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Chapter 18: The Orphanage and Unrest in the Alienage Part 2

Malcolm nods at her and starts to head back to the back alleys before stopping and raising a hand to his head, causing Leliana to stop and look at him. "What's wrong?"

He turns around and lowers his hand before heading towards a building. "Something's wrong. At first I though it was because of the Tevinter mages…"

"You sense it too then?" Malcolm and the group turned to see a Templar with burn scars across his face walk towards them. "Be at ease, I am sorry if I startled you. I am Ser Otto, a templar in the service of the Chantry. I lost most of my sight in a battle with a powerful maleficar."

Malcolm bows his head. "I'm sorry about that."

"Thank you, child, but don't be. Many of my brethren died in that battle. He called flame form the air and burned my face. The scars have healed, but my sight will never recover."

"What are you doing here?"

"We'd heard rumors that there's an enclave of maleficarum hidden in the Alienage. So far, I have found nothing. But as you felt, there is something else. This place is…. It's scarred, like me. When I came here, I immediately could feel an air of... hopelessness, despair."

Malcolm closes his eyes and nods. "I feel that as well… but there's something else…"

Ser Otto nods. "Over time, I've felt that wrongness runs far deeper than that. I don't suppose I could impose upon you?"

"I'm a Warden. I'll help as much I can."

"Thank you, Warden. And before we start, I am sorry to hear about your order. It took patience, but some elves opened up to me and I've heard their sad tales. But I've found no real evidence to support my fears. Ears alone have done all they can. I was hoping you could be my eyes. I can see, but not in enough detail to find the clues needed to support my fears. I'll go do what I can."

Malcolm nods as he walks off then he walks up to the orphanage where the feeling is getting stronger before he sees some pools of blood. As he kneels down to feel it, he stops and sniffs the air. "You all smell that?"

Leliana and Zevran kneels down and sniffs the air before Zevran touched the blood. "Blood still damp… but there's the fresh scent of bad eggs?"

Malcolm nods as he stands up and sees a dog who immediately growls for no reason and Leliana looks at the other side. "Malcolm." She stands up and walks over to examine a dead dog. "Looks rabid, skewered with a spear. Been dead for some time."

Malcolm nods before looking around and walks over to Ser Otto "Ser Otto… we found some clues."

Ser Otto turns to face him. "What have you found?"

"Pools of blood that smells of rotten eggs, a dead rabid dog, and an almost feral looking dog growling for no reason, all near the orphanage."

"I'll report that body at once. I have heard such afflictions can spread-even from a corpse." He puts a hand on his chin. "All near the orphanage… one odd thing I am willing to believe, two is a bit much-but three is no coincidence. Let's head there." Malcolm nods and leads him back to the orphanage and when the group enters Ser Otto looks around. "The… feeling is intense here." He looks at Malcolm. This is the right place. I know not if it's the work of the maleficarum-but there is definitely evil here. You go first; I will follow."

Malcolm nods as he slowly goes through the door and the group sees a young elven boy ghost whimpering as he runs down the hallway and through the rubble blocking the rest of it. He leads the group through another door which has bunk begs and various toys. As they head to the center of the room, several toys have small bursts of electricity coming from them. As they leave the room, they hear a ghostly voice of a child. "Do you hear me, Ser Wilhem, Ser Wilhem?/I'm a falling, Ser Wilhem, Ser Wilhem, today./I'm a maiden, Ser Wilhem, Ser Wilhem./But I'm dying, Ser Wilhem, Ser Wilhem, in pain."

Malcolm gets a shiver up his spine as he leads the group further into the building. As they reenter the hallway, they see possibly the same ghostly boy run through a different part of the hallway screaming 'No!' As they follow the path the ghost boy went, something opened two doors which released rabid wardogs onto the party.

Soon Malcom pulls his sword out of the last dog before looking down the hall at a door. He leads the group to that door, keeping his weapons out as he pushes the door open and is met with a ghost of a tormented woman, who runs at him with daggers while laughing maniacally. "So red. So very, very red." Malcolm blocks her daggers before using his shield and his body to push and throw her back before causing his lightning to coil down his sword and stabs her, causing the body to slowly dissipate as she laughs some more. "I can't die, I will never die!"

