Chapter 126: Howe it Ends
Lightning, steel, wind, and arrows clashed together.
Leliana stayed close to Alim as they fought their way through the dungeons of the Arl of Denerim's estate. The bulk of the guards seemed to be focused on the lower levels, not that that was surprising.
Alim's elven ears lowered in anger.
What Howe was doing here, away from the prying eyes of the royal court…
…it was disgusting.
They had found ample evidence of torture, maiming, and the murder of Howe's political enemies. They had discovered the son of the Bann of Dragon's Peak, still alive, thank the Maker. The poor boy had been tied to the rack, his feet had been broken, his knees crushed.
The very sight made even Morrigan shiver.
Alim and the witch had done all they could for the boy, he would survive, but might end up losing a leg, or both. There were somethings that even magic could not undo.
Lord Oswyn had promised to speak up at the Landsmeet for the wardens, or at the very least convince his father to. Howe had spent the last week trying to break him, either to ensure his father's loyalty or punish him for one slight or another.
The young lord made it plain, Howe would answer for what he had done, whatever it took.
Fergus and Kally remained quiet as they made their way through the dungeons. No doubt the pair was dealing with any demons left from their own experiences. Oghren seemed to delight in the conflict charging in with a fierce war cry, letting his ax do all the work.
The dwarf flung open another door; they guards, no doubt hearing the conflict had taken up a defensive position, shields in front archers behind.
They let loose a volley through the doorway.
Oghren, used to clearing rooms at this point took cover as the arrows flew past him. While the archers reloaded, Alim summoned a wind sent it swirling through the guards' ranks.
Like in the deep roads, the elf's powers were stunted slightly by being inside; he was forced to coax the wind out of the air that was available.
It was an exhausting process, but it was useful.
The wind shrieked in the warriors' ears, and threw them slightly off balance. Oghren, Kally, and Fergus charged into the room, weapons flashing. None of the Howe men even tried to surrender, whether out of fear of their master, or realizing that they would find no mercy when their crimes were revealed, most chose to fight to the death.
Alim's distraction was all it took, within a few minutes, the fight was over.
The elf leaned heavily against the doorframe, he was sweating and pale, he downed a small flask of lyrium, his face turning at the sour taste.
Leliana turned her blades red with the blood of Howe loyalists. The fury in her eyes faded as she regarded the exhausted warden.
"Dearest?" she cooed with a worried look on her face.
Alim took a deep breath, trying to center himself.
"I'm…uh…I'm fine," he murmured, wiping at his brow.
Morrigan looked at him and snorted like an angry mare.
"Tis not necessary for you to exhaust yourself Alim," she said laying a glowing hand on the elf's shoulder. He sighed as the magic worked its way into his bones.
The witch shook her head.
"My spells can bolster your strength," she said, "But it would leave me dependent on your protection, I can enhance you or protect myself, one or the other."
Alim nodded grimly, a bit of color returning to his cheeks.
"I would rather you not be left completely defenseless," he said.
"And we would rather you not faint at an inopportune moment," the witch replied.
Leliana stepped up to her drawing her bow.
"I will protect you, Morrigan," she promised, "Just do what you can to keep Alim safe."
The elf glared at his lover.
"Leli?"
"I will keep her safe," Leliana said sternly, leaving no room for discussion.
"I will keep you both safe."
Both he and Morrigan looked at each other.
Finally, they both chuckled.
"I guess the boss has spoken," Alim said with a weak smile.
Morrigan sneered, but there was no heat or anger in it.
"So it seems," she purred.
Leliana ignored them both.
She had a job to do; she was going to do it.
The bard's eyes narrowed as she tried to remember the lay out of this place, back when she had been trapped her by Marjolaine she had been going mostly on instinct, anger and fear motivating her, keeping her moving as she fought her way through.
She moved out into the hall, and looked down the corridor.
She pursed her lips.
"There is a large room up ahead on the right," she informed the group, "It is a good defensible position. It was a good place for a lord to retreat to if his house was under siege."
Fergus stepped forward, his expression grim.
"Then we have likely found where Howe is hiding."
Kally stepped up next to him; the elf's good eye was flickering with an almost murderous light.
"Let's go say hi," she growled.
Alim gave the two a stern look.
