Shepard had never missed the mako more than she had this last week of walking in Ferelden. Hell, she even missed the Hammerhead! Yes, it had overheated at nearly every turn but damn if those leather seats weren't looking nice about now. She blew out an annoyed breath as she trudged along the Imperial Highway. At her side Aiden threw her a slightly annoyed look at her huff.

"We're almost there, Commander." he told her, gesturing with his head to the crest of the hill.

She straightened sheepishly. "Sorry, just not used to all this walking. My boots were made for combat, not long haul hikes."

He hesitated and then slowly nodded. "Me neither to be honest." At Shepards surprised look he shrugged. "A different life." Blue eyes flicked to the ceramic plates of her boots with interest before flitting over the rest of her armor. Aiden pursed his lips for a moment before asking "That material, is it heavy? Does it protect you well?"

Shepard glanced down at herself before meeting his gaze seriously. "It's pretty lightweight. It'll stop anything short of a projectile launched at a couple times faster than the speed of sound." As his eyes widened she gamely unlocked one of her pauldrons and handed it to him for inspection. "No weapon you have here could get through it."

"Amazing!" Curiously he ran a hand over the splash of red and white paint. "This, what does it mean? Is it your heraldry?"

She chuckled lightly in return. "Of a sort I guess." Smiling, she gently took it back and fastened it to the magnetic clip. "Honestly, the red and white is pretty understated. Could've painted it bright blue or pink."

His face scrunched slightly. "Wouldn't you stick out like a sore thumb?"

"Eh, it doesn't matter as much when everyone can see you from your body temperature."

"Wh-?" He cut himself off as a cry came from the front of the party.

"We're here!"

Shepard walked forward eagerly. So far, all her time in Ferelden had been spent in the wilderness, mud and more wilderness. A small part of her was excited to see what the inhabited parts of this world were like. She would never have admitted it to her crew, but medieval fantasy had always been something she had secretly liked.

The eclectic party quickly crested the top of the road, a few small wooden buildings coming into view, and across the way a massive stone tower rose from a glittering lake, reminiscent of something right out of Lord of the Rings. Shepard breathed out a surprised whistle at the size of the structure. "I didn't think you guys had the engineering to build something like that."

Morrigan let out a disgusted scoff from behind her. "Tis hardly impressive. How very fitting that they would build a prison for mages in the middle of a lake and make it look like a giant phallus."

Shepard blinked at the mage in surprise before turning to take a second look at the tower. She pressed her mouth into a thin line, trying to contain the smile threatening to break past her lips. Now that Morrigan had mentioned it, it did sort of look like that.

At her side Aiden simply sighed. "Right, I'll see about getting us across then. Still some daylight left and the faster we get to the mages the better." With a brief nod to her he strode quickly down the hill to a man standing next to the dock. Shepard eyed the sword emblazoned on his breastplate curiously. A Templar? she wondered.

"Humans overcompensating as always." Sten intoned, stopping to match Shepards regard.

Turning her attention back to the structure she hummed. "It is something isn't it." she agreed, matching the qunari's stance."Any thoughts on what we might face on the inside?"

Sten shook his head. "I imagine it will be chaos. It seems to be the only thing these southerners understand."

"Is it very different where you're from?"

"Very." came the simple reply.

Zevran approached then, a chuckle on his tongue. "Like drawing blood from a stone, the words of our friend here are few and far between." At Sten's scoff he smiled and caught Shepards eye instead. "The good thing about mages, I find, is that they die much like any other. You just need to worry about what happens before that. Something to keep in mind, yes?"

Slightly taken aback she nodded. "Noted."

Shouting from the docks drew their attention to Aiden, Alistair and the Templar standing guard at the docks. Zevran sighed as the warden's shoulders bunched in agitation. "It seems we have trouble."

"As always." Sten muttered, leaving Shepard and Zevran to follow him as he quickly walked to the arguing group.