Malcolm visibly shivers a bit. "This place is really wrong and disturbing."

Ser Otto walks up beside him. "I agree, let's hope we can find the source of this and be rid of it."

Malcolm nods as he leads them out of the room and into a smaller hall where they can hear another ghostly child's voice. "One, two, Maric's run through./Three, four, the kingdom's at war./Eight, nine, and now you die." The voice laughs as it fades away, causing another shiver to go Malcolm's spine. He walks through the door at the end of the hall and four spirits start drawing weapons and charge. Malcolm charges in as well, lightning coiling down his sword and into two of the spirits, dissipating them.

He turns around and watches Wynne and Ser Otto dispatch the others before he puts a hand on his temple. He turns and heads to the next door. "It's worse past this door." He opens the door and walks in.

Ser Otto walks in after him and looks around. "This. This is the center of it."

A demonic voice seems to come from everywhere in the room, causing Malcolm and the group to ready themselves. "Leave, mortals, you do not belong here!"

Ser Otto puts his hands together and lowers his head a bit. "Blessed be the Maker and His prophet Andraste-"

"Your pathetic Maker is nothing compared to my glory!"

Ser Otto walks to the middle of the room. "I command you: show yourself, demon! Hide in the shadows no more!"

A fiery hand comes out of the floor and up comes a greater rage demon. "You dare to command me?! Let us see if your precious Maker can protect you now, worm!"

Malcolm twirls his sword as he and Ser Otto form a wall, tilting their shields as Templars do before Wynne starts throwing ice spells at the demon. The demon charges and the two warriors push against it while Wynne starts charging up a powerful frost spell. It then pulls away before it starts charging up a fireball, Malcolm charges the demon and jumps into the air, holding his shield up as the demon fires the fireball. The fireball hits dead center of his shield, which causes him to fly backwards and rolls on the ground before getting up as Wynne unleashes a beam of frost onto the demon causing it fall into the ground as it 'dies'. Ser Otto walks over to Malcolm as he shakes off the impact. "We won… At one time, I considered myself quite the warrior, but you accomplished here what I never could. But… something still isn't right. I feel there is more to this. Nearby. The building next to us." Malcolm nods as he looks at the door and heads there with Ser Otto behind him. "I can feel it, just on the other side of the door."

Malcolm nods and opens the door and sees a bloody hallway. As the group heads to the door at the end of the hall, they hear ghostly whimpers of a child. "Nan, who are they?"

Nearby is the ghostly voice of an older woman. "Please-leave the children. Take me, but just…"

"Noooo!" The child's voice cries as it slowly fades.

Malcolm shakes his head slowly before walking through the door and the group clears the room of spirits and demons and as they start to leave the room, they hear another child's voice. "Andraste, I don't want to go yet. Pleeease… It's so cold now… so cold…" The voice fades as it lets out a scream.

Malcolm shakes his head. "Maker…" He leads the group through more rooms, clearing out demons and spirits within each room.

They reach a hallway and see an elven ghost boy run away from them. "Leave me alone. Just go!" Malcolm follows the child and smoke fills the hallway. "The voices will protect me. They will!" The smoke clears as lesser shades and rage abominations appear and attacks the party.

After they take the shades abominations down, the party walks through the door at the end and they hear another demonic voice. "You think you are safe?"

Ser Otto once again puts his hands together and lowers his head a bit. "Thought the Golden City has fallen, I have seen your face and your light, I am your-"

"Save your pedantic Chant for your sermons, Templar. You have killed my brood."

Ser Otto walks towards the center of the room. "The Maker compels you; show yourself!"

"The Maker? There is no Maker. There is no Golden City. But there are demons, yesss…"

A book floats up and 'charges' Ser Otto, which he slaps out of the air. "I hear not your blasphemy. By Andraste and all the Divine after Her, I order you to face me!"

Another fiery hand comes out of the floor and a greater rage demon climbs out of the floor. "You delusional fool!"

