoke up. "We can take you to her and she can see about helping you with the lyrium withdrawals."
"You can tell?" he asked, groaning a bit as he leaned against a nearby table.
"I have seen the effects before," she nodded kindly.
"If the Landsmeet has been called, then my father should be here as well," the second man said.
"Are you Bann Sighard's son Oswyn by any chance?" Leliana asked with a smile.
"Yes, I am."
The bard grinned even more. "Then I know exactly where we can find your father. Let us speak with the Arl, and then we can arrange for both of you to be returned to your families."
"Thank the Maker," Oswyn replied.
"Harry, you'll need to come as well," Leliana added. "The heroic Grey Warden rescuer will be a very important political point in our favor."
He grudgingly accepted that he would have to put on a bit of a show for the next couple of hours. "Very well. Why don't you take them to Eamon while I clean up?"
"I was wondering," Sirius began. "I think you've got some blood on your shirt."
Harry looked down at the splatters. He'd been just a little bit messy after when he'd seen that afternoon. "Give me just a few minutes and I'll get changed."
"That was incredibly convenient," Morrigan scoffed once they had returned from delivering the hostages back to their families. "Getting two nobles on our side simply by emptying out Howe's private dungeons? The man must have been either an insane sadist or wildly over confident to allow such a thing."
"I would guess it was some of both," Harry replied as they sat down in their quarters. "The upper classes of many societies have thought themselves untouchable- and it regularly leads to their downfalls. I won't look a gift horse in the mouth though- if more nobles step up to hopefully push Loghain out of power without us having to battle him, that will mean we'll have more troops left to deal with the darkspawn."
"True."
Someone knocked at their door and Harry got up to answer it. "I have a feeling this will be the Grey Warden."
He was proven correct when Riordan was revealed on the other side. "I hope I've not come at a bad time, but I felt it would be wise to have a discussion with you while in private."
"Come on in," Harry replied.
"Thank you."
Harry cast a privacy charm over the door, knowing something of what the other man wanted to talk about. "I assume Morrigan was able to return your papers earlier?"
"Indeed, and you have my thanks," Riordan said with a slight bow to her. "Our records will need to return to the rest of the order once the borders of this country are no longer closed. I have the names of all those who died at Ostagar, which will need to be entered into our archives. Although, I am not certain how I will be able to do such a thing when I am the only warden left in Ferelden."
"There is another," Harry answered. "A very old man named Avernus. He's little more than a magical researcher now though."
"Strange that one of our kind should live long enough to become elderly," Riordan frowned. "The Calling usually takes care of us before that is possible."
"I believe it was a fairly unique circumstance," he said. "Regardless, I would not count on seeing him take the field of battle with us."
"And then there is you," Riordan continued. "The man who took up our banner without actually being one of us. I don't know what I should say about such a thing."
"It was necessary. The people needed to be rallied to fight the darkspawn, and with no survivors from Ostagar, someone had to do it." Harry shrugged, "I volunteered."
"And you have done well, my young friend."
Morrigan laughed and Harry winked at her. "I'm a lot older than I look, but thank you. Can you sense how far away the Archdemon is?"
"Not close enough for me to be precise," Riordan sighed. "I can tell that he won't be attacking Denerim tomorrow, but with the flight capabilities of a great dragon, it is hard to say where he may lead the bulk of their forces."
"But can you not also sense the Taint within regular darkspawn?" Morrigan asked.
"I can," he admitted. "That is why I can sense that Harry does not carry it like Grey Wardens do. As for regular darkspawn, I can sense that there aren't any in the city. But the range does not extend that far for any but the Archdemon." Riordan closed his eyes for a moment and took a couple of slow, deep breaths. "I can tell that it is south and west of here, many miles away. But being more precise than that is beyond my ability."
"That means we'll probably need to do a bit more scouting to find the main horde," Harry said.
"And I will have to be the one to kill it," Riordan added. "I was prepared for such a thing, but it is troubling that we have no second option."
"Actually, we do," Harry corrected him. "I have a magical trap prepared that should be able to contain the soul of the Archdemon once it has been slain. No sacrifice needed."
"I have never heard of magic like that," Riordan replied, obviously skeptical of the idea.
"That's because I am not from here," Harry said. "I doubt you've heard of apparition either- that was the magic I used to bring you here directly from the dungeon where you had been kept. Nor a number of other things from my homeland."
