Chapter 8 = = It is always about you, Isolde = = Guardian – Drakonis 9:30

Teagan Guerrin,
Rainesfere
5 Guardian, 9:30 Dragon

Dear Teagan,

I received the enclosed Call to Arms that explains the dire situation we are facing in Ferelden, and as you read it you no doubt noticed that Redcliffe and Rainesfere have not been included.

The reason for Redcliffe's exclusion is that Arl Eamon somehow managed to enrage their Majesties to the point that they don't want your brother anywhere near them, and yes that extends to Eamon being at Ostagar. Neither Loghain nor I know exactly what Eamon did to earn their ire, only that he has.

Rainesfere is allied with Redcliffe which is why your army has been excluded as well, but please believe me when I say that their Majesties hold you and Rainesfere in very high regard! It is your brother that is the problem, not you.

I pray to the Maker that we can, as Cailan hopes, end this Blight before it destroys all we hold dear.

May the Maker be with you and with Alistair.

~Bryce

"I think we need to go to Redcliffe. I would not put it past Eamon to just show up at Ostagar, believing that once there, Cailan will not send his troops away."

Alistair handed the parchments back to his father, then sighed and leaned back in the chair. "That was my thinking as well. Are we initiating the emergency plan?"

Teagan nodded. "Whatever the issues Eamon has with the Crown, we are facing a Blight and Rainesfere must be on the alert. I will call a meeting of the heads of households to explain what is happening, and why."

"I'll inspect the emergency grain, food, and water stores and authorize Quarter Master Kirby to procure anything the stores are lacking."

"Excellent, thank you, Son. I will send out the meeting call and explain to Captain Reese why the soldiers are staying here and not going to Ostagar. I want to make sure they don't feel slighted in any way and that they know the Crown and I have complete confidence in them. I will have Reese work with both blacksmiths, Earl and Kess, and with Kirby to ready the men to guard Rainesfere. Before the meeting I want us to ride out and visit the McYuens, the Pichlers, the Maiers, and the Hagers on the outskirts; without the density of people, I worry about their being easier targets for darkspawn."

Alistair nodded smiling to himself. This is why my father is such a beloved Bann, he honestly cares about his people. "Should we send Arl Eamon a message that we are coming to Redcliffe?"

"Yes, but not as to why. I will also speak with Horse Master Liam, as I want Crystal Grace and Otto barded when we go. Are you alright? You looked a bit far away."

"I was just thinking about what makes you such a beloved leader…you care about the people and you show them you care. Teyrn Bryce is like that, too. In addition to being my father, you are also my role model."

Teagan smiled and was completely speechless. He pulled Alistair into a hug. "I love you, Son."

"I love you too, Da."

~oOOo~

"It has been well over a month since the letter from Bryce and I have yet to hear back from Eamon."

"Do you think he already left?"

"No. Our scouts have seen no one coming from Redcliffe. Now that Rainesfere is fully supplied and the emergency plans are in place, we should leave for Redcliffe."

"I have a bad feeling about this, Da."

"So do I, Son. So do I."

~oOOo~

Alistair and Teagan arrived to find a castle in chaos.

A tear-blinded Isolde fell into Teagan's arms telling him that someone had poisoned Eamon and that the Arl was unconscious. Teagan awkwardly held his sister-in-law and looked at Alistair.

Alistair nodded and went to find his cousin. Isolde is beyond distraught, which means that Connor has been left to himself during his father's illness.

Alistair found Connor in the family room talking to a mage. When Connor saw his cousin, he ran to him and started to cry. Alistair knelt so he wasn't towering over him as he held him.

The mage nervously addressed Alistair. "My name is Jowan, My Lord. Connor hasn't been allowed to see his father, and his mother doesn't leave the Arl's side."

Effectively leaving Connor alone. It is always all about your needs, isn't it, Isolde! "Thank you for telling me, Jowan."

Clearly, there is more going on but it seems that Jowan understands how Isolde has effectively abandoned her son. "Connor, let's go to the dock, on the way we can stop in the larder nick some sweets to take with us."

Connor nodded but was still too upset to really speak.

Alistair and Connor typically went to the docks together whenever Alistair visited. It was a chance for the cousin's to talk and for Connor to confide in the only other person who knew what it was like to live under Isolde's thumb.

