The next morning the party arrived at Redcliffe village It was a small town that lived in the shadow of the castle and the red coloured cliffs of its namesake. A flowing river provided plenty of fish for the village and was how the village made most of its money.
"Look can we talk for a moment?" Alistair asked pulling Ezra aside. "I need to tell you something I, ah, should probably have told you earlier." The rest of the party looked at the two men but Ezra motioned for them to go on ahead.
"Alright Alistair, what's on your mind?" Ezra asked.
"I told you before how Arl Eamon raised me, right? That my mother was a serving girl at the castle and he took me in?" Ezra nodded. "The reason he did that was...well because my father was King Maric. Which made Cailan my... half-brother, I suppose."
"So you're not just a bastard, but a royal bastard at that?" Ezra asked with a grin.
"Ha! Yes, I guess it does mean that. I should use that line more often," Alistair said with a laugh "I would have told you, but...it never really meant anything to me. I was inconvenient, a possible threat to Calian's rule and so they kept me a secret. I've never talked about it to anyone. Everyone who knew either resented me for it or they coddled me...even Duncan kept me out of the fighting because of it. I didn't want you to know, as long as possible. I'm sorry." Alistair downcast his eyes.
"I think I understand," Ezra said placing a hand on Alistair's shoulder. Alistair breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good, I'm glad. It's not like I got special treatment for it, anyhow." He gave a small laugh. "At any rate, that's it. That's what I had to tell you. I thought you should know about it."
"And you're not hiding anything else?"
"Besides my unholy love of fine cheeses and a minor obsession with my hair, no. That' sit. Just the prince thing." Now that Alistair had said it Ezra did notice that the man's hair always looked very well taken care of.
"So should I be calling you prince Alistair then?"
"No! Maker's breath, just hearing that give me a heart attack!" Both men chuckled at that. "It's not true, anyhow...I'm the son of a commoner. It was always made clear that the throne is not in my future. And that's fine by me. No, if there's any heir to be found, it's Arl Eamon himself. He's not of royal blood, but he is Calian's uncle... and more importantly very popular with he people. So there you have it. Now can we move on, and I'll just pretend you still think I'm some...nobody who was too lucky to die with the rest of the Grey Wardens."
"And what does that make me?" Ezra asked crossing his arms.
" Some nobody who was too lucky to die with the rest of the Grey Wardens. Welcome to the club." Ezra feigned hurt causing Alistair to roll his eyes and laugh before the two men rejoined the rest of the party waiting ahead.
"I thought I saw travelers coming down the road, though I scarcely believed it," said a man standing on the bridge carrying a bow on his back. "Have you come to help us?"
"I'm on important business. I'm here to see Arl Eamon," Ezra said.
"The arl? Then..you don't know? Has nobody out there heard?"
"I've heard the arl is sick if that is what you mean."
"He could be dead, for all we know. Nobody's heard from the castle in days." That struck Ezra as odd. Even though he knew very little about human societies he knew a castle that close had to have much contact with the village below it. But then the man said something else that bothered him.
"We're under attack. Monsters come out of the castle every night an attack us until dawn. Everyone's been fighting...and dying. We've no army to defend us, no arl and no king to send us help. So may are dead and those left are terrified they're next."
"Hold on. What is this evil that's attacking you?" Alistair asked the man.
"I don't rightly know; I'm sorry. Nobody does." The man thought for a second. "I should take you to Bann Teagan. He's all that's holding us together. He'll want to see you."
"Bann Teagan? Arl Eamon's brother? He's here?" Alistair asked.
"Yes. It's not far, if you'll come with me."
The man lead the party down into town and to the main hall. Inside were many wounded of all ages and genders. At the front of the hall was a man with shoulder length brown hair and dressed very well.
"It's...Tomas, yes? And who are these people with you? They're obviously not simple travelers," the well dressed man asked.
"No, my lord. They just arrived, and I thought you would want to see them."
"Well done, Tomas. Greetings, friends. My name is Teagan, Bann of Rainesfere, brother to the arl."
