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Chapter 20: Redcliffe before the Battle

The group had traveled from Denerim to Lake Calenhad where Oghren met with Felsi and while it seemed like she didn't want to see him, when they had to leave Oghren made a promise to come back for a drink when the Blight was over. Afterwards they left for Redcliffe, traveling light and fast until they reached the edge of the village.

As Malcolm lead the group down the path, he notices a lone human and beyond him the broken gate to the path that leads to the castle. He and the group run over to the human, who looks over and is relieved. "It's… it's you! The Grey Warden! Andraste's mercy that you got here when you did! I thought for sure these monsters were going to get me!"

Malcolm looks around. "What's happened? Where is everyone?"

The man points behind him to the path past the broken gate. "They all fled to the castle this morning, before the darkspawn arrived." He shakes his head. "I thought I could make it to my home and back before they got here, but it took me too long to get down here. What a relief you arrived!"

"Is the Archdemon here?"

"Err… I didn't see anything that I'd call an Archdemon. Isn't it supposed to be a big dragon?" Malcolm nods. "No, nothing like that. I'm going to get out of here before any more of those things arrive! Thank you again!" The man runs past the group to get out of Redcliffe.

The group takes the turn ahead of them and sees the darkspawn then Malcolm leads the group as they take their time to clear out the village before heading back up and past the broken gate. When they arrive at the courtyard, the darkspawn are attacking the guards. With the group jumping in the fight, they are able to make quick work of the darkspawn and the waves of reinforcements. But when it seemed like the waves have ended a giant piece of stone flies at them, crushing some guards. Malcolm looks up and sees an ogre alpha running towards them. He looks at everyone. "Stay back, I got this." He turns his attention back to the ogre and starts charging as well. When he gets close, the ogre slams down in his path causing him to jump backwards as lighting coils down the sword and slashes its arm. The ogre roars before swiping at him, which hits him, causing him to fly backwards some and he lets go of his sword and shield. He quickly gets up and pulls out the two daggers on his back before charging again, the ogre swipes at him but this time he slides under the ogre. He quickly gets up and jumps onto the back of the ogre, stabbing both daggers into the collar bone. It roars in pain and starts reaching for him, but he sends lightning bolts at its hands before he jumps off and shoots lightning at the daggers. The lightning connects with the metal on the daggers and travels through the ogre, it roars in pain before it drops dead. Malcolm walks past it and grabs his sword before walking back and plunges it into the ogre's brain. He pulls his sword out and retrieves his daggers before heading for his shield.

One of guards walks up to Malcolm. "My lord. Thank the Maker you arrived when you did."

He looks at the guard. "Where's Arl Eamon? They are both inside with Riordan of the Grey Wardens, who arrived this morning just ahead of the darkspawn. I was told that he has urgent news, and to send out patrols to watch for your arrival. Then we were attacked…"

"Riordan? What's he doing here?"

"I'm sorry, my lord, but I don't rightly know. Things happened so fast, I only know he was scouting in the south before he arrived."

"Very well, let head inside." The guard nods and leads the group inside.

Inside the group is shown to their rooms except for Malcolm, Halia and Alistair, who are instead taken to meet Eamon, Teagan, and Riordan. The elder Warden looks over and smiles. "It's a relief to see you all unharmed." He turns to Alistair. "Especially you as well, Alistair…" he bows, "or should I say your Majesty?"

Alistair rubs the back of his neck, almost shy and embarrassed. "Err… no. No, I wouldn't say that. Not yet, anyway."

Riordan looks grim as he looks at them. "The darkspawn that attacked Redcliffe were relatively few in number, I'm afraid. It was assumed the horde was marching in this direction… but that is not true."

Eamon nods slowly. "Riordan tells us that the bulk of the horde is, in fact, heading towards Denerim. They are perhaps two days away from the capital."

Alistair looks at Riordan. "What? Are we sure about? I mean… if that's true…"

Riordan nods. "I ventured close enough to 'listen in', as it were. I am quite certain."

Malcolm shakes his head. "Has word been sent to Denerim?"

Eamon nods. "Word has been sent, but they need more than warning. They need our armies."

Riordan turns around and stares into the fire. "There is, I'm afraid one other piece of news that is of even greater concern. The archdemon has shown itself. The dragon is at the head of the horde."

"Maker preserve us!"

Alistair shakes his head. "But we can't reach Denerim within two days, can we? It's too far."

Eamon nods. "We must begin a forced march to the capital immediately, with what we have. Denerim must be defended at all costs."

Malcolm nods as Riordan turns back around. "We have to but there's something more important than defeating the horde."

Riordan nods. "Yes. If we do not defeat the archdemon, it will not matter if Denerim is saved or the horde defeated."

Alistair crosses his arms. "We then use what we've collected and march to Denerim. Arl Eamon, how long before the army can set out?"

"By daybreak…"

"Then let's get them ready. I won't let all those people die without giving them a chance."

Halia looks at the other three Wardens. "But… just how are we supposed to defeat this archdemon?"

Alistair opens his mouth before looking at her. "I was wondering that, myself."

Riordan crosses his arms looking confused. "Then… you don't know?" He sighs and shakes his head. "Of course not. You are all new recruits, Duncan wouldn't have expected…"

Eamon looks at the five then focuses on Alistair and Malcolm. "I will give the orders at once, and will notify you the moment we are ready to march."

"Perhaps you three should meet with me before you retire for the evening. There are… things that have become apparent that we need to speak of."

Riordan walks away as Eamon speaks up. "I will have someone show your companions to their rooms. I suggest you all get some rest, while you can. We will need it."

The three Wardens bow as everyone but them leaves for their rooms and Alistair looks at them. "Let's go see what Riordan has to say."