Stretching his legs, he watched Connor look out over the lake. I'll wait and hopefully, he'll open up.

"Alistair, I've…I've been having weird dreams."

That's a bit unexpected. "Weird in what way?"

"There's a lady in them…She says she can help Father."

This cannot be good. "Does she say how?"

"No."

"Why hasn't she helped?"

"She said she could only do it if I let her free."

"Free her from where?" While I've enjoyed studying about mages and templars, I never thought I would actually have to put that knowledge to use…The woman sounds like a demon, and for her to appear to Connor, that would mean he is a mage. Is Jowan here to tutor Connor?

"I don't know. She only says that she's being held captive but won't tell me where."

How do I explain the 'Lady' to Connor? "Connor, do you trust me?"

Connor nodded. "Yes! You always help me and you never treat me like I'm just a child."

"I know you want to help your father; I want to help him, too, but the lady in your dream isn't telling you the truth."

"She's lying? Why?"

"If she was really being held captive, she couldn't have appeared in your dream unless she used magic."

Connor was clearly thinking about what Alistair said. He whispered, "What if the person dreaming is a mage?"

"If the dreamer is a mage, it would just make it easier for the other mage to find them. But it wouldn't change anything; she would still be lying because mages who make those kinds of offers are demons in disguise."

Connor's eyes widened. "She's a demon? But she looks so kind, and pretty…aren't demons supposed to be ugly?"

"Yes, that why they use disguises. Connor, is Jowan teaching you about magic?"

"You won't tell anyone?"

"I won't tell."

"Mother wants Jowan to teach me how to hide my magic. She doesn't want anyone to know so I won't be taken to the Circle."

"Have you told Jowan about your dreams?"

Connor shook his head.

"Would you like me to go with you and we can talk to Jowan together?"

"Would you?"

"Of course."

"Thanks, Alistair. I'm glad you're my cousin."

"And I'm glad that you are my cousin, too."

They found Jowan in the library.

"Jowan, Connor and I have something important to tell you; perhaps we should go to Connor's room?"

Jowan made sure that there were no servants nearby. Connor was sitting on the floor in front of the hearth and Alistair sat next to him. "Are you ready Connor?"

Nodding, the boy looked at Jowan. "I've been dreaming about a woman who says that she can help my father if I set her free. Alistair said she is lying to me because she is really a demon."

Looking slightly alarmed, Jowan replied, "Ser Alistair is absolutely right, that woman is a demon. You need to learn how to refuse it's help."

"Will you teach me, Jowan?"

"That's…what I'm here for."

Alistair was wary of the mage. He seems sincere in wanting to help Connor, but Jowan seems a bit lacking in self-confidence. Connor would be safer in the Circle.

When Alistair saw Teagan shortly before dinner, Teagan was angry.

"She sent all of the Arling's best knights on a ridiculous quest to find the Ashes of Andraste!"

Alistair shook his head. "I wish she would pay more attention to Connor; he needs his mother to comfort him."

"I know. Her maternal instincts have always been...questionable. Let's have dinner in the tavern tonight," Teagan suggested. "I don't think I can stomach Isolde right now."

Teagan didn't wear his armor to dinner but Alistair was armed and armored.

During dinner at the tavern, they heard screams from the village; father and son ran out to see what was happening.

"Maker's ass!" Teagan swore. "Undead are pouring into the village and attacking the villagers. It looks like they are coming from the castle."

Alistair took command. "Father, take any and all who are injured to the Chantry. You are the last line of defense!"

Teagan nodded. I should have worn my armor!

Alistair found the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, both of whom could wield a sword.

"Mayor Murdock, raise the militia and go the bottom of the hill where those creatures are entering the village. Fintan and I will try to rescue any of the villagers left behind and kill the undead already in the village. Then we will join you."

Once the village was secured, Alistair joined the militia and jumped into the fray killing the shambling undead. His fearlessness and skill inspired the other fighters giving them new energy. At the first light of dawn, the remaining undead went back to the castle.

The Militia cheered, but everyone was worried about what would happen the next night.

The militia did a great job. "You fought like seasoned soldiers and saved much of the Village! Go, eat and rest, take care of your injuries and weapons, because we have to be ready for them if they return tonight."

Alistair went to the Chantry.

