Here's the next chapter. Again I am sorry for the wait. Big thanks to everyone who has reviewed and sent a pm. Also huge shout out to my beta and my wife for always helping me out. Hope eveyone enjoys!
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The wardens and their companions all stood in the main hall of Redcliffe Castle in utter dismay as Bann Teagan jumped and danced around like a jester. A boy standing in the place of honor in front of the main table was clapping his hands with glee. That must have been Arl Eamon's son Connor. Next to him, the Arlessa stood slouched like a whipped puppy.
"What in the name of Andraste's knickers is going on here?" Damien shouted forcing every eye to him. If they were going to have to fight, he'd rather go ahead and kick it off than wait. His wounds were zapping his energy and he doubted very much that he would be able to stay upright for much longer.
"So these are our visitors, the ones you told me about mother?" the boy said. Damien's skin crawled at the sound of the child's voice. Two distinct voices spoke in unison from the child's mouth completely in sync.
"Y-yes Connor," Isolde said keeping her eyes glued to the floor.
"And this is the one that defeated my soldiers, the ones I sent to reclaim my village?" the boy declared locking eyes with Damien and gesturing to the warden commander.
"Absolutely, you little shit," Damien snapped.
"Insolence. It stands before me. Breathing... not dying... What is it, mother?" Connor demanded.
"This is just a man, like your father," Isolde said softly. Damien could feel his skin crawling as the boy raised an eyebrow.
"I'm tired of hearing about him. He is nothing like father! I should kill it!" Connor snarled. Damien's hands flashed to his daggers. The blades bore their own wounds from their constant battles and were in dire need of servicing if not replacement, but they would be more than enough to end this situation.
Damien stopped himself making himself wait and watch. Was he really ready to spill a child's blood himself? Could he even give the order to kill him?
"Connor, I beg you. Don't hurt anyone," Isolde pleaded. The sorrow in her voice had almost spiraled into despair. She must have seen the way Damien and his allies were looking at the boy with their hands on their weapons.
"Mother? What... what's happening?" the boy whimpered. Damien's eyes grew wide as the boy looked around and held his head. The second voice was gone and all that remained with that of a scared little boy. Was Connor still trying to hang on to his mind or was the demon's hold on him weak for some reason?
"Thank the Maker. Connor, can you hear me?" the woman pleaded as the young warden-commander took a few small steps forward.
"Get away from me woman!" the dual voice roared sending the arlessa stumbling backward. Damien took a large step forward and lowered his stance ready to spring forward if the demon tried to attack anyone.
"I'm starting to understand what happened here. Connor is the evil that you spoke of, or at least the demon inside him is. Why not just say 'Connor is possessed'? That would have made this a thousand times easier," Damien stated. His vision had started to blur as he felt more blood running down the back of his neck. He probably should have had Wynne stop the bleeding outside instead of insisting on getting into the great hall quickly.
"No, don't say that!" the woman screamed.
"Denial won't make the demon go away," Damien snapped.
"From all of the teachings and training I was given, the only way to purge a demon from a possessed mage is to..." Alistair's voice trailed off. Damien knew the templar way of dealing with possession, and to be perfectly, brutally honest, that was the only way he knew of too.
"Connor is not at fault. The mage, the one that poisoned Eamon, he summoned this demon. Connor was just trying to help his father," the arlessa pleaded. Damien kept his eyes glued to the young abomination still keeping a firm grip on his daggers.
"So the boy made a deal with a demon and sundered the veil. Foolish child," Morrigan stated. She sounded so relaxed about the whole situation. How many abominations had she tangled with?
"It was a fair deal!" the demon roared sending vibrations through the entire hall.
"Fair for whom?" Damien snarled.
"Father is alive. Now it is my turn to sit on the throne and send out armies to conquer the world!" Connor raged before laughing maniacally.
"It takes a lot more than blind ambition to be a ruler, demon," Wynne snapped.
"Enough! This man ruined my fun, but now I will repay him," Connor snarled as the guards drew their weapons and advanced. Bann Teagan stood as well drawing his own blade.
"These men are bewitched. Disarm and neutralize them. No killing or serious injuries," Damien said drawing his daggers.
The group sprang into action. They both outnumbered and outclassed the castle guards and the bann. The fight only lasted about ten seconds, but the moment the tide had turned against him, Connor had run off and vanished behind a heavy door.
