I don't own Dragon Age or the mods listed

Chapter 14: Rescue the Queen

Malcolm wakes up early the next morning, feeling a whole lot better. It feels good for him to wake up in an actual bed. He has forgotten what it was like, since his group waited outside Redcliffe for Halia and his group. He breathes deeply through his nose, getting Leliana's hair scent as right under his chin is Leliana's head. He sighs blissfully. He could get used to waking up like this. In an actual bed in a room, with the only person he would give up being a Grey Warden for in his arms. "Mmm…" Leliana stirs a little. Malcolm just lays there in his own piece of heaven, no darkspawn, no Blight, no civil war. Just Malcolm and Leliana, not as Warden and bard, but as lovers. He feels like he could lay there forever, with just the sight, feel and smell of Leliana nourishing him. Leliana stirs again and looks up at him, feeling the exact same. "Hello," she says the exact same way she said their first night together.

Malcolm smiles, almost drunkenly. "Hello, yourself." She smiles as she completely lays on top of him, her breasts on his chest. She leans down and kisses him before he flips them both over. The bedsheets move and only cover Malcolm's waist and below as they continue to kiss.

"Malcolm? Leliana?" They ignore Alistair until he and Halia walk into the room. "Mal- Oh dear."

Leliana looks at the two, slightly annoyed and a bit irritated. "Excuse me? Didn't anyone tell you you're supposed to knock before entering?"

Alistair's entire face turns red as he looks at the floor, not noticing that Halia already left. "S-Sorry… I… I should have knocked first."

"If you don't leave the room and close the door soon, I will get up and kill you after I get dressed."

"I'm sorry but-"

"NOW!" He pretty much flew out of the room, almost slamming the door after him. "Ugh…" Leliana flops down next to Malcolm before looking at him and sees him smiling. "What?"

"I knew you valued our 'us' time, but I never thought you would actually threaten to kill someone for interrupting it."

"Well… it's Alistair. All it takes is the threat." They both smiles as they share a few more kisses.

"Well, we should get up, and see what he wants." Malcolm throws the covers off, exposing their naked bodies, before getting in their armors. They both walk out of their room and only see Halia. "So, what's so important to intrude on our 'us' time?"

"How does 'a servant of your human queen is visiting' sound?"

Malcolm raises an eyebrow. "That sounds like it's very important… lead the way." Halia nods and leads the two to Eamon, Alistair, and an elven servant.

Eamon looks up at the three approaching. "Ah there you are, Lord Cousland, and Lady Leliana. I… heard you two have already made yourselves… comfortable."

Alistair mumbles, "That's putting it lightly…"

"In any case… it's likely to be your last rest for a while." He motions to the elf. "This is Erlina. She's-"

She interrupts. "I am Queen Anora's handmaiden. She sent me here to ask for your help."

Alistair comments. "Or perhaps the young lady prefers to speak for herself."

Malcolm looks at Erlina. "Why would Anora ask us for help?"

"The queen, she is in a difficult position. She loved her husband, no? And trusted her father to protect him. When he returns with no king and only dark rumors, what is she to think? She worries, no? But When she tries to speak with him, he does not answer. He tells her 'not to trouble herself.'"

Leliana asks, "Are you saying the queen believes Loghain killed Cailan?"

"My queen suspects she cannot trust her father. And Loghain, he is very subtle, no? But Rendon Howe, he is privy to all the secrets and… not so subtle. So she goes to Howe. A visit from the queen to the new arl of Denerim is only a matter of courtesy. And she demands answers. He calls her every sort of name, 'traitor' being the kindest, and locks her in a guest room."

"Loghain would allow that?"

"King Cailan was like a son to him, and Loghain left him to die. Does he love Anora more? Who can say? I think… her life is in danger. I heard How say she would by a greater ally dead than alive. Especially if her death could be blamed on Arl Eamon."

Malcolm nods. "We have to save her."

"I have some uniforms here. Arl Howe hires so many new guards every day, a few more will not cause much stir. I will show you to the servants' entrance. We must slip in and out with my queen before anyone is the wiser. I will go ahead to Howe's estate. Meet me there as soon as you can." Malcolm bows his head as she leaves.

Eamon also bows his head. "I'm glad you decided to help. With Anora's knowledge, we have a far better chance against Loghain. But you must hurry, we don't know how much longer she will be alive. Good luck."

