Whatever her thoughts were on magic, Shepard hadn't anticipated this. Around them the room had been transformed into something akin to the Collector ship. Fleshy sacks and piles of organic material laid strewn about, bodies lying haphazardly next to cowering mages. Turning her eyes to the center she gaped as a mage started to shift before her very eyes, like an advanced form of what the Reapers had done to the Protheans or to the people of Eden Prime. Adrenaline flooded her veins as she stepped forward, shotgun sliding comfortably into her hand and biotics flaring. No more.

A bald man standing in the middle turned to them with a mild look on his face. "Ah look what we have here." He paused, eyes widening at Shepards light display. "I'm quite impressed you're still alive. Unfortunately - "

"Enough." she interrupted him, voice steady and low. "Surrender. I won't ask you again."

He sneered. "A mage is but the larval form of something greater. Your chantry vilifies us and calls us abominations, when we have truly-"

Calling on her power she wreathed herself in a Barrier before launching a Pull, yanking the man off his feet. He howled in surprise in response, body contorting and twisting violently, growing seemingly without end. In his place a large purple creature emerged, familiar as it was alien. Shepard felt her heart thud as it crashed to the ground, breaking away from the force of her Pull. "Shit!" Calling on her biotics she launched a Reave and watched the creature stagger. "Stay clear people."

"You got it!" This from Leliana as she notched an arrow and turned to face the approaching mass of hissing abominations.

Beside her Wynne huffed. "Don't forget the Litany. It will thwart Uldred's attempts to control the mages and win this fight for us."

Alistair nodded from where he was positioned on Shepards left, the scroll tucked securely in his shield hand. "I won't fail."

With that Shepard launched herself forward in a Charge, the biotic explosion deafening as the detonation blew the creature backwards and away from the remaining mages. Around her the other engaged the smaller abominations. Her hair stood on end at the sight of their mad eyes, nowhere near as blank as the husks from her nightmares. Enraged, she used her omni-blade to meet the creature's enormous curved arm as it swung down to crush her, slicing through it with ease as she dodged between its legs.

Dimly she was aware of light surrounding the surviving mages and the low drone of Alistair's voice. Apparently the Litany was doing its job. Refocusing she met the many eyes of Uldred. "You know," she told him conversationally "I saw a statue just like you at a private art collection not too long ago." He growled in response, large electric whips suddenly forming to arc towards her. Dodging, she closed the distance between them with another Charge. Spinning around she assessed the damage her detonation had done. She hadn't wanted to show the power of her weaponry but her biotics had barely damaged him. Decision made she rushed around his side and back towards his front, baiting him to slam down on her again.

Swinging forward and under his arm she jumped as he reached for her, landing squarely on his shoulders with her shotgun pointed between his eyes. With barely a thought she pulled the trigger. The retort of the weapon was deafening in such close quarters, shaking the glass windows with the force of the concussive round. Barely waiting for his body to begin to fall, she turned back to the others only to watch as the rest of the demons immediately began to dissolve, screeches and cries filling the air.

Silence suddenly reigned. Cold and stark after the chaos of before. She set her mouth in a grim line as she swiped at the black ichor that had blown across her helmet. "Everyone okay?"

Hesitant nods and affirmative noises followed as Shepard found herself once again being stared at by people frightened of her.

Leliana finally broke the silence. "You… you destroyed that pride demon in moments!"

Unwilling to entertain more religious nonsense, Shepard strode past the thunderstruck bard and towards the group of mages now huddling in the corner. Zeroing in on the oldest man with a white beard she swiftly approached him, pulling her helmet off as she went. "First Enchanter Irving I presume?"

Wide, frightened eyes met hers and he nodded in return.

At her side Wynne rushed forward. "Irving, are you alright?"

"I've… ugh… been better. But I am thankful to be alive." he hesitated and looked from Wynne to Shepard. "I suppose that is your doing, isn't it Wynne?"

She shook her head. "I wasn't alone, I had help."

Shepard gave a tight lipped smile. "We can save the thanks for later. The Right of Annulment is on its way. We need to get you downstairs and in front of the Knight Commander." She gestured to the others unthinkingly as she would her crew. "Let's get the wounded patched and everyone moving. We got a lot of stairs to cover people."

center_/center

"Keep moving!" She called, pulling the First Enchanters arm more securely over her shoulder. A few groans met her call as the beleaguered mages stumbled down staircase after staircase.

"Do you think the mages just have an aversion to practicality?" Alistair asked, huffing under his breath at the nasty look one of the mages shot him. "Why else build all these stairs?"