"If Howe is in there," he advised, "Don't go berserk, that would play right into his hands."
Oghren chuckled at that advice.
"Can't expect me not to go berserk, warden," he said with a chuckle.
"It is kinda what I do."
Alim smirked at their dwarven ally.
"Just keep it under control until I give the signal, master dwarf," he advised.
The elf sighed slightly.
"I think it is safe to say were not getting out of here now without a fight. I seriously doubt Howe is just going to let us waltz out of here with the Queen."
Fergus looked down at his bloody blade. He had likely slain more Howe men here than all of them put together. Kally had kept them back, but it had been the warrior that had finished them off.
Now he stood less than twenty feet from his revenge.
It was no doubt hard to deny himself, now that he was this close.
Alim gave him a concerned look.
"Hold it together Gus," he said.
Fergus Cousland nodded, no doubt trying to remember the warrior training that had kept him alive up until now.
"I'm under control warden," he said grimly.
He took the lead as they made their way to the final door.
"Let's do this," he growled.
The warriors took their positions near the door. Alim Morrigan and Leliana formed up to cover them should the enemy charge out to meet them.
Fergus opened the door and stepped back.
No arrows or magic bolts emerged…
…only a cold mocking voice, a voice that set them all on edge.
"Well, well, if it isn't the fabled grey warden. I must admit, I did not expect you to invade my castle and murder my men. Tell me, has poor Eamon lost faith with his beloved Landsmeet?"
Alim's eyes narrowed.
Rendon Howe was indeed inside, and now he was taunting them, daring them to come in.
The elf's ears lowered in anger.
He was more than happy to oblige the bastard shem…
…More than happy indeed.
IOI
Rendon Howe stood in the center of the room flanked by two mages and at least six guards. A part of Alim had hoped to find the man cowering, ready to negotiate now that they had breached so far into his stronghold.
That desire…was clearly going to go unfulfilled.
Howe stood in a suit of fine leather armor, his family sigil adorned the breast plate, a small hand ax and dagger were sheathed at his belt and he stood with the confidence of a man who knew how to use them.
Alim's eyes narrowed.
Part of him had hoped that Rendon Howe had been hiding from them, that the years had robbed him of the skills he had possessed during the days of Maric's rebellion.
Seeing the man standing there, he knew they weren't that lucky. Howe might have men with him, but he clearly did not need them to kill for him.
He could apparently do that for himself as well.
For a moment, the two groups faced each other. Howe's men waiting for him to give the order, just as Alim's companions awaited him to give the word. The air between the two groups was tense, not surprising considering what was about to happen.
Not surprisingly, it was Fergus that broke the stalemate, his eyes radiating pure hate as he glared at the Arl of Denerim.
"Murder?" he said flatly, "You accuse us of murder? That is almost funny coming from you Howe, especially what you and your men did in Highever Castle."
The Arl laughed coldly.
"That was not murder boy that was a public service. Your father was always so smug, so imperious. Visits to Orlais, all the trinkets he brought home from his travels, and all the prestige that followed."
Howe sneered, his lip curling with disgust.
"Gifts your father called them, bribes I say. They were trinkets to help advance Orlais' interest in reclaiming our country. Your father was bought and paid for, and as his prestige grew, he forgot about all but his family. He forgot his friends.
Howe shook his head.
"He took everything, and shared nothing with those around him, that was his mistake. He squandered his position with King Cailan, a mistake I will not repeat."
The lord's sneer twisted into a cold smile.
"Loghain will defeat the Blight that you are oh so worried about. He will ascend to Cailan's throne and rule as a true Ferelden King…with…ahem…a proper advisor guiding him.
Excitement flashed in the lord's eyes.
"There is no limit to what we can accomplish!" he declared.
Alim shook his head.
"You over estimate Loghain's chances," the warden said, "I've seen the Archdemon, Howe. It is beyond mere swords and armies, but you don't care about that do you? All you care about is what you can drain from this country before it falls into darkness."
The elf's ears lowered.
"You're not an advisor; you're a parasite, feeding off your betters."
"A parasite that we are about to remove," Kally growled, her fingers curling around the hilts of her swords.
Everyone tensed, but the attack did not begin, not yet, but it was coming…
It was coming.