"Neria and Wynne, see what you can do about releasing the demon's hold on these men. Sten, Alistair, and Daylen, secure that door. Connor ran through there," Damien ordered. Tunnel vision had claimed his sight narrowing him to a darkened and small world that started to spin. The youth felt nauseous as his knees buckled and he collapsed.
"Damien? What's wrong? What happened?" Alyssa shouted. Her voice sounded so far away. He could feel his hood being pulled off his head and his scarf removed, but his hearing had gone silent accompanied his sight leaving him blind and deaf to the world.
000
Discomfort, like laying on a wooden bench covered in rocks, that was what the youth woke to. The pain had dulled quite a bit as he sat up slowly. He opened his eyes and found himself in a regal study with massive bookshelves along the wall behind the desk that was acting as his bed. He quickly noticed that all he had on was his small clothes and his joining and wooden pendants.
Sitting up, Damien flexed his shoulders and back, but pain still resonated through him with every motion from the tips of his toes to the back of his head. He tried to climb down of the desk but lost his footing. He tried to catch himself but instead ended up ripping one of the drawers open spilling its contents onto the thick rug on the floor.
Damien set the drawer to the side and looked over at the mess he had made. Most of it was sealed letters with a few knickknacks here and there, but what truly caught his attention was a small locket with the symbol of Andraste on it. The end of the chain was sealed to a letter most likely to keep them from getting separated.
He piled everything back into the drawer, but, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Alistair's name on the letter with the locket. Perhaps it was something from Alistair's childhood that got left behind when he went to live at the chantry. If that were the case, there wouldn't be any harm in making sure the locket got back to him, right?
Damien replaced the drawer in the desk and slowly regained his feet. He had no idea how long he had been asleep, but it must have been enough, because he felt rested despite his injuries. He sighed as he looked down at his body. Multiple scars covered his skin. Cuts, punctures, burns, he had most of them. He wondered just how many of his companions had seen his scars. He knew there were several dozen more on his back but, he had never seen them so they might as well not exist in his mind.
He found a fresh change of clothes along with a sash that he could only assume was meant to replace his scarf while someone washed the blood out. He'd have a lot of groveling, apologizing, and thanking to do to his team.
After getting dressed, he slipped the letter and locket into his pocket to give to Alistair, lifted the sash up over his nose and mouth, and headed for the door. He could hear people moving around outside and there was the faint sound of voices too, but much further away.
The hall right outside the study was fairly plain with a few suits of armor for decoration and four doors including the study. One must have been to the upstairs because Brax was sitting in front of it on full guard dog mode with Sten standing next to him. Both of them with their eyes glued to the door.
"How long was I out?" Damien asked touching the back of head and staying out of reach of Sten's sword, just in case he startled the sentinel.
"A few hours. The other are in need of guidance. However, I want your permission to eliminate this demon now. We must attack," Sten stated as calmly as ever, but his grip tightening on the sword told Damien that Sten was ready to spring into action and kill Connor is he gave the order.
"Hold for now and let me know if anything changes. If the others need guidance like you say they do, that must mean there is another option other than killing a child," Damien replied, rubbing the mabari's ears before making his way to the door across from the study. He could hear multiple voices arguing, so that must have been where everyone was.
Slipping in as quietly as he could, Damien stayed out of the conversation and listened trying to pick up on whatever he could so they wouldn't have to re-explain anything. He also wanted to see how his team would handle themselves while he wasn't there.
Alistair, Wynne, and Daylen seemed to be more vocal than the rest going on about how killing Connor wasn't right, but resorting to another option was just as bad. Leliana, Alyssa, Lyna, and Neria stood quietly by listening to everyone else bicker as Morrigan repeated that they were all fools without really putting forward any ideas herself. To Damien's surprise he spotted Jowan among the group along with Bann Teagan and Lady Isolde.
After listening to them for a few seconds, Damien figured out that they had a few options on how to deal with the situation. They could kill the child and destroy the demon that way, but there was a risk to the arl if the demon stopped keeping him alive. The other option put forward made Damien's stomach churn. Using blood magic, Jowan could enable another mage to enter the Fade and slay the demon there sparing Connor's life, but it would require a blood sacrifice the would claim someone's life.