Malcolm twirls his sword before readying himself but was quickly surprised when Wynne was able to take it down with a simple frost spell. Ser Otto walks to where the demon vanished before turning to Malcolm. "We have done it again. I feel the darkness receding. I have seen the work of demon before. Some maleficarum consort with them. But the Maker must have guided-"

Malcolm throws up his hand to block his face from the blood as a nearby pitchfork is imbedded in Ser Otto. He looks down at his chest as the demon reappears. "And now you die!" The pitchfork lifts Ser Otto up into the air before throwing him aside. Malcolm charges the demon and this time the fight was tougher, but in the end they were able to truly defeat the demon.

As the demon slowly vanishes into the ground Malcolm watches it and sighs in relief as he feels the wrongness recede completely. "Thank the Maker. It's actually over." He heads to the door and opens it, while Leliana hangs her head and offers a prayer for the children and Ser Otto before following. The group walks out of the orphanage before heading to the back alleys.

They enter a small complex of run-down apartments and follows the hallway before they see an elf digging through some small refuse. Halia walks up to the elf and touches his shoulder. He gasps and looks at her before slowing his breathing. "You scared me. Who are you? What are you doing here? You should just leave, s-savage."

"Calm down. I'm not here as part of my clan. I am here as a Grey Warden. I just need to ask questions."

The elf looks away. "I can't say nothing. Please, just go. I don't want trouble."

"Believe it or not, I am here to help my Elvhen cousins. We know some other shemlens took your Hahren. We will get him and the other back. I promise as a Elvhen."

He sighs before looking at her. "They took them through the landlord's old office. They go in there, they never come back. I saw Valendrian. They marched him through the hall with a bunch of others. All tied together like pack mules." He sits down. "Every few days they come back. It's like a parade, a silent one. Men and women and children…"

She starts to walk away before looking back at him. "Thank you. We are stopping this today."

"Just go… please."

Malcolm nods as he leads the group down the halls to a door and walks out and faces more Tevinters. Malcolm watches as one walks up to them, oblivious of who they are. "What's this? Another shipment already? We weren't- Wait, you're no Tevinter. Who are you supposed to be?"

Malcolm pulls out his sword and levels it at his chest. "Take us to your leader, or get out of Ferelden."

The Tevinter backs away before drawing his own weapon. "Quick, get them! Hurry!" He attacks but it is quickly parried, and his arm is sliced off at the elbow. He screams in pain before slowly backing away.

Malcom pulls his other hand back before sending a lightning bolt at the archers, it chains to each other as Leliana puts arrows in them and he approaches the wounded Tevinter. "Rethought about your choices?" The guard pulls out a dagger and charges him, only resulting in him losing his hand and his life as Malcolm pulls out his sword from the back of the guard and sighs. "Too bad."

He heads to the door and waits for the group to follow before walking in and sees more Tevinters and an elf, who walks up to them, annoyed. "What is the meaning of this? We were told that there would be no interference from the authorities!"

Malcolm slowly twirls his sword. "I'm not with the 'authorities'."

She sneers at him. "Oh? An errant group of do-gooders, then? You will regret this, you know. Believe it or not, we have been given dispensation to do our business here. You Fereldans talk talk a great deal about how very wrong slavery is, but isn't it funny how quickly the smell of gold overcomes such ideals?"

Malcolm shakes his head. "One madman is not the entire country."

Halia walks closer to her. "You're an Elvhen. How can you be a part of this?"

"So I should feel kinship for these sheep? Don't be a fool, savage. I am a Tevinter first and a servant of the Minrathous Circle second, those are the things that matter."

"That's not right."

"Enough. I am here to halt your slaughter, nothing more."

Malcolm puts his sword on his back. "Not so fast. We don't need to fight."

Halia looks at him, almost in disbelief. "You can't be serious."

He puts a hand on her shoulder. "Trust me."

The elf crosses her arms. "You wish to parley?" Malcolm nods his head as he looks at her. "Very well. I will leave it for Caladrius to decide your fate. Come with me… and be respectful, if you know what's good for you."

Malcolm nods as he and the group follows her through the complex and into a giant room with a cage along a wall and the only Magister walks towards them. "I hope there is a good explanation for this, Devera."

