The party fought their way through the tower encountering far more monsters and abominations than Ezra would have liked. The only people they had run into were more blood mages and a scared mage hiding a closet.
"I fear we will not find any innocent souls still alive, " Leliana said frowning at the sight of more dead bodies.
"I fear that too, but we must not dwell on that. We must end this and save whoever is left." Wynne had the most reason to be scared but trudged on with courage. Ezra found it quite admirable.
Through the halls the party crawled fighting whatever tried to stand in their way. As they neared the top of the tower they found a room containing one templar and a woman?
"It is time for supper pet," the woman spoke.
"Yes my love. What are we having tonight?"
"Roast boar, your favourite. And candied yams, the meal looks scrumptious."
Ezra narrowed his eyes watching the woman. She didn't seem normal. It seemed odd she would be in the tower and how she could be there unharmed. It wasn't until the woman's voice changed into two others that he realized what was happening.
"You see it too, do you not?" Morrigan asked. "That so called 'woman' over there is a desire demon. They show you your deepest desires and allow you to believe they have come true."
"Well, my deepest desire right now is for her to knock it off," Ezra said pushing the door open further and walking in.
"Everything is just as you wanted my knight," the demon said. As the party neared the woman faded and there stood a woman with horns and a tail. "Our love and our family is more than you hoped for."
"What I hope for is for you to stop what you are doing to this man," Ezra said pointing one of his daggers at the demon.
"Do you hear something love?" the man asked the demon.
"It is nothing my darling. Just the door. I will get it." The demon trailed her hand down the man's face. "The children have finished supper, tuck them into bed while I see who it is."
The demon turned to face the party her expression turning sour.
"You are intruding upon a loving, intimate moment and I dislike disruptions," she spoke.
"Doesn't look like there is anything loving or intimate going on here demon."
"I have given him what he always wanted. Where is the harm in that?" The demon stepped around the templar trailing her claws lightly along his armor.
"His happiness is an illusion, a cruel lie," Leliana said her fists clenching at her sides.
"All emotion is intangible. You cannot see it, cannot grasp it."
"But it is normally caused by something real," Wynne said. "Real events. Real people. What you have done to him is... is abhorrent."
"I saw his loneliness and longing for a family that loved him."
"Apparently you can get your desire and still suffer horribly. Tis' truly a lesson for all who consider marriage," Morrigan said. Ezra gave her a look as to say 'wrong time to discuss your views on love'.
"How long will you keep him in this stupor? Will he know it when his body fails and death claims him?" Wynne asked.
"A short, blissful existence is preferable to a long one of misery, the demon said as if trying to reason her motive.
"So you mean to tell us you think you're doing a good thing?" Ezra asked not believing a word of what the demon said.
"We are partners. I give him what no one else can and through him I experience what it is to be mortal."
"He deserves to be free from you. To find his own happiness," Alistair said tightening his grip on his sword and shield.
"What happiness? He has gone through life empty, resentful of his vows. You would return him to this?" The demon's eyes narrowed. "I want nothing from you, I have what I need. All I ask is that you leave us alone."
"Even if I did the templars would come for you eventually. I might as well make their job easier." Ezra unsheathed his other dagger and made for the demon. The demon cried for help and sent the templar to fight.
Ezra went straight for the demon, quickly dodging the templar's attacks. Leliana and Morrigan focused on the reinforcements the demon had summoned while Alistair took on the templar. Wynne used protection magic on the party from behind.
When the demon and her "lover" had fallen Ezra stood over their bodies for a moment staring down at them. Was he right to destroy their happiness and condemn the man to his death? She was a demon and his happiness was fake but how could killing them have been the right thing to do?
"Ez, are you alright? Alistair asked placing his hand on the other man's shoulder.
"Yes, I just feel bad for sending the man to his death because of a demon's cruel tricks."
"You didn't send him to his death. She did, the moment she got into his head he was already dead. You were giving him mercy," Alistair said trying to comfort him.
"You really think so?"
"I do."
"If you two are done planning their funerals could you please help us continue saving the circle?" Morrigan said rolling her eyes at the two.
"I thought a mage as powerful as you wouldn't need the help of these two idiots," Alistair barked back at the mage.
"I don't need the help of you, but our dear elf is quite useful and a competent leader.
"Not to mention quite handsome if I do say so myself," Ezra said brushing some stray hair from his eyes.
"Children please, we have more important matters to attend to," Wynne said leaving the room and starting down the hall.
The party could only dream of what would happen next.