The three Wardens and the bard all bow to the arl, who returns it, before getting dressed in the guard armor. Malcolm finishes getting dressed and goes back to his room. He walks out and swings his family's sword around. Alistair walks up to him with two swords. "Why don't you use the one of the swords Erlina brought?"

Malcolm looks at Alistair. "I made a blood vow that I will end Howe's life with the family blade. And if we run into him, I intend to fulfil it." He walks past him and grabs one of the shields that came with the armor. He looks at the two girls and nods at them and they nod back. "Let's go." They left and made their way to the estate and saw two wagons, a crowd and Erlina hiding behind one of the wagons. The four make their way to her as she waves them down.

When they approach, Erlina looks around before speaking. The servants' entrance is on the other side of the house. We must slip past this crowd to reach it. We will have to be very careful, however: Arl Howe is inside."

Malcolm's blood rushes as he clenches his fists. "Howe is here?"

"Yes. And wherever he goes, a great many guards go with him."

"Good, I was hoping I'd get a chance to see him."

Erlina's face shows her worry and concern. "I beg you, do not put my lady in danger for your revenge. We must get her out first."

"Fine, we'll get her out, but if we see Howe, don't anyone get in my way." Alistair looks at Malcolm with concern for his friend as Leliana nods slowly. "Let's go."

"I will be right behind you." Malcolm walks past her and down the side of the estate, into a garden area and starts to approach the servant's entrance before they stop, see two guards. "I can distract the guards, but you must move quickly."

"What good are the uniforms if they won't get us inside?"

"These two know who is allowed to come and go. They will not be fooled. But the uniform should work on most of those inside." Malcolm nods. "I will lure them into the courtyard. Wait in the bushes." Malcolm nods again and looks at the group, who each person nods at him, before the group of four run for some nearby bushes. Erlina turns around and run towards the two guards and after talking for a while, Erlina leads them away from the door, allowing the group to run inside. After walking into another room, Erlina walks in. "Ah! It took me forever to be rid of those two! You must be careful now."

"Where's Anora?"

"She is in a guest room off the main hall. Follow me." She leads the group through various rooms and finally to a door that has a magical barrier over it. "The Grey Warden is here, my lady."

"Thank the Maker! I would greet you properly, but I'm afraid we've had… a setback."

Malcolm shakes his head. "Yes, I can see the magic barrier. Why didn't you mention this before, Erlina?"

She looks at him. "I swear, it wasn't here when I left."

Anora continues from behind the door. "Find the mage who cast the spell. He'll most likely be at Howe's side."

"Good… I have unfinished business with him."

"My prayer's go with you, Warden. Howe will probably be in his rooms. They are at the end of the hall, on the left."

Malcolm turns around and walks past the group and closes his eyes. He can sense that the mage is not on the main floor or above him, which leaves the dungeons. He takes a left and the group follows him. They walk all the way to the end of the hall and Malcolm tries the door and finds it locked. He was about to kick the door in when both Leliana and Halia stop him. Halia sorta smirks. "You just about did something that Tamlen did. We found a door in the cave and it was locked. Tamlen tried to kick the door when but he jarred his leg. Let us handle this." Malcolm nods knowing which cave she was talking about as Leliana walks over to the door and picks the lock. They walk in, but they don't find Howe or the mage. There is another door and besides the door is a chest. Malcolm walks to the chest, opens it and finds some Warden documents. He takes them, feeling is though they are important. He opens the nearby door and walk down some more steps and opened the next door.

As the group walks through the door, a guard right in front of a cell looks at them. "What? Who goes there?!" Before any of them could answer, an arm reaches through the cell door and wraps around the guard's neck. After a small struggle, the guard's neck gets snapped and before the body falls down, the person in the cell holds the guard up long enough to grab the cell's key.

The cell's lock clicks and the door opens before the body gets dragged into the cell and sounds of someone stripping the body comes out of the cell. "I thank you for creating such distraction, stranger." A man walks out of the cell, dressed in the armor of the guard. "I have been waiting fays for the opportunity." The man looks at the group and Malcolm see a glow in his eyes similar to Duncan's, yet a little brighter. "Do you think you could-" He looks at Alistair. "Alistair? Is that you?"

Alistair looks confused for a second. "Who…? Wait. I do know you. You were at my Joining." He looks at Malcolm and Halia. "He's one of us. A Warden from Orlais. Jader, I think. Or was it Montsimmard?" He looks at the older Warden. "I'm afraid I don't remember your name."