"I couldn't help but overhear," Damien shouted as the group tumbled into another back and forth debate over the morality and ethics of their two options.
"Commander, you're awake. Thank the Maker," Bann Teagan exclaimed.
"Sorry to sleep so long, but my bed was just so comfy," Damien said rolling his shoulder a little and groaning. Despite the pain, it felt good to stretch the muscle out some.
"I should beat you senseless for ignoring that wound on your head, young man," Wynne scolded wagging her finger at him.
"Considering the arguments I've been hearing, it doesn't look like I can afford anymore nap time so, rain check?" Damien jested. Wynne rolled her eyes before smiling and nodding.
"You certainly know how to make an entrance," Alyssa said as Damien sat down on one of the benches in the great hall facing the group. He winced as his back pressed against the side of the table but he remained relaxed against despite the discomfort. It felt better than leaning forward, but only slightly.
"I do what I can with what I have. Now, if I'm understanding everything correctly, there are two options for dealing with this threat. Kill the kid or kill someone else for the chance to save the kid. Either way we risk the life of the arl once the demon is destroyed," Damien pressed his palm to his forehead as he looked over at the Arlessa. "So let's hope some of your knights have a decent lead on the Urn of Sacred Ashes."
"But we have been searching for the Urn since the healing magic did not work with no luck," Isolde stated.
"That was before you had a thief looking for it," Damien replied. "But back to what's really important here. I don't like the idea of sacrificing someone for a chance at killing the demon, but I'm not going to sacrifice a child either. There has to be another way. Blood mage is just a cheap shortcut, what would be needed to perform the ritual without it?"
The group turned to look at Jowan. Damien could see anger and something resembling hatred for the mage in Daylen's eyes. Jowan must have really hurt the youth. Damien had been betrayed by plenty of people in the past, but it was all just good business. What happened between the two mages was personal.
"I would normally be down with several power mages and lyrium. Lots of lyrium," Jowan stated.
"Then, I'll take a small team to the circle and ask the remaining mages to lend us their strongest mages. We'll have to get the lyrium either from the circle itself or maybe the templars. Either way, the tower is our destination," Damien announced. He tried to stand up as he spoke but his strength failed him and the only motion he made was a quivering in his legs.
"You can barely walk. How are you going to make that journey with a small team?" Alistair exclaimed.
"We need as many people here as we can get. If Connor starts getting out of control again before I return, we'll have to put him down, permanently," Damien stated.
"That was not the question. How are you yourself going to make that journey is you can't walk?" the former templar asked again.
"I'm not going by road. Myself, Neria, and Leliana will take a boat across the lake. By my calculations, that will save us a day or so depending on the wind and current. Round trip should only be four days by boat," Damien explained.
"Why not let me go?" Alistair asked.
Damien motioned for him to come closer. The young thief grabbed hold of the knight's armor and pulled him down so that his lips were right next to Alistair's ear.
"Because they don't know that you're a grey warden, and the fewer people that know the better. I can invoke the treaties if I have to. If you tried, they would demand proof and your cover would be blown," Damien explained softly so only Alistair could hear him.
The knight stood back up and nodded take a few steps back.
"Fine."
"I appreciate the understanding. Now, Neria, Leliana, let's get the boat loaded up with five days worth of supplies. Everyone else is to remain in the castle and keep a close eye on the place. If at any time Connor tries to attack or does anything that could threaten the Arl's or anyone else in the castle or village, you are authorized to eliminate him. Alistair, you're in charge until I return," Damien ordered.
"You would leave the buffoon in charge again?" Morrigan murmured.
"He's the best suited for it. Now, has anyone seen my armor?" Damien said looking around.
"The blacksmith's daughter took it to him so he could repair it along with your daggers," Alyssa reported.
"His daughter? You guys found her?" Damien asked.
"She was hiding in a closet with two other servants. They were tired and hungry, but they'll be fine," Alyssa reported.
"Good. Then I'll borrow some light armor and a weapon from the castle armory. That will give the blacksmith plenty of time to repair my gear," Damien concluded. "Anything else I should know?"
"Nothing that I can think of, but why don't you grab Duncan's weapons from the wagon?" Lyna suggested.