They pulled abreast just as the Templar started wagging his finger in Aidens face. " You know, I have some documents too. They say I'm the Queen of Antiva. What do you think of that?"

Alistair rolled his eyes and immediately affected a deep bow. "My lady. Aren't queens all female?"

"Don't question royalty!" The Templar huffed. "Anyway, it was nice chatting with you. Now on your way. Right now."

Shepard could feel her eyebrows climbing to her hairline in surprise at the snappy comments. "I'm sorry, do they require Templars to go through some sort of specialized training for being a shit?"

"Heeeeyyy!" This from Alistair as he met her gaze with a mock pout. "I sound nothing like him."

Aiden groaned and turned to face her. "This Templar won't let us across to the tower, says it's an order from the Knight-Commander himself. Despite-" at this he turned to send said Templar a venomous glare, "the treaties compelling him to let us across."

The subject of their ire simply rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in response. "You know, I am feeling a bit peckish right now. All this watching the docks…"

Alistair blinked and turned to the other man in surprise. "Wait, I'm sorry. Are you asking us to bribe you. With food?"

"Parshaara! Here! Munch on these if you like." Sten shouldered past the others and thrust a bag into the Templar's hands. "I am content to part with them if it saves us from this fool."

"Oh! Cookies!" Delighted, the other man immediately dug in, now fully ignoring the flabbergasted people standing around him.

Aiden turned to Sten with wide eyes. "Where did you get those?"

"There was a child- a fat slovenly thing, in the last village we passed. I relieved him of these confections. He didn't need more."

"You stole cookies from a child?"

Sten turned serious eyes to the warden and gravely intoned "For his own good."

Zevran let out an awkward chuckle in response to the quiet, as the Templar munched happily behind them. "I believe I underestimated you, Sten."

Aiden threw his hands skywards in benediction and then promptly buried his face in his hands, thoroughly fed up. Shepard reached forward and gently clasped his shoulder. She'd definitely been exactly where he was now.

"Let's just get on the boat, people." she told them, gesturing with her free arm to the others milling by the tavern to join them.

Quickly, she guided Aiden with her to the surprisingly sturdy ship, just barely moving out of the way as Ham bounded onboard with a bark.

Shale was the last to stamp it's way up next to where everyone was settling. Slowly it turned its luminous eyes over the assembled group, pausing briefly to stare at the Templar before swinging its gaze to the small free space next to Leliana and Alistair. "It will have to move over." Shale told them flatly.

Alarmed, the redhead immediately nodded and shuffled, pushing the warrior until the two of them were pressed into the smallest nook possible, crushing Shepard and Aiden into the walls of the ship beside them.

"Uhm." The Templar gaze wide eyed at the massive construct. "I'm not sure you'll fit…"

Unblinking eyes stared the man down. 'What is it trying to say?"

"Nothing!" Came the panicked response. He quickly turned back to face the moorings and ignored the golem as it nudged Alistair further back with one massive hand.

Annoyed, Alistair attempted to sit up before immediately sliding back down as the golem climbed aboard, the ship dipping alarmingly. "Makers breath, Shale!" The warrior sat, nearly folded in half with a thunderous frown.

Shepard chuckled as he flailed, heavy armor pulling him down.

Alistair turned to face her with a sour face. "Laugh it up now, but you're going to be the one pulling me out of here."

The Templar cleared his throat awkwardly before giving them all a nod as the ship held. "Right then, off we go!"

Shepard turned from Alistair, who was now arguing quietly with Leliana about his armor poking her, and instead angled to watch the tower as it slowly crawled closer. She knew she was staring but she couldn't stop. Something about it was… terrifying. The bobbing and swaying of the boat did little to distract from the monolith looming closer and closer with each moment. From what Alistair had told her last night, it was a prison, one much worse than she had initially thought. Her stomach turned. She could still remember her own fear when her biotics manifested. She had been lucky not to end up at Jump Zero when Kaidan had, luckier still to not be like the countless other biotics like Jack. This is… she turned her body away from the sight, mouth thinning. She lifted her gaze to find Aiden staring at her quietly, his fingers twining through his bow.