The older Warden bows. "I'm Riordan, senior Warden of Jader, but born and bred in Highever and glad to be home."

Malcolm pulls out the Warden documents from earlier and holds them out to Riordan. "Are these your paper?"

Riordan smiles. "Yes." He takes them. "These are my records. The names of the dead I could recognize at Ostagar. What I could find of Duncan's own recruitment records. Copies of the Joining ritual I rescued from our Denerim vault. Those should never be seen by any outside eyes, but I trust in their encryption."

Malcolm eyes widen. "The Joining ritual? Can you induct other Grey Wardens?"

Riordan's face dims. "Would that I could, for Ferelden sorely needs them. But for the Joining to work, the recruit needs not only fresh darkspawn blood, but a drop of blood preserved from an archdemon. Ferelden's supply should have been in the vault, but it was gone. I can only imagine someone took it out and Loghain either confiscated or destroyed it."

"Damnit. Where's Howe?"

"I saw him go into the dungeons. He may still be there."

Malcolm nods. "You should get out of here."

Riordan nods. "I was thinking the same thing. From what I heard, you're staying at Arl Eamon's estate, correct?" Malcolm nods. "I will wait for you there." He gives one final bow before leaving.

Malcolm walks past the cell and to the door and enters the dungeons. As he walks past the final door to the dungeons, a guard walks up to Malcolm, who had lowered his face to hide his Warden eyes. "Who goes?" Malcolm keeps quiet was he walks up and is face-to-face with the guard. "Anybody tries to come in here without Howe's say so, we get to do what we like with `em. Lads, I think we finally got some entertainment here." Before anyone could do anything, Malcolm grabs the guard by the neck and lifts him up. A different guard drew his sword and rushes him but not before an arrow embeds itself in his neck. Malcolm looks up at the guard in his grasp before sending lightning up his arm and shocks the guard to death before letting the body slump down to the floor. He looks around and sees the other guards dead. Leliana, Halia and Alistair looks at him surprised and a little horror. He ignores their looks and draws his sword and shield before walking down the hall with the three behind him. Alistair was about to say something before Leliana touched his shoulder and shook her head. She figured not to bother him in this mood. Malcolm continued on only killing the guards in his way while the others cleared out every room and releasing any prisoners they find.

It took minutes before the four finds themselves in front of the last door of the dungeon. Malcolm raises his boot and kicks the door open there is Howe and behind him is the mage. Malcolm walks into the room and Howe talks to him. "Well, well, Bryce Cousland's little boy, all grown up, and still trying to fit into daddy's armor. I thought Loghain mad it clear that your pathetic family is gone and forgotten."

Malcolm's hand tightens on the hilt of his sword. "You won't forget. Their memory drove me to you."

"Your parents died on their knees, your brother's corpse rots in Ostagar, and his brat was burned on a scrap heap along with his Antivan whore of a wife. And what's left? A fool husk of a son likely to end his days under a rock in the Deep Roads. Even the Wardens are gone. You're the last of nothing." Malcolm brings his sword in front of his face, pointing the blade up at the ceiling, before he releases a small plume of fire from the crossguard. "What in the Maker's name?"

Malcolm lowers his blade and slowly opens his eyes, releasing the blue mist from them. "No one, not even the Maker, can save you now."

He charges Howe, who manages to get his shield out to block the overhead power strike from Malcolm, causing Howe to stagger back some. Malcolm then delivers a power kick to Howe's stomach, causing him to double over. Malcolm twirls his sword as he slowly walks forward. Just as Malcolm was about to strike at Howe, Howe bashes Malcolm's hand causing his sword to fly out of his hand. Howe strikes at him with Malcolm blocking his attacks. Using some fancy footwork, Howe manages to position himself to deliver blow with his shield to knock Malcolm's borrowed shield off his arm. Malcolm spins a little and takes a few steps back before Howe does an overhead slice down, which Malcolm block with his left arm and quickly wraps his arm around the blade of the sword and grabs the blade. Howe tries to pull his sword free, resulting in a gash on Malcolm's palm as Malcolm delivers a lightning punch on Howe's right shoulder, causing Howe to let go of the sword. Howe stumbles back, clearly confused as Malcolm tosses the sword away. The sound of electricity starts to fill room as Malcolm causes lightning to coil on his arms. He shakes his head. "No." The lightning slowly fades away. "I don't need my magic."