Ignoring his snark, she turned to glance at the remaining mages trailing behind her companions, and especially the terrified Templar they had rescued in front the harrowing chamber. Shepard frowned, watching how his hands trembled and eyes flit around the assembled mages in fear. Turning to Alistair she made eye contact before flicking her finger in the direction of the other man. With a reluctant nod he left his post by the mages and inserted himself between the Templar and the others. What a damn mess. she thought helplessly.

"I must say, I've never seen armor like yours before." Irving told her, catching her attention.

Shepard gave a wan smile turning her head to regard the old man. "I'm glad you brought that up First Enchanter. I've heard you and your mages might be able to help me."

"Any favor you require the Circle will fulfill happily. It will be a small price to pay for our lives." He leaned on her more heavily as he turned back to face the approaching set of stairs "Assuming of course the Templars don't decide to annul us regardless."

Glaring forward Shepard set her jaw. "I won't allow that, First Enchanter." She glanced at the mages around them, beaten and exhausted, but still fighting. Smiling slightly, she lifted the man gently. "You're safe with us."

Irving blinked, eyes watery in the dim lighting of the tower. "Thank you child."

Quietly they continued the rest of the journey down the tower, stopping occasionally to search rooms for survivors until they were standing before the large sealed door out. Releasing the old man gently, she nodded to him reassuringly.

"Shepard." She turned, Alistair waving to get her attention. He jerked his hand to his side where the sweating Templar shifted behind the circle of mages. The children they had rescued were standing close to his mail skirt with tense hands, scared voices asking for his reassurance for their tower.

Inclining her head to Alistair, she weaved her way to the Templar. "Are you alright?" she asked as she approached. At his silence she tilted her chin to meet his vacant gaze. "It was Cullen, wasn't it?" Frightened eyes flicked to her.

He flinched. "Y-yes. Forgive me…" Nervously he rubbed the back of his neck, only seeming to notice the gaggle of children then, body tensing impossibly more.

"You've been through a lot but we're almost through this." She gave him a nod and turned to the children. "Why don't you guys go stand next to Petra, okay?" A series of mutters followed as the kids pressed back towards the other mages.

Cullen watched them go, his face an odd mix of sadness and tension.

"They're okay." She told him, marking the hitch in his breathing as he jerked to face her again. "You're okay too, even if it doesn't feel like it right now." At the exhausted twist of his lips she reached down and gave his hand a firm squeeze. He nodded in return and she turned back to walk towards her companions. "Alistair, Leliana, Wynne." She paused, checking the seals on her armor. "When those doors open I want to know what to expect. Alistair, will the Templars still try and annul the Circle?" Their Maker better help them then.

Shaking his head, he crossed his arms. "Greagoir is a reasonable man by all accounts. With Irving still kicking, he'll have no reason to use the Right, and I don't think he would want to regardless. However, with the Circle returned, the Templars will be forced to remain here. Aiden won't be happy."

Leliana nodded in concern. "That might be an understatement. The Templars are a formidable fighting force."

Shepard shrugged. "Aiden isn't a concern. If he has a problem, he should have done this himself."

Alistair chuckled at that, quirking an eyebrow. "Normally I would think you had a death wish, but you're scarier than he is."

A chuckle snuck past her lips as shaking her head she turned away. "And don't forget it." Strolling towards Irving she caught his attention as he spoke through the door. "Enchanter."

He nodded in return, smiling as with a groan the large doors opened. Shepard's eyes narrowed, the first silver helm coming into view. She rested her hand against her shotgun nervously. "Knight-Commander." She greeted as the old man came forward, his eyes wide in surprise as with a soft cry of relief the mages around them surged through the door.

"So many… you have saved so many!" He jerked his gaze to her and her companions. "You- you cleared the tower?"

"Every room." She agreed, crossing her arms with a smile. "You're welcome."

He flinched. "Andraste preserve me, thank you! The maker Himself must have sent you to us." Reaching out he grasped her hands, bowing low over them. "We are in your debt."

Relaxing, she squeezed his hands gently in return. "No problem. I might end up taking you up on that." Shepard patted the man's shoulder companionably, pulling her fingers from his.

"Knight-Commander." A soft voice called. Cullen came forward then, nearly tripping in his haste to separate himself from the mages. "I must speak with you."

"Ser Cullen! You live? Where are the others?"

Shepard positioned herself closer to Greagoir. "He's been through a lot Commander, you might need to give him some time." With one final nod she strode past them, searching for her companions. Raised voices drew her attention to a corner where Aiden stood with the others. Sucking in a breath she made her way towards the group, matching the warden's icy glare with a bemused smile.

"Shepard." Aiden acknowledged. He pulled himself to his full height, hands clasped behind his back.