"Why are you afraid?" He asked, suspicion clouding his expression as Shepard shuddered.

She straightened her spine, fixing him with a blank stare. "Buildings like these bring back some bad memories." Alarmed she could feel the gazes of the others zero in on her. Shrugging it aside she focused on the warden. "Just anxious to contact my crew. I'm looking forward to seeing them again."

He huffed quietly under his breath, twisting to watch the Templar guiding them into the tower's harbor. "So you say."

"Don't believe me?"

Aiden sighed sadly. "Belief is irrelevant Shepard, you hide much."

She scowled in return. "I've shared a lot with all of you."

He shook his head. "You have shared facts of your world, not of you." With a shrug the warden regarded her. "You just look awfully afraid for someone excited to be reunited."

Shepard turned away, dragging air into her lungs as the boat passed beneath the arches of the lower dock, ignoring Aidens quiet words. Inside her chest her heart raced uncontrollably, guts writhing in nameless anxiety as they came to a gentle stop within the confines of the dock.

"Something's wrong." Alistair murmured, his words echoing her thoughts. He shifted next to her, moving to stand as she yanked him upright. "Can you feel it? It's like…" he paused, eyes tracking the shadows pouring across the stone walls. "Something pressing and pulling, dragging at the veil. Maker, what could be…?"

"I feel it too." This from Morrigan as the witch climbed gracefully from the ship.

Aiden pushed himself to his feet, vaulting onto the wooden planks. "Is that even possible?" Around him the others clambered to their feet, the ringing sound of armor filling the eerie silence.

As they exchanged alarmed looks the Templar manning the boat quickly turned around and climbed back inside, his eyes wide in fear. "Good luck, friends!" With that he waved and quickly pushed from the dock.

"Wait! What if we need passage back?!" Aiden called. Walking quickly to the edge where the boat was swiftly disappearing back into the mist.

Shepard blinked, the quicker they finished here, the faster she'd get home. Right. "Only one way to find out what's going on here." Reaching down she grasped her shotgun reassuringly and pulled herself out of the ship, striding quickly past Aiden and Alistair towards the large wooden doors leading up to the tower's main hall. Behind her the clank of armor chorused, the other following her determined stride. Sweat beaded Shepard's brows as she reached the doors, her body screaming in un-namable revolt. Alistair's right. Something is definitely wrong. Sucking in a deep breath she shoved the doors open, forcing herself across the arch and into the entrance. Immediately the smell of blood assaulted her nose, the moans of wounded synching with the grind of armored feet as men and women dressed in laborious plate armor rushed back and forth.

"You there! What are you doing here?" An older man strode towards them, sword unsheathed.

Aiden pressed forward, hand raised to halt the man's progress. "My name is Aiden, of the Grey Wardens. I come with treaties, demanding the aid of the mages against the Blight." His eyes shifted from the man to the wounded Templars strewn across the hall, flicking to rest on the giant wooden doors, sealed firmly in the dim light of the torches. "What has happened here?"

The Templar sighed, inclining his head calmly. "I shall speak plainly, the tower is no longer under our control." He shifted, walking towards the stone doors. "Abominations and demons stalk the towers' halls. I have sent to Denerim for the Right of Annulment, all that is left now is to wait. I'm sorry Grey Warden, but the circle is in no position to assist you."

Shepard shifted nervously. Ugh, more mystical crap. Behind her Leliana gasped, hand reaching to cover her mouth in horror. Clearly she was missing something. "The Right of Annulment?" She turned to face the man in confusion. Quirking her eyebrow she watched the people gathered around her. "What does that mean exactly?"

"It means that every living thing in the tower needs to be purged." Aiden told her coldly. Briefly he closed his eyes, hand rising to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Andraste forgive me." He crossed his arms, ignoring her incredulous look and turned to face the Templar. "If the mages are eradicated, will the Templars pledge themselves instead?"