She lowers her head a bit. "There is, Enchanter. These intruders fought their way through the courtyard, but this one claims that he is not here to exact revenge."

Enchanter Caladrius scoffs as he crosses his arms. "And thus you thought it best to bring the Grey Wardens directly to me?"

Devera looks up then at the group. "Wardens? But… I…"

"Indeed, the talk of all Denerim. You should get outside a bit more, my dear. Speak with the locals. Well, what is done is done." He crosses his arms and bows a little. "Well met, Wardens." He stands up. "I am Caladrius, and I have heard a great deal about you and your friends."

Malcolm crosses his arms a bit. "You've heard of us?"

Caladrius chuckles a bit. "One can hardly get a word out of Regent Loghain besides 'Warden' these days. It surpassed even 'gold' in popularity."

"How do you know Loghain?"

Caladrius lowers his head a bit. "Yes, you would be curious about that, wouldn't you?" He looks up at him before slowly pacing. "I have heard that you are trying to erode Loghain's support. It must be a difficult task, yes? Like washing away a mountain. Perhaps you could use some help."

Malcolm tilts his head a bit and raises an eyebrow. "Don't you have an agreement with Loghain?"

He rocks his head side to side a bit. "More of an arrangement, truth be told. One that disappears the moment angry, armed intruders storm my abode. Truth be told, there was always a limit to how long we were going to be able to operate here. We've paid for many of Loghain's troops, but once the Landsmeet is done we become… inconvenient." He stops pacing and puts his hands behind his back. "So here is my offer: one hundred sovereigns from you for a letter with the seal of the Teyrn of Gwaren upon it, implicating him in all of this. Then we leave a few days earlier than planned, with our profits and remaining slaves, unharmed."

Zevran puts his hand on Malcolm's shoulder, his eyes narrowed. "I suggest you look those elves in the eyes before you agree to have them hauled off to slavery, my friend."

Halia nods. "This is rare, but I agree with him. Flat-ears may have lost their way, but they don't deserve this."

Caladrius clears his throat politely. "So… do we have a deal? Even you must admit it's much better than resorting to barbarism, yes?"

Malcolm looks at him, his eyes narrowing a bit. "If I accept this from you, how am I better than Loghain?"

Caladrius shrugs a bit. "You're not. Did I say you were? I am simply hoping the world is… full of pragmatists, shall we say?"

"How do I know this letter of yours is any good?"

He raises a hand. "It's legitimate. Whether or not it will actually help you…" he lowers his hand and puts it back behind him, "of that I cannot say. Some people will not believe the truth even when it is right in front of them, yes?"

"I have a counter-offer, and to be blunt, you should accept."

"Interesting…"

"Leave the elves and the letter. Take your money and leave."

He chuckles. "Shouldn't have expected anything else, but really. The slaves are the true currency of this deal. To leave without them…"

"Either leave without them and the letter, leave with just your hides, or die. Your choice. Do you seriously think I would let you leave with any more slaves?" Malcolm puts his arms down and takes a step forward, his muscles tensing.

Caladrius sighs as he takes his staff off his back. "No I supposed not. I have always been too optimistic for my own good, it's true. Let's do this the hard way, then. Men? Shall we?" Malcolm eyes the different Tevinters before diving to the side to move out of the way of a flame wave then pulls out his sword and shield and raises the shield to block a firebolt and braces himself. Instead, a wall of ice has appeared in front of him and has taken the bolt. He looks at Wynne, who is facing away from him, before running around it as it melts into water before sending a wave of lightning at Caladrius and the Tevinters near him, electrocuting all but the magister, who counters with his own ice wall. Malcolm charges with his shield and breaks through the ice and kick Caladrius in the knee just enough to make him fall down to his knees then hits his head with the pommel. Caladrius falls on the ground and holds up his hands while Malcolm levels his sword at his chest. "Enough! Enough! It… seems your reputation is an accurate one. I surrender."

Malcolm lowers his sword as the last few remaining Tevinters drop their weapons. "Perhaps you should be left to the mercies of these elves?"