"Where are you from then?" Riordan frowned. "Your accent would place you from either Ferelden or perhaps the Free Marches, but-"
"It's a lot further away than that," Harry chuckled. "You would not have heard of it- and it's a very long story to how I got here."
"I see." Riordan considered the idea for only a few seconds. "I believe I will try to get the killing blow if I am able. If not, perhaps your magic can be used as an alternative. But I should warn you, the Grey Wardens had searched for more than a century before they found the only way we've ever been able to stop a Blight before. You should be prepared for failure."
"Fair enough," Harry admitted. "I'll have to try to come up with another idea then. But I will try it if I get the chance."
Riordan chuckled softly. "Some of my order would be more disdainful and insist upon your folly. But I am old enough to set aside any pride if it will mean less lives lost. That is all that really matters- to stop the darkspawn, at any cost."
"How long have you been a warden?" Morrigan asked. Harry glanced at her briefly and noticed that she was focused entirely on Riordan.
"More than twenty years," he admitted. "Duncan would have been the oldest in Ferelden if they had not all been lost at Ostagar. Traditionally it is the oldest of us who try to make the final sacrifice, saving our younger brethren if we can. I have been prepared for this long before I returned to my home country. We wardens understand our duty."
"I see," she replied softly before turning to stare into the flames.
Harry interjected, "Well, with any luck that sacrifice won't have to come just yet. But we should prepare for battle. As soon as this business with Loghain can be dealt with, hopefully we'll be more productive."
"Agreed," Riordan nodded. "I will keep your secret for now. If I fall and you still live, I hope you will continue the fight, Harry."
"I can guarantee that I will."
"Then you have my thanks." Riordan stood up and stretched. "If you will excuse me, I am going to take advantage of the Arl's hospitality. This should be a great improvement over my previous accommodations."
"Rest up while you can then," Harry chuckled.
"Yes, we may not have long," Riordan grinned. "Good night."
"Good night."
As Riordan left, Harry closed the door behind him and sat back down at the table across from Morrigan. She was still staring into the flames of the fireplace. Deciding to leave her to her thoughts for the moment, Harry took off his shoes and tried to relax.
A bit of calm, comfortable silence with a loved one was such a nice thing to be able to experience again. It had been a long, long time.
The sound of Morrigan's sigh drew his attention.
"Are you still thinking of the ritual Flemeth came up with?" he asked softly.
"No," she said. "He is too old anyway; the Taint will be too strong in him, even if I still wanted to go through with it. I am trying to decide how vexed I should be with you."
Harry chuckled. "Why?"
"You allowed yourself to be captured," she answered with narrowed eyes.
"And you were worried?" he teased.
Morrigan ignored his jibes and reached into a pouch. "I have something for you. 'Tis a ring, and before you get any ideas-"
"You know, where I come from, it's usually the man's job to propose," Harry interjected with a laugh.
Morrigan glared at him and continued her previous thoughts, "Flemeth once gave it to me because it allowed her to find me no matter where I went, in case I was ever captured. I disabled its power when we left the Korcari Wilds; however, recent events have brought to mind the fact that I should change the enchantment so that I could be able to find you. Therefore, I would ask you to wear this ring. For my peace of mind, if nothing else."
"Thank you," Harry accepted the ring from her and slid it on his ring finger in the old, familiar spot. He noted the slight flinch she gave but refrained from teasing her. "I wouldn't want your peace of mind bothered by my more rash moments."
"You were in no real danger, were you?"
"There was a saying in my world, 'pain is only temporary' and I suppose that may be true," Harry answered, exhaling softly and trying not to let his thoughts become too maudlin. "So, was I in danger of being harmed or inconvenienced? Yes. But it would have been little more than that."
"How powerful are you?" she asked, turning back to the flames.
"I wasn't powerful enough to save my world," he admitted. "But hopefully, I'll have better luck with this one."
After another moment of silence, Morrigan turned and smirked at him, "I'm starting to believe you may be able to do so. But for tonight, let us see if I can't give you an even better reason to succeed."
She stood up and started to undress.
"I like this idea of yours," Harry grinned.
Author's Note: The elves will have to wait for next time. Sorry to those who were hoping to see the sneaking in rescue scene- but Zevran isn't around for the famous Broma Brothers, so I had them talk about trying it instead.
The Morrigan ring scene in the game shows the ever important difference between listening to what a person says & judging them by their actions.
Assuming the summer heat ever ends and real life stresses ever abate, I might become more productive one of these days. Till next time!