" I remember you, Bann Teagan, though the last time we met I was a lot younger and...covered in mud," Alistair said.
"Covered in mud?" he paused. "... Alistair? It is you, isn't it? You're alive! This is wonderful news!" exclaimed Bann Teagan.
"Still alive, yes, though not for long if Teryn Loghain has anything to say about it."
"Indeed. Loghain would have us believe all Grey Wardens dies along with my nephew, among other things."
"You.. don't believe Loghain's lies?" Ezra asked.
"What, that he pulled his men in order to save them? That Cailan risked everything in the name of glory? Hardly." Bann Teagan scoffed. "Loghain calls the Grey Wardens traitors, murderers of the king. I don't believe it. It is an act of a desperate man.
"So you are a Grey Warden as well? A pleasure to meet you. I wish it were under better circumstances. You're here to see my brother? Unfortunately that might be a problem. Eamon is gravely ill. No one has head from the castle in days. No guards patrol the walls, and no one has responded to my shouts. The attacks started a few nights ago. Evil...things...surged from the castle. We drove them back but, many perished during the assault."
"What evil things are you talking about?" Morrigan asked.
"Some call them the walking dead; decomposing corpse returning to life with a hunger for human flesh...They hit again the next night. Each night they come, with greater numbers. He shook his head. "With Cailan dead and Loghain starting a war over the throne, no one respond to my urgent calls for help. I have a feeling tonight's assault with be the worst yet. Alistair, I hate to ask, but I desperately need the help of you and your friends."
"It isn't just up to me. Though the Grey Wardens don't stand much of a chance against Loghain without Arl Eamon." Alistair was clearly torn on what to do. On one had he needed to rally an army to stop the Blight but, on the other hand he desperately wanted to help the arl.
"We'll help,"Ezra said pulling Alistair out of his own mind. Bann Teagan thanked them and told them who to speak to about the preparations for the night's battle. On the way out of the hall they saw a young girl crying.
"Are you alright? Why are you crying?" Ezra asked handing her a hanker chief he carried at all times.
"Those..those things dragged my mother away. I don't know what happened to her, but I hear her screaming all the time, everywhere!" the girl choked out between sobs.
"How terrible," Leliana said. "You poor thing... I wish there was something we could do to help."
"And now my brother, Bevin... he ran off. I.. I don't know where he is! I'm so scared they got him too!"
Ezra's heart ached for the poor girl and he told her he would look for her brother. The girl seemed to give a small smile at that. She thanked him for his help and asked that he please find him.
Outside the hall they found Murdock, the mayor of what's left of the village. He told them they needed armor but their blacksmith, Owen, was refusing to even talk. Ser Perth, keeping watch above the village, asked if they could approach mother Hannah in the chantry and ask for a prayer of protection. Ezra told both men he would do his best.
Ezra spoke to the blacksmith Owen and learned that his daughter, Valena, is a maid trapped in the castle and that Murdock wouldn't send anyone for her. She is his whole world and no longer cared what happens to him or the village. Owen and Ezra came to the agreement that Owen would make repairs for the village's militia if Ezra would search for his daughter.
Before speaking to the revered mother in the chantry Ezra went to look for Bevin, the mising boy. He looked around the whole village and still had found no sign of the boy. It wasn't until he was passing by a random house for the umpteenth time that he heard movement and sniffling. Ezra knocked on the door twice before just entering. The sniffling was coming from a room on the right. When Ezra entered the room he heard a sharp intake of breath and then silence coming from the dresser.
"Hello? Is someone in there?" he asked.
"Go away! This isn't your home!" came a voice from inside. "This is my home! My Home! You hear me?!"
"You wouldn't happen to be Bevin would you?"
"How do you know my name?"
"I'm a friend of Kaitlyn's," Ezra answered.
"Did... she tell you to take me back to the chantry? Don't make me go back there! I hate that place! I hate it!" Bevin yelled from inside the dresser.
"Why?"
"Everybody's scared, but they tell my I shouldn't be scared. And they tell me I shouldn't be sad that Mother died." He grew silent for a moment. "I...I don't want to be sad! I'm brace! I'm going to be a hero! I'm going to fight them off, I will!"