"You will release Queen Anora into our custody," Alim ordered, "We can do this easy, or the hard way."
Howe chuckled at that statement.
"So little Anora had ensnared you now? How amusing. She always did enjoy her little games."
Alim said nothing. He suspected Howe might be right on that, but he would not give the bastard the satisfaction of acknowledging that.
The Arl shook his head, his own hands resting on the weapons at his belt.
His sneer returned.
"You should have slunk back to the Anderfels to hide with your warden brothers, elf," he spat, "Ferelden is ours now, and we don't need people like you to protect us."
He glanced at the warden and his companions, his sneer grew.
"Loghain will triumph, and you will die."
Alim had heard enough lightning crackled around the tip of his staff, he was just about to give the order to attack when Howe flung something from his belt at them.
Alim called a breeze to dispel it as it struck the floor, the acid flask's contents scattered harmlessly to the side.
It was all the opportunity Rendon Howe and his men needed.
They attacked.
Howe lunged at Alim, ax and dagger in hand, the elf barely had time to raise his staff, and even then he had almost died.
Howe hooked the staff with his ax, and tried to bury his dagger into the elf's belly, a move that at first would have seemed impossible from an older noble.
Alim's eyes narrowed.
He had underestimated the parasite.
He would not do so again.
With an angry howl Fergus charged Howe forcing the lord to disengage from the warden. At first Alim had been worried, afraid that Fergus was charging in blindly. Howe might have thought the same, until he tried to sidestep and get behind the younger warrior.
Fergus matched his step, and struck him with his shield sending the murderous Arl tumbling back. He regained his feet easily, but had little or no chance to breathe.
Fergus Cousland was not going to give him that chance. He stalked the older man like a lion, cutting off all avenues of escape.
The warrior glared at the treacherous noble.
"You killed my father, my family, for prestige, for trinkets," he spat, "Had you wanted in, you could have asked, Father would have included you in his diplomatic missions, but you were too proud."
Fergus' eyes burned into the other man.
"You killed my parents, you killed my wife…"
Fury blossomed up from inside Fergus Cousland; no longer could it be restrained.
"YOU KILLED MY BOY!"
He lunged at Howe.
"MYYYYY BOOOOOY!"
A large wolf slammed into Fergus sending him sprawling. The creature, one of Howe's mage's transformed, struggled with the noble, seeking to tear out his throat with his teeth.
Alim sent a mystic bolt into the creature causing it to tumble away, but was quickly overtaken by a stinging swarm of insects, the other mage transformed.
Arrows flew around him as Leliana exchanged shots with several of Howe's men. Oghren and Kallian did their best to keep the swordsmen that the Arl had brought with him back. Morrigan still weary from using her powers to bolster Alim sent a weak jet of flame into the swarm of stinging insects, the fire forced the mage to return to his human form, the mage did his best to pat out the flames.
Alim drove spellbinder deep into the shape changer's heart, the mage gurgled out a bloody whimper as he fell to the hard stone floor.
Howe and Fergus renewed their battle. Fergus might have been young and strong, but the Arl was fast and sly, and he was not above using dirty tricks to try and claim victory.
The surviving Howe mage returned to human form and began casting, His spells bolstering the Howe troops and their lord, restoring their flagging energy.
An arrow struck Oghren in the chest, but he did not fall, he roared like an angry dragon and brought his ax down on one of the Howe soldiers, cutting the man in twain.
Another arrow caught the dwarf in the side; a third likely would have struck home had Leliana not at that moment fired an arrow of her own into the archer's eye socket.
The man fell with not even a whimper.
Alim turned his attention to the surviving Howe mage. He fought his way across the chamber, lightning shielding him from any foe who tried to get too close.
The mage raised his staff, a spell already forming on his lips.
His and Alim's weapons met with a resounding clang. The other mage was strong and rested, but Alim had one advantage that he did not.
Alim…had a sword.
Spellbinder came around and before the man could back pedal or block, the elven blade slid between his ribs and up into his chest.
The mage spat blood yet still did not fall, he began to chant, dark and terrifying words spilled from his mouth. The Blood that was running from his body began to swirl like smoke, summoned by the man's magic.
The warden did not give him time to finish.