He walks slowly to Howe, who tries to shield bash him, but Malcolm catches the shield and quickly twists to the left. CRACK goes Howe's arm, broken at the elbow. Howe cries out in pain as the shield falls on the floor. Howe throws his right arm out to try to punch Malcolm, who catches it and immediately throws a punch into Howe's chest, breaking his rib cage and he cries out in pain again as he falls on the ground. Malcolm walks to Howe's legs and steps on a thigh before reaching down, grabbing the shin, and yanking up hard. Howe cries out again as his leg breaks.

Malcolm turns around and sees his sword. As he walks over to it, he notices that only Howe and the group are the only ones alive. He picks up his sword and twirls it as he walks back to Howe, who looks up at him. "Maker spit on you! I deserved more!"

Malcolm inverts his grip on the family blade as his eyes start glowing again. He thrusts the blade into Howe's right shoulder, who cries out in pain, as he says. "You are getting what you deserve you bastard." He pulls the sword out and puts both hands on the grip, "AHHH!" before thrusting it into Howe's chest. The life drains out of Howe's eyes as Malcolm pulls the sword back out and continues to thrust it in Howe's chest. With stab, he puts in more force and tears fall out of his eyes before eventually he starts sobbing and he slows down. Finally, he drops the sword, falls onto his knees and starts crying into his hand.

Leliana walks over to Malcolm, holds him close, rubs his head and rocks back and forth, as Alistair and Halia search Howe for any keys. They find one and they go off to find any more prisoners, as Leliana continues to comfort Malcolm, who is now sobbing. "Shh… shh… Chut, mon amour. Tout va bien. Votre famille peut se reposer maintenant."

Malcolm manages to get a sentence through the sobs. "But… I… enjoyed it… I… shouldn't… have enjoyed it…"

Leliana opens her mouth but couldn't find any words, so instead she manages to pry his face out of his hands and kisses his eyes before kissing him on the lips, deeply. He kisses back and pulls her head closer with the bloody hand, but neither of them care. He slowly pulls back and touches her forehead with his. "You're a good person. You are a caring, kind, loving person. And you family is proud of this person you are."

He smiles. "Thank you, mon chérie." She smiles at his purposefully bad accent. He looks at Howe's body before the two get up together. They watch as two prisoners follow Alistair and Halia before running off on their own. "That should have taken down the barrier on the door… Let's go." The two nod as the group gets back on the main level and back to the room Anora was trapped in.

When they got there and opened the door, Anora walked out in similar set of armor that the group is in. "My thanks, Warden. Now, lead the way." Malcolm nods and leads the six to the front door, which has a small army in front of it.

Cauthrien walks a little ahead of the troops. "Warden! In the name of the regent, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of Rendon How and his men-at-arms! Surrender, and you may be shown mercy!"

"I'm here to free Anora, who was held captive."

She scoffs. "Don't be ridiculous. The queen isn't being held prisoner here or anywhere. Her father would never stand for such a thing."

"She's right here. Tell her, Anora."

"What?"

Anora walks in front of Malcolm. "Ser Cauthrien! Praise the Maker you're here…" she points at Malcolm, "this brigand tried to kidnap me!"

Malcolm groans in disbelief. "Oh great."

"Unbelievable… bring them down! Loghain wants the Warden dead or alive!"

"WAIT!" Malcolm holds his hands out. "I will walk myself into any prison cell you choose. Just let everyone one else leave."

Malcolm grabs the hilt on his sword and the crossbowmen get ready to fire. Cauthrien interjects quickly. "Stand down." Malcolm pulls his sword out and hands it to Leliana, before walking towards her. "I'm surprised this ended peacefully. Now, come with us. Leave the others."

Malcolm bows his head. "Thank you." He follows the soldiers.

A little later, at Eamon's estate. Anora leads Halia, Alistair, and Leliana into Eamon's study. "Eamon! I may have done a terrible thing."

Hey guys, I know, such a cliffhanger. I felt that after the Howe vs. Cousland fight was a let down. I mean, he betrayed Cousland and killed their family, and such a big build up before the fight and it ends with, 'Maker spit on you... I... deserved... more', Howe dies and Cousland walks away as if it never happened. BIG let down. And I made the fight... more savage as I thought it would fit better than a normal fight.

Chut, mon amour. Tout va bien. Votre famille peut se reposer maintenant = hush my love, everything is alright. your family can rest easy now