She stared back, unflinching. "Aiden." She greeted, inclining her head to the others loitering behind him. She would not apologize for what had been accomplished here. Slotting into a parade rest she waited patiently for his reaction.

The warden stilled for a moment before, to her surprise, he bowed low, hands coming forward to grasp her own. "Thank you for what you have done here. I know I have been less than kind, less than just. But your actions have shamed me. My family… they would not have liked what I have become." His mouth thinned. "I have not represented myself as I should, but you have my word I will from now on."

Shepard blinked, startled. She was still in the Fade wasn't she? Resisting the urge to pinch herself she glanced at the others, catching Alistair's and Zevrans eyes. The two of them smiled in return, shrugging helplessly. Pulling her attention back to Aiden, she squeezed his hands. "It's alright."

He straightened, nodding. "Later, could we talk privately? I have much to explain."

"Of course." she agreed.

That said he released her, moving instead to speak with Greagoir. "I will see about getting the assistance you require."

Stunned, she stood there, confused.

"Ah, it appears our mysterious lady has earned our leaders' trust, no?" Zevran chuckled from where he leaned against the stone wall. "Congratulations."

"It is to be with us for longer? How unfortunate." Shale muttered.

Frowning Shepard shifted away. Uncertainty threading through her belly. "In my experience people don't have changes of heart like that."

Pulling her from her thoughts, Alistair strolled towards her, gathering her arm in his as he pulled her to the side. "Not sure if you trust him?" he asked, leading them out of view.

"Do you blame me?"

"Nope."

Huffing out a breath Shepard glanced up at him. "How reassuring."

Alistair shrugged. "I can't say I know Aiden well enough to guess his intentions. From what I do know though, which is according to Shale mind you. He's been pacing like a caged animal for the entire time we were gone." Pulling her to a stop, he turned to stare at her. "That was quite the vision you had in the Fade wasn't it? And that weapon of yours." He gestured to her shotgun with a blank expression. "Impressive."

Shepard met his stair head on."It is." Glancing away she pushed his obvious probing aside. "Do you think the mages can help? I'm not sure what they can really do. Something on this planet is interfering with my comms and short of a rewire or a new buoy I'm limited on my options." She paused, thoughts turning. "Could be a power issue. They can generate lightning right?"

"That could kill you!" Alistair gasped, probing forgotten. "Please, there's no need to risk killing yourself! Would… would staying here really be so bad?"

"That's what surge protectors are for."

"What?" he asked blankly, expression confused.

She shook her head and smiled. "Doesn't matter, I'm not going to die, not unless they can throw the same amount of electricity as a high capacity generator." At his helpless look she shrugged. "Either way I have to find a way home."

"Why?" he asked, maneuvering so he was closer to eye level with her. "Surely there are others who can assist with whatever is happening out there. In here, there is only you. And you… well, hmm. Let's just say the rest of us can't really hold a candle to what you can do. That Pride demon would have taken all of us to defeat. Many of the mages would have died without you here and who even knows if we could have saved the Circle!" He shuffled nervously, twisting his hands together. "You're pretty amazing." He blushed, as the words rushed past his lips. "I- I mean, that charging thing you do! Yes! It's very… explosive."

Chuckling slightly she scratched her head. "Thanks. You're pretty amazing too." At his stuttered thanks she gently reached out and squeezed his arm. "But Alistair… I don't belong here. I have to settle some things, make up for the things I've done. And that means seeing my mission through to the end. The threat out there… it's so much bigger than the Blight."

"Make up for?"

Shepard flinched, unable to meet his trusting gaze. "Yes…"

Touching her arm gently, Alistair bent his head to meet her gaze. "You know… that whole talking thing. You could do that, with me! If you'd like."

Nodding, she forced a smile. "I'll think about it. Anyway, all of this is just speculation. I need to get home, but until I'm able to, you know I'm with you guys. I'm a sucker for saving the world, it's practically in my job description. Your mages might not be able to help at all and then you'll be stuck with me."

He chuckled and affected a relaxed pose. "Well…I for one am glad you're here." He mock sniffed, stepping back with an exaggerated swing of his arm. "This Circle would not be standing if it were not for you." He paused, voice lowering. "To be honest, it feels good to save so many, what with there being so much death."

"You wouldn't have stopped Aiden?" she asked.

Alistair glared down at his boots, shame crawling across his face. "No. I wouldn't have." Stepping back he cleared his throat. "Shall we get back to the others? It's time to see if we can't contact your space friend's right? Though I must say, the big alien with the claws seemed quite alarming."

Nodding, Shepard watched curiously as he pulled away, thoughts shifting to the upcoming task. What she wouldn't give to have EDI nattering away in her ear right now.