Chapter 4. The Walking Dead

[Leliana]

Today they should arrive in Redcliffe. Leliana had been grateful Sura had given her tent up for her to sleep in, though she felt bad the poor woman had to sleep outside. Sura had seemed happy to do so though. She had no idea what to expect when coming along with them all, but was happy to find that they all seemed friendly. All except Morrigan. That woman was the opposite of friendly.

Sura walk ahead of her talking to Morrigan right now. To Leliana's surprise, Sura was actually a mage. They were talking about Morrigan possibly helping Sura to learn more and get a better grip on her magic.

Morrigan didn't seem happy to help but agreed anyway. "It is better I teach you the proper way to wield magic than one of our companions end up on fire thanks to your current inexperience, as entertaining as that might be to watch."

Alistair suddenly shouted from ahead, "Ambush!"

The people attacking them though weren't your normal bandits. Were these assassins? Leliana sent an arrow flying bringing one down that was about to sink a dagger into Sura's side. Morrigan had set some on fire while Sura right beside her was bringing down her own fair share of the attackers. Sten and Dozer were at the frontline with Alistair holding them off of the rest of them.

Sura fights with such grace in her step, it's almost mesmerizing to watch. I wonder where she learned to fight like that? The Dalish only hunt. Hmm.

The last of their attackers lay on the ground scrambling backwards to get away from them. "Wait, wait, don't kill me! I could be of use to you." He was an elven man with dark skin and long blonde hair. He had a tattoo on his face, but his accent said he wasn't Dalish. "The name is Zevran. I am an Antivan Crow, or well, former Antivan Crow, seeing as I failed to kill you. A man named Loghain wants you dead."

Sura looked at the man with a hardened expression. "And why should I trust some assassin that was sent to kill me? You could just turn around and try to kill me again."

"That is a good point and indeed I could. But you should know all about second chances, my fellow assassin. I know you too failed to kill a Grey Warden when sent by your guild to do so. It seems we already have a lot in common, friend."

Sura had been an assassin? And sent to kill a Grey Warden?

Sura's face softened and turned into an expression of shock. "What- how did you know that?"

"A lot of putting the pieces together. When Loghain saw your guild of assassins could not get the job done in eliminating Wardens, he turned to the Crows, you see. He spent a lot of sovereigns to hire the best this time."

"The best, huh?" Sura snorted.

"Wait, Sura, what does he mean by you failed to kill a Grey Warden?" Alistair's expression was somewhere between anger and confusion.

"I.. had been sent to kill Duncan. I didn't know anything about him. It had always been just take a name and get the job done. But darkspawn attacked out of nowhere. I was bitten by one and it was either join the Wardens or die. I couldn't believe he was offering to save my life. That moment changed me. I owe Duncan everything."

"I can't believe this.. You don't really care about the Wardens at all. You're only here to save your own head!"

"That's not true, Alistair. People can change, I've really changed. I see you as a friend and I mourn for Duncan."

Leliana felt sorry for Sura. Leliana had also escaped a similar past three years ago and changed from what she was then. The woman she adventured with now didn't seem like the heartless assassin she may have once been.

Alistair wasn't convinced though."You might as well come along. We already have one Grey Warden killing assassin, what's one more?"

[Sura]

Sura could feel tears on her cheeks and regret swelling in her chest. She felt horrible for all she'd done and for what she had almost done. At the time it had been to just survive. But maybe she could've found another way? Or maybe starving and dying then would have just been best? It would've saved the many lives she had taken over those two years. Now Alistair knew about her past and probably hated her. Leliana hadn't said anything. Sura could assume she probably felt similarly, or at least would grow more distant from Sura now. Morrigan couldn't give a shit less about anything.

At least they were finally at Redcliffe. Only one problem though, they were the only ones at Redcliffe. There was no one to be found. Surely this isn't normal? There should be people here. They headed toward the castle where they discovered the problem.

"Can we ever get a break? Now the dead are walking." Sura unsheathed her blades and charged, glowing aura surrounded her and eyes glowing. There was an army of corpses before them. Morrigan rained lightning down from above, taking care of nearly ten at once. Sura slashed her way through, her daggers heated where fire now surround them. Arrows whizzed by her head with perfect accuracy, dropping corpses instantly with headshots. Dozer tackled a corpse that got too close to Morrigan, ripping it apart. Zevran also was holding his own, sneaking about picking targets off with finesse.

"A little help over here!" Alistair lay pinned to the ground getting overwhelmed. Sura starting running over to him to help but there'd be no way she could reach him in time. Suddenly she felt her body jerk forward and it's as if she's teleported instantly to where Alistair is. She killed the corpses that had Alistair pinned to the ground trying to kill him and helped him up.

"Thanks," he pants.

[Alistair]

They ran up the steps to the castle and entered to find Bann Teagan dancing about for a little boy. The little boy must be the Arl's son, Connor. Beside him was his mother and Arl Eamon's wife, Isolde. There was something off about the kid. No, there was something off about this whole situation.

"Mommy, who are these people? Why are they here?" Connor spoke, but it sounded nothing like what he should have. The voice that came from the boy sounded demonic.

"He's possessed," Sura stepped forward beside Alistair. "We know what you are, demon. Release this boy now."

"The boy is rightfully mine. We made a deal. Unless.. you have something better to offer?"

"I don't make deals with demons," Sura said. "Now show yourself." Her eyes started glowing green as well as the entire area around them. A red wisp rose from Connor's chest and he collapsed to the ground unconscious. The wisp landed in front of them growing and transforming into the desire demon that it was. Sura rushed forward toward it, slitting its throat and making a quick end to it. The demon evaporated into nothing. The glow ended and she collapsed to the ground.

Alistair ran forward to catch her. He couldn't believe what he had just saw. "Maker's breath, what was that?"

"That.. should have been impossible. She forced the demon out of the boys body into our world and killed it. A mage normally has to enter the fade to kill a demon."

"Is she.. okay?" Leliana looked at Sura's unconscious form with concern.

Morrigan walked over to examine her. "She is fine. Whatever that was just drained her. She might be out for a while."

In front of them Connor was coming to. Her mother hold him shedding tears of happiness. Bann Teagan walked forward to them now. "Alistair, it is good to see you're in good health."

"Thank you. Is the Arl well? What's going on here?"

"Come, let us talk in private. I'm afraid that'll be a long story."

Guards tended to Sura, carrying her off to a room with a bed to lie her in until she woke back up. Leliana followed them to stay with Sura and make sure she was okay. Morrigan, Sten, and Zevran stayed behind with Dozer.

Bann Teagan explained to Alistair how they had discovered Connor had magic, so Isolde not wanting Connor to be sent away to the Circle, hired a mage to help teach him magic. But the mage they had hired turned out to be a blood mage that poisoned the Arl. Connor had then become possessed by a demon in an attempt to make a deal to heal his father and raised all of the corpses they had encountered. Arl Eamon wasn't dead, but he was unconscious and had been for a week now. Nothing they'd tried thus far has helped. Their last hope was Andraste's Sacred Ashes, which some people thought was just myth. Bann Teagan suggested they see a man by the name of Brother Genitivi in Denerim for more information on where they might be located.

Alistair promised that if the ashes were indeed out there to be found, they would find them. They couldn't lose the Arl. They needed to form an army, and Arl Eamon would be important in doing this. The fate of Ferelden very well lied in the hands of a myth.