He withdrew his blade, and with a spin decapitated his dying adversary, the mage's body fell with an empty thump.
No magic in Thedas could have helped the blood mage survive that!
Alim, though winded, turned to aid his allies. Two Howe men still fought with Leliana and Morrigan, Oghren was wounded but still going. He did not see Kally, had she fallen, he could not say for sure, not with all the bodies scattered around. Fergus was…
"DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
Alim's head snapped over to his right, what he saw their shocked him.
Rendon Howe had Fergus on his knees, his dagger at the young nobleman's throat. Blood ran from the Arl's wounded shoulder, from his nose and his split lip.
HE gave them all a bloody smile.
"Drop your weapons," he hissed, "Do it or I'll cut his throat to the neck bone!"
All battle ceased, the last of Howe's bodyguards had been cut down, but now they found themselves facing a new dilemma.
If they tried to move, Fergus would die.
Alim's ears lowered in anger.
"Don't," Fergus spat, "He must die, that is all that matters!"
"Silence worm," Howe sneered, his eyes burning into Alim's, eyes that were alight with cruel triumph.
"Would you kill your ally warden," he purred, "I don't think so."
Alim glared at the man, he was very tempted to call his bluff, but if he did…
The elf sighed.
If he did…?
He began to lower his blade.
Howe laughed.
"The mighty grey warden, brought low by the Arl of Amaranthine and Denerim, the Teyrn of Highever!"
He cackled almost madly.
"What were you saying about your betters," he taunted, "Now you see who is your better, now you see…URK!"
Howe straightened; his head snapped back, Fergus managed to escape when the Arl's twitch caused him to lose his grip on his dagger. The warrior rolled forward, recovering his blade.
Rendon Howe spat blood; he looked down at the long stiletto sticking out of just under his breast plate, a stiletto that had come through his back.
On the end of that blade, stood a very angry, she-elf with an eye patch.
Kally twisted the blade, making Howe spray blood from his mouth.
The elf grinned savagely.
"I guess I'm just another animal that doesn't know her place," she hissed.
She drove the dagger deeper, making Howe gasp.
She sneered up at him.
"For the Alienage," she spat.
Howe flung his head back striking her in the face; the elf lost her grip on her blade and fell back.
The Arl let out a burbling snarl of rage; he pulled another dagger from his belt.
He never got the chance to strike.
Fergus was on his feet again, he grabbed the Arl by the shoulder and spun him around, a dagger of his own in his hand.
He stabbed Howe three times in the chest, each blow punctuated with a statement, a statement of justice, long denied.
Howe was just conscious enough to still hear those words.
"For my parents."
Stab!
"For Oriana."
Stab!
Fergus leaned in close, his voice now barely a whisper.
"For my boy," he hissed.
He slammed his forehead hard into Howe's face, breaking the nobleman's nose. Howe flew back onto the stones, bleeding from several deep wounds, blood bubbling from his mouth with every failing breath from his lungs.
Still he would not die.
He was too full of hate for that!
He glared at Fergus, and Kally, the two who had killed him.
Then he glared at the warden, the one who had brought all his dreams crashing down.
Howe spat blood at his enemies, but they said nothing more, they just watched.
Rendon Howe glared at them all.
IOI
They have killed me, he thought.
They had murdered him, when the entire world had begun to open up for him.
It wasn't right!
It wasn't fair!
As the light began to fade, he could have sworn he saw Bryce and Eleanor Cousland standing beside their son and his allies, the two were smiling triumphantly down upon him.
Howe spat blood at them.
Damn them all!
He managed two more wheezing breaths.
Maker spit on you," he growled.
He turned to Bryce and Eleanor, his friends, and hated foes.
It was to them he looked to in his final moments.
He had still killed them.
He had still won that one small battle.
"I," he gasped.
"I…deserved…mo…more!"
Rendon Howe, the Arl of Amaranthine and Denerim, the Teyrn of Highever, leaned back, his death rattle finally escaping his throat.
He thought of everything that they had denied him, everything they had taken from him.
Then as his life finally faded, that taken from him as well, and then…
And then…
Howe gasped his last breath.
Then…he thought of nothing at all.
The last thing he heard was Fergus Cousland.
"Goodbye," the boy said.
"And good riddance."