"Thank the Maker you are okay, my son." Teagan hugged Alistair, bloody armor and all. "I'm glad one of us was armed and armored. I feel like an idiot to be caught off-guard."

"Wear it tonight, but you should still defend the Chantry."

"I can't, it's in the castle. Deputy Mayor Fintan told me that castle gates were barred and there were no guards in sight." Teagan sighed, "Given what you told me about Connor, I can only guess that the demon is in control."

"That is what I think as well, Da. If we had fighters to spare I would suggest going in through the Windmill entrance, but we need everyone who can fight to stop these corpses."

After a short rest, Alistair and Teagan began to prepare for another attack. Alistair found barrels of oil at the general store and had the militia take them to the base of the hill.

"Ser Alistair."

"Yes, Mayor?"

"Please, it's Murdock. I've known you since you wore short pants and had hay in your hair."

Alistair chuckled. "Then just call me Alistair. What do you need?"

"It's Owen, the blacksmith. He refuses to fix the militia's armor but won't say why. In fact, he won't say anything. He has locked the door and won't answer."

"On it."

Alistair knocked heavily on the door. "Owen! Are you in there?"

"Go away!"

"I am not going away. I want to help."

"Who are you?"

"Alistair."

"Ser Alistair?"

"Yes."

He heard the door unlock. He went inside. Someone's been drinking. It smells like a distillery exploded in here.

"Owen, what can I do?"

"My daughter Valena, she is one of the Arlessa's maids. Please, you have to rescue her."

"On my word as a Knight, once I can get into the castle I will rescue Valena, if she lives. But I cannot get into the castle unless we can stop the undead from attacking the village and we can't do that unless you repair the militia's armor."

Owen nodded. "Your word, your word as a Knight?"

"Yes. On my word as a Knight."

"Okay, I'll stoke the forge."

Alistair left and found the mayor speaking with his father. "Murdock, Owen will start working on the armor. Father, when we get into the castle we have to find Owen's daughter, and Maker I hope she still lives."

"Of course." Teagan was looking over Alistair's shoulder when he suddenly said, "Thank the Maker."

Alistair turned and saw Ser Perth marching into the village with several of Redcliffe's knights. However, the news Perth brought was grave.

"Ostagar was a disaster. The King and all the Grey Wardens were overrun, and Loghain's retreat is being seen as suspicious.

Teagan held up his hand. "Wait, overrun? Cailan is dead?"

Perth slowly nodded. "The King, and all but two of the Grey Wardens. The only good news was that Aedan Cousland survived Howe's treachery and he is one of the two Wardens to escape Ostagar."

Alistair frowned. "What treachery, Perth?"

"Oh Maker, I thought you'd heard. Rendon Howe slaughtered the Couslands. He claimed that the Teyrn was secretly working for Orlais."

Alistair paled as did Teagan, who looked to Perth. "Slaughtered? All of them?"

"Let me start from the beginning. According to Warden Aedan, Arl Howe and his army were coming to Highever so he and Teyrn Cousland could lead both armies to Ostagar. However, on the day they were supposed to leave Highever, only part of Arl Howe's troops had arrived and the rest were, according to Howe, running behind schedule. Teyrn Cousland asked Lord Fergus to leave that day with the Highever Army and head to Ostagar. That night the remainder of Howe's army showed up, took the Castle, and killed both Teyrn and Teyrna Cousland, and Lord Fergus' wife and son."

"Oriana and Oren? Howe put a mother and child to death?"

"His soldiers killed everyone in the castle, down to the last servant."

Anger colored Teagan's tone. "What evil crawled into Howe's soul? Bryce was no more an agent of Orlais than I am a Tevinter magister."

Alistair was staggered by the news but also puzzled. "You said Aedan is a Grey Warden? How did he escape Highever?"

"The Warden-Commander was staying in Castle Cousland looking to recruit Ser Gilmore, but when Howe attacked, the Warden Commander took to Aedan to safety and made him a Grey Warden."

"And Aedan is alright?"

"Yes, Ser Alistair, he is. I saw him and his fellow warden, Surana, who is an elven mage. They had just arrived in Lothering, as had we. I told them about the Arl's illness. Warden Aedan explained that they were headed to the Circle Tower, and then they would come to Redcliffe."

AN Thank you to my Beta Elyssacousland who make this readable! Thank you to those who have reviewed, faved, and are following!