"You're going to do that from inside there?"
"N-no.. I just heard you coming and...I guess that's not very brave of me, is it? I'll...I'll come out now." The door slowly creaked open to reveal a young boy with blonde hair. He was definitely Kaitlyn's brother, the resemblance was uncanny. "All right, I came out. You won't hurt me, will you?" Ezra shook his head no. "I'll go back to the chantry if you really want."
"What were you doing in the dresser? Besides hiding that is."
"I..I can't tell you. It's a secret," the boy answered nervously.
"Are you sure? I might be able to help you." Ezra said offering his help to another soul in need.
"You..could? All right...I guess. I just.. Father said I could have his sword when I grew up. It was Grandfather's, and Grandfather was a great dragon-slayer. I thought if I was brave like Grandfather, I could use his sword and...kill the bad people who took Mother."
"And where is this sword now?"
"In the chest in Mother's room. Father gave me a key, but I'm not supposed to give it to anyone."
"If I return the sword tomorrow may I use the sword to defend the village?" Ezra asked. Bevin looked unsure and thought for a moment before he agreed. He gave Ezra the key and showed him where the chest that held the sword was. He unlocked the chest and drew out the sword. It was a beautiful sword that Ezra recognized as ones the elves forged long ago. After they took the sword Ezra escorted Bevin back to the chantry where his sister was waiting.
"Bevin said you were the one who found him. I can't possibly repay you!" Kaitlyn exclaimed upon seeing Ezra.
"It was no trouble. Bevin said I may borrow your Grandfather's sword to defend the village tonight. I will return to you after the battle. Is that alright with you?" Ezra asked showing the sword to Kaitlyn.
"Yes that is fine. I would be honored to know my Grandfather's sword helped save our village. Thank you again for finding my brother. Is there anything I can do to thank you?"
"Just keep an eye on him. This guy here is going to be a hero someday," Ezra said. "Now if you'll excuse us, we need to finish preparations for tonight." Ezra and the party bid the siblings farewell and went to get the blessing from Mother Hannah. She had just finished a prayer when Ezra approached her.
"You are of elven blood and a stranger, yet you defend a home that is not your own. We are grateful for that," Mother Hannah said when she saw the party.
"I cannot idly stand by while monsters attack the innocent."
"Not many in these modern days would honestly say the same. You are a man of worth, and the Maker will smile upon you. Allow me to introduce myself; I am Revered Mother Hannad, head of this chantry...which,for the moment, is a place of refuge for these poor villagers."
"How awful this must be for you all! Is this everyone who is left?" Leliana asked.
"All those who cannot defend themselves, yes," Mother Hannah answered. "They are terrified of tonight's attack, and I fear these walls will not keep them safe. What can I do to help with your task?"
"We would like your blessing, Mother. If you would be willing to give us one," Ezra said.
"You would? That is... I mean, of course. I'd be happy to." The revered mother then said a blessing over the party.
"Also if it is not too much to ask could you give holy protection to Ser Perth and his men?"
"I have done all I can for them. I pray for them, each night, and seek the Maker's forgiveness for their sins before they face their deaths," she said rubbing her temples. "What Ser Perth seeks is something that is not my power to give."
"What do you mean?" Ezra asked.
"Ser Perth believes that I can protect them against these creatures, a shield only the Maker can provide, and that I withhold this power."
"Well, can't you just tell him the Maker will watch over him? Morale is a powerful thing, you know," said Alistair.
"You mean you want me to let them think the Maker protects them in a real sense? I will not lie to them like that!"
"But if they believes it will help them then what is the harm," Ezra reasoned.
"I suppose their belief in the Maker's power could inspire them, but it just seems like trickery." She sighed. "Very well. If it keeps them alive, I will do what I must. I have a number of silver-cast holy symbols. Tell Ser Perth that he can have them, and that wearing them will confer the Maker's protection." Ezra said his thanks and went to tell Ser Perth of the good news.
Ezra made one more round through the village to make sure everything was prepared. All that was left now was to win the battle and survive the night.