Malcolm nods and leads them to Riordan's room, and he knocks on the door. "Enter." Malcolm opens the door and the three walk in. "You are all here. Good. Please know, I assumed you had already been told. Otherwise, I would have told you this when you freed me in Denerim. I am sorry."

Alistair looks confused. "What is it? What are you apologizing for?"

"Tell me, have you ever wondered why the Grey Wardens are needed to defeat the darkspawn?"

Malcolm crosses his arms, almost getting a bad feeling about this. "I assume it has something to do with the Taint in us."

Riordan nods slowly. "That is exactly what it involves. The archdemon may be slain as any other darkspawn, but should any other than a Grey Warden do the slaying, it will not be enough. The essence of the beast will pass through the taint to the nearest darkspawn and will be reborn anew in that body. The dragon is thus all but immortal. But if the archdemon is slain by a Grey Warden… its essence travels into the Grey Warden, instead."

Malcolm tilts his head. "And… what happens to the Warden?"

Riordan looks down. "A darkspawn is an empty, soulless vessel, but a Grey Warden is not. The essence of the archdemon is destroyed… and so is the Warden."

Alistair looks at Halia before back at Riordan as he asks, "Meaning… the Grey Warden who kills the archdemon… dies?"

"Yes." Malcolm's chest tightens and Halia looks at Alistair. "Without the archdemon, the Blight ends. It is the only way."

Halia looks at Riordan. "No, I refuse to believe that there's no other way."

He looks up at her. "As far as we know, the transfer is automatic. If one of us is not present when the killing blow is made, it is all for nothing. For what it's worth, I'm sorry, my dear."

Malcolm sighs shakily. "So it's up to the four of us to kill this thing."

"If possible, the final blow should be mine to make. I am the eldest, and the taint will not spare me much longer. But if I fail, the deed falls to one of you. The Blight must be stopped now or it will destroy all of Ferelden before the rest of the Wardens can assemble. Remember that." He walks past them and opens the door for them "But enough. There will be much to do tomorrow and little enough time to rest before it. I will let you return to your rooms."

Alistair nods as he walks halfway to the door before stopping and looking at the three. "I will see you once the army is ready to march, then. I guess this ends soon, one way or another."

Riordan nods slowly. "That it does, my friend, that is does."

Alistair walks out and Halia walks out a bit later with Malcolm trailing after her before walking into his room. He closes the door and gets halfway to the bed before he notices Morrigan standing in front of the firepit. She turns her head towards him before looking back at the pit saying, "Do not be alarmed. It is only I."

He takes his sword and shield off his back and heads to his bed. "Morrigan? Is everything all right?" He sets them down, leaning against the wall before walking over to her.

"I am well. 'Tis you who are in danger." She looks over her shoulder. "I have a plan, you see. A way out. The loop in your hole."

"What do you mean?"

She turns around and walks closer to him. "I know what happens when the archdemon dies. I know a Grey Warden must be sacrificed, and that sacrifice could be you, or Halia. I have come to tell you this does not need to be."

Malcolm tilts his head confused. "What do you mean 'does not need to be'?"

She holds her hands together as she looks him straight in the eyes. "I offer a way out. A way out for all the Grey Wardens, that there need be no sacrifice. A ritual…preformed on the eve of battle, in the dark of night."

Malcolm rubs the back of his neck. "Just what sort of ritual is this?"

"It is old magic, from a time before the Circle of Magi was created." She looks down a bit before back up, again looking into his eyes. "Some might call it blood magic, but that is but a name. There is far more to fear in this world than names."

"Where did you get this ritual from?"

"From Flemeth, of course. I have known about it for some time."

"Makes sense… So you knew about the sacrifice before Riordan told me?"

She nods. "I did. Would you have believed me if I had been the one to tell you? I have my doubts."

He nods slowly as he rubs the side of his neck. "Nothing comes without a price."

"Perhaps. But that price need not be so unbearable, especially if there is much to be gained. All I ask is that you at least listen to what I have to offer, nothing more." Malcolm nods his agreement, and she walks over to the foot of the bed and sits down, her staff already leaning against the post of the bed canopy. "What I propose is this: lay with me. Here, tonight. And from our joining, a child will be conceived. The child will bear the taint, and when the archdemon is slain, its essence will seek the child like a beacon. At this early stage, the child can absorb that essence and not perish. The archdemon is still destroyed, with no Grey Warden dying in the process."

He cocks his head forward, surprised and a bit confused. "You want to… have my child?"

She moves some of her hair out of the way. "Think about what I can offer you: the chance to avoid death. Or better yet, the chance to slay the archdemon and live as a hero. No Grey Warden has ever done this. In return I conceive a child, one who will be born with the soul of an Old God. After this is done, you allow me to walk away… and do not follow. Ever. The child will be mine to raise as I wish."

He looks to the door, knowing that he would be unfaithful to his love if he agrees. "I… would like to know more about this child."

She nods slowly. "As you wish."

"If…" He looks back at her. "If this is going to be my child… will I ever see it?"

"No. You never will. This is all I ask in return for freeing you from the burden the Grey Wardens have placed upon you. The child will be changed, for what I seek is the essence of the Old God that once was and not the dark forces that corrupted it. Some things in this world are worth preserving, make of that what you will."

He sighs a bit and slowly nods. "I understand. If you don't mind my asking… what do you intend to do with the child?"

She looks down. "I…" She looks back up, into his eyes. "I do not wish to tell you specifics. I will raise the child apart from the rest of society, and teach it to respect that from which it same. Beyond that you need know nothing else."

He nods before looking into the fire for a while, silently before looking at her. "I…. I agree to do it."

She nods before standing up. "I could see that the decision did not come easily to you, my friend."

He looks at her before starting to take off his armor…