"What?!" She snapped, stepping forward. "You can just murder a tower full of people!"

"Shepard." Alistair whispered urgently, tugging on her arm lightly. Angrily she shook him off, striding up the grey haired man.

"What's your name?"

The Templar's eyes narrowed, taking in her odd armor and accent, spine straightening unconsciously. "I am Knight-Commander Greagoir, the man in charge of these Templars, and this tower."

"What is your duty?"

He stiffened, gaze locking with hers. "To protect the people of Ferelden from the mages."

Shepard sneered, "And?"

He faltered, eyes flicking from her own to stare past her. "To… protect the mages." Greagoir deflated slightly, shaking his head. "If there are any of them still alive the Maker Himself has shielded them. I will not risk more of my men on a fools hope."

Shit. Her breath caught in her throat, a screen with a death toll screaming through her mind. She understood the commander, understood why he hesitated as his men rested, wounded all around him. Closing her eyes tightly she sucked in a deep breath. All she could hear was Alistair's quiet words the night before. Of nameless children dragged into the circle at birth, isolated, alone... "Then don't risk your men. I'll go."

The Knight-Commander's head jerked in surprise. "Are you mad?"

Shepard shrugged, heart pounding. "I've fought worse than whatever is up in those tower halls. Believe me."

Next to her Aiden seized her arm in a crushing grip, blue eyes burrowing into her own. "You are not the one making decisions here." He pressed closer, angling so she was forced to lift her head to maintain eye contact. "The Templars will serve as an admirable army once the Right arrives. The mages are too much of a risk and are not worth the trouble, we are going to let them die."

With deliberate slowness Shepard grasped Aidens wrist, applying pressure in increments, watching his face contort into surprise as her grip tightened. "The people in there need help." She squeezed harder, feeling the bones in his wrist begin to grind beneath her hand. "And I'm going to help them." Applying more pressure she watched calmly as Aiden dropped to his knees, gasping as he tried to wrench away. "Do you understand?" He glared as she released him, turning instead to face the Knight-Commander. Greagoir eyes were glued to Aiden, clutching his wrist, twitching to Shepard in surprise. "Open the door." She ordered him.

He hesitated for just a moment before signaling over his shoulder to two Templars standing guard. "Know this, the doors will remain sealed until I have First Enchanter Irving's reassurance the tower is safe again. Do you understand? I will accept no other." They walked towards the door quickly, Shepard checking the seals on her armor, reaching down to unclip her helmet from her belt.

"Get First Enchanter Irving. Got it." She rolled her shoulders beneath the weight of her armor, grateful to once again be wearing her sports bra beneath. This would have been much worse without it.

"Wait!" She turned, surprised as Alistair strode forward. "I'm going with you." Reaching down he adjusted his dagger belt nervously. "You're going to need all the help you can get, and who better to take with you than an ex-Templar? Fighting abominations is old hat for us!"

Leliana hurried forward, coming to stand next to the large warden. "I shall go as well." The redhead nodded, blue eyes flicking to the doors. "You will need another bow, no?"

"You're fools." Aiden told them, climbing to his feet slowly. Behind him, Sten, Morrigan, Shale, and Zevran shifted, none of them stepping forward. His eyes fixed on Alistair, a snarl curling his lip. "The Blight is what's important. You know that! You idiot."

Alistair slid his helmet onto his head with a flourish. "You're not the first person to call me that Aiden." He nodded to the Templars, gesturing for them to open the door. "But in this case. you're wrong."

Shepard inclined her head, turning to stride through the open door, leading the bard and warden at her back past the safety of the great hall and into the network beyond. And if her heart quickened and her breath shuddered as the door clanged close behind them, she forced the anxiety away. "Well." She breathed, watching Alistair and Leliana from the corner of her eye. "Let's go."