"I would but I don't want to risk losing them in the lake. Some simple daggers will be fine. Oh and if anyone has letters they want to send out, let me have them. I'll drop them off at the Spoiled Princess," Damien explained looking around the room. It was not all that surprising that no one had letters to send anywhere except him. As far as he knew, he was the only one that who even had anyone to write to.
"Alright, we're burning daylight people. Let's move," Damien ordered clapping his hands. "Which way to the armory?"
000
Damien stood at the door to the castle armory with Bann Teagan with a broad smile on his face. The weapons in the armory numbered over 500 with nearly 200 sets of armor. It was like looking at a fully stocked larder after a week without food. He could even feel himself salivating at the sight.
"Bann Teagan, I think I might just have myself a good cry right here. This is beautiful," Damien said doing his best to sound weepy as he entered the room.
"Sorry Commander, what do you mean by that?" Bann Teagan inquired.
"I grew up on the streets where scarcity was the normal. To see weapons in such abundance, it makes me realize just how far I've come from stealing my next meal," Damien explained taking up a pair of daggers. They certainly were well made and probably would have gone for a couple sovereigns in Denerim. They would do until he got back. He twirled them around his body and tested the weight. They were a little heavier than his other pair or Duncan's blades but he could still use them. As a matter of fact, he might ask Bann Teagan if he could keep them after the trip so he could train with them and build up his strength and speed.
"This armor might suit you, Commander," Bann Teagan said directing Damien to a stand with a full suit of black leather armor stood proudly.
"I've never seen leather like this before. What's it from?" Damien asked as he placed his fingertips on the chest piece. It felt solid, like a steel plate had been sewn inside.
"It's made from drakeskin. I had it made by the best smith in Ferelden, Master Wade himself. It's even been enchanted with fire resistance. This might even be better than your old armor," Bann Teagan stated as he unlaced the bracers.
"I think I very well might be, but I don't know if it will fit me. It looks like it was made for someone taller," Damien said picking up one of the shin guards.
"We'll lace it tight, and you can have it adjusted when you return," the bann said handing Damien the bracers.
Damien smiled and shook his head as he set the armor on the table in the middle of the room. Adjusting his boots, he started with this shin guards over the knee-high boots and laced them as tight as he could without cutting off circulation to his feet. As he continued dressing from the feet up, Damien realized just how wrong he had been about the armor. It fit almost too well, like it had been made for him. True, it was probably from how tight the lacings had been pulled, but he felt good, and the armor was very light and flexible.
"There is a helmet over here if you need it," the bann said tossing Damien the headgear. Damien caught it and examined the piece. It was made of the same leather as the rest of the armor, but had a metal cap inside to help protect the top of the head. With his current injuries still recovering, the extra protection for his head would certainly be welcome.
"I appreciate it," Damien replied taking a clip and hanging the helmet from his belt as he strapped the dueling daggers to his belt and his throwing knives to his lower back.
"You look ready for a fight," Morrigan said from the door.
"Hopefully I won't find one until I want to," Damien responded. Bann Teagan nodded his farewell as he slipped out leaving Damien alone with the witch.
"I assume there is a reason that you have left me behind," Morrigan stated crossing her arms.
"I need people here that are willing to do what the others won't or can't. Look Morrigan, I'm no fool, despite what you might think. I know I'm taking a huge risk going to try and get the mages from the circle especially so soon after all their trouble, but if a child's life can be spared without it costing anyone else their own, I have to try. However, should the worst come to pass, I expect you to end it. Everyone else will be too sympathetic or blindly anchored by their morals. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm just as anchored as anyone else when it comes to a kid. Morrigan, if Connor does try to attack the castle or the village again, I need you and Sten to kill him without hesitation. Understood?" It turned Damien's stomach to order her to do that, but other than Sten, he was pretty sure that Morrigan was the only other person who could spill a child's blood if necessary.
"You have my word. I must admit, Warden-commander, you have surprised me. Being willing to admit that you are indeed anchored by your sense of morality and giving the task to myself and the qunari is a wise decision," Morrigan stated.
"I hope so. Remember, only kill him if there is no other choice, even if Lady Isolde and everyone else protests. I would rather Connor die than lose anyone else to an attack. If he stays quiet upstairs, leave him be," Damien reiterated.
"I understand."
The answer chilled Damien to the bone. He knew the witch placed little value on the lives of others, but she could be depended on to handle the things that no one else could or wanted to; even him.