Caladrius look up at him. "Wait! Please, hear me out, kind ser! Were I to… use the life force of the remaining slaves here, I could… augment your physical health a great deal! Allow me to leave this place alive and I would be more than happy to do this little service for you." Malcolm raises his sword and holds the tip away from his throat. "Then… I don't suppose you would consider just letting me go?"

"Leave everything. I don't ever want to see you in my land again. Got it?"

Caladrius nods and Malcolm pulls his sword away from him. "That's quite generous of you, considering your position." He stands up and starts limping away. "Many thanks. You won't see me again."

Malcolm puts his sword and shield on his back as the surviving Tevinters follow the magister before he goes and opens the cages to free the elves. The elder walks over to him. "You don't look like a Tevinter. Not that it means much. Are you one of them? What happens to us now?"

Malcolm puts a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, you're free now. Shianni was looking for you all."

"Shianni… did she send you here? Praise the Maker! We will not trespass long on your good graces." He walks over to the other elves. "Come, everyone, let's go home."

Malcolm smiles before escorting them back to the main part of the alienage. Where Shianni runs up to them and hugs the elder elf. "Valendrian. You're safe." She pulls back and looks at Malcolm. "I shouldn't have expected anything else from a Grey Warden."

Valendrian looks at Malcolm then the griffon symbol. "I should have recognized that symbol. How is Duncan?"

"You knew him?"

Valendrian nods. "He's been a friend of mine for many years, yes." Malcolm looks down a bit. "From the look on your face, I take it the news is bad."

He nods slowly. "He died at Ostagar."

Valendrian lowers his head. "I am… sorry to hear that. I knew that the Wardens suffered great losses at Ostagar, but a few escaped… I had hoped Duncan might be one of them."

Malcolm looks at him. "How did you know him?"

He looks up. "He came here now and then to look for potential recruits. Perhaps that seems strange to you, but Duncan was a man who knew that talent could emerge in the most unlikely places."

Malcolm places his hand on his shoulder. "Take care. We have to go."

Valendrian nods. "Take care, my friend."

Malcolm then leads the group out of the alienage and towards Eamon's estate. Malcolm and Halia head over to Eamon and Alistair and Eamon sighs in relief. "There you are! I was about to send out a search party. I've been hearing of a great commotion in the alienage. What exactly happened there?"

Malcolm holds up the slaver documents. "I have proof that Loghain was collaborating with Tevinter slavers."

Eamon lowers his head a little. "Maker forgive me: I should be appalled that such a thing could exist here, but I'm overjoyed you can implicate Loghain." He sighs as he looks down a bit. "We must end the civil war quickly. What the Blight does not corrupt in this land, politics surely will. Come and find me in the morning. We must discuss the ending of this."

Malcolm bows before heading to his room where he sees a couple of servants start filling the tub. One of them looks up at Malcolm, who scratches his chin slowly. "What is this?"

The servant bows. "Sorry, milord. We were kindly asked to fill up the tub."

"By who?"

The servant was about to answer before a hand was placed on Malcolm's shoulder. "I just wanted a bath before we turned in, my love." He turns his head and smiles as Leliana gently kisses his cheek before looking at the servants. "Thank you both." The two servants bow and left the room, closing the door. She walks away and starts taking off her armor while Malcolm smiles and watches before doing the same. She looks over her shoulder with a smile. "Thinking of joining me? Can't think of a better thing to do before turning in." She winks at him as she removes the last piece of her armor. "Mind helping me, Mal?"

He smirks and chuckles as he strips down his briefs and walks up behind her and gently kisses her shoulder as his hands slowly fumbles with her bra. "I love you, Leli." He undoes her bra before tossing it away and grabs the top of her panties before slowly sliding them down her legs while kisses down her back.

Leliana let's out light moans before taking her legs out of it and turns around to face him and kisses him. "I love you too, Mal." She kneels down and takes off his underwear before slowly kissing up his well-built and scarred body up to his lips. Malcolm smiles before walking over to the tub and climbs in before offering his hand to her, which she takes and he helps her climb in before he sits down. "Such a gentleman."

He chuckles as she sits down in front of him and lays her back on his chest. "Especially because it's you, my love." He wraps his arms around her waist and holds her gently.