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Daylen
Lake Calenhad comes into view at dusk.
Daylen is less than thrilled to see that blasted tower again, but he reminds himself that it would have happened eventually.
And now that he's here... he can say hello to Greagoir. The thought of ruining that man's day does put a smile on his face.
He notices that Avina looks rather nervous. He doesn't know why; he doesn't know what happened with her to make Duncan use the Right of Conscription, but he suspects they are related.
Alistair briefly mumbles something about the mages just loving him as they approach the docks.
Daylen knows something is wrong. Instead of the man who usually ferried people across, an older man named Kester, there is a young Templar. A rather grumpy looking blonde one.
"You!" He barks. "You're not looking to get across to the tower, are you? Because I have strict orders not to let anyone pass."
"We don't have time for this," Avina says, stepping forward; "we are Grey Wardens and we need the assistance of the mages in the Blight."
"Oh, you're Grey Wardens, are you?" the Templar asks skeptically. "Prove it."
"I have these documents," she replies, producing the Grey Warden treaties and handing them to him.
"Yes? Ah, the Grey Warden seal," he recognizes. "You know, I have some documents, too. They say I'm the Queen of Antiva. What do you say to that?"
Daylen grins. "Well, I say it is lovely to meet you, your highness. And I might add that you look ravishing this evening," he says with a bow, trying to take the tempar's hand to kiss it.
The Templar yanks it away, looking uncomfortable. "Well, it was nice chatting with you. Now on your way. Right now. Go."
Daylen is about ready to threaten to eat his children when Avina clears her throat, giving him a pointed look. "Can't we work something out?"
The Templar's gaze drifts over to Morrigan and her scantily clad body. "That dark-eyed temptress over there," he starts. "Surely the tower would be far too dull for her. Because it gets a little lonely out here sometimes... and you know, you could just leave her with me-"
Morrigan raises an eyebrow and gives a sultry smile. "Oh, excellent," she purrs. "I have been hoping for new prey."
The Templar starts to look worried. "Prey?"
"'Twill take but a moment," she continues. "Perhaps the you should go aboard the vessel to prepare while we are away. We must row ourselves across. I fear the lad will no longer have the use of his limbs... or his eyes, once I am done with him."
If the Templar looked scared before, he looks downright terrified now. "Er... maybe I should-"
Morrigan smiles wickedly. "Wonderful!" She says gleefully, and Daylen really has to hand it to Morrigan; she really knows how to scare a Templar. "I can sense his terror! Oh, that will make the loving all the sweeter."
The Templar looks as if he will never sleep again, his eyes as wide as saucers. "So you said you wanted to get across?" he says quickly. "Maybe we should go now. Right now. NOW."
Daylen can barely keep a straight face as he replies, "Yes, we should."
Morrigan gives him a wink, and he grins back at her.
On their trip across, the Templar sits as far away from Morrigan as he can and doesn't say a word.
Avina
The moment they step into the tower, she can see almost a dozen Templars. Her heartbeat kicks up in fear, but she knows this isn't right. Usually, only three Templars guard the entrance of the tower. At most.
But as she steps forward, she sees that even Greagoir is here, speaking to another Templar.
"And I want two men stationed within sight of the doors at all times. Do not open the doors without my express consent. Is that clear?" she hears him order when they walk up to him.
The other Templar salutes. "Yes, ser."
"The doors are barred," Alistair notices. "Are they keeping people out? Or in?"
Greagoir finally turns to them. "Now we wait, and pray."
"Greagoir," Daylen gushes airily, batting his eyelashes. "It's so good to see you again."
Greagoir's expression immediately sours. "Well, look who's back? And a proper Grey Warden, are we? Glad you're not dead."
Yes, Avina thinks, and that Templar out there is the Queen of Antiva.
"What's happening?" she asks, peeking over Daylen's shoulder. "Why are the great doors barred?"
"I shall speak plainly. The tower is no longer under our control," he says gravely. "Abominations and demons stalk the tower's halls. We were too complacent... First Jowan, now this. Don't think I've forgotten your role in Jowan's escape," he directs the last part at Avina, and she has to fight the urge to shrink back.
"What's become of the first enchanter?" she asks, changing the subject.
Greagoir sighs. "We don't know. We saw only demons, hunting Templars and mages alike. I realized we could not defeat them and told my men to flee."
"The mages are not defenseless," she protests. "Some must still be alive."
"If any still live, the Maker Himself has shielded them. No one could have survived those monstrous creatures. It is too painful to hope for survivors and find... nothing."
"I will look for survivors," she says firmly.
Everyone stares at her.
Daylen opens his mouth, and she just knows he is going to tell her that it's foolish, so she cuts him off. "I don't care if you go with me. I will look for survivors, even if I am alone."
Daylen shuts his mouth, sighs, then scratches the back of his neck. "... Very well, then."
"I assure you, an abomination is a force to be reckoned with, and you will face more than one," Greagoir tries to dissuade her.
She meets his gaze. "I have to try. It is the right thing to do."
Greagoir frowns, but doesn't push any further. "A word of caution... once you cross that threshold, there is no turning back. The great doors must remain barred. I will open them for no one until I have proof that it is safe. I will only believe it is over if the first enchanter stands before me and tells me it is so. If Irving has fallen... then the Circle is lost, and must be destroyed. May Andraste lend you her courage, whatever you decide."
She half expects Daylen and Morrigan to say 'good luck' and walk away.
Yet they stay.
"I don't think this is a good idea," Daylen tells her. "But I'll help you."
"You're right," Alistair adds. "This is the right thing to do. If anyone is trapped inside, we can't just abandon them."
"I will follow you," Morrigan sighs. "Even if I do not like it."
She doesn't know what to say. So she just beams at them, and leads them into the tower.
The doors shut with finality behind them. They will not come out again until this is over.
Daylen
After encountering one of the remaining senior mages, Wynne (who apparently taught Avina healing at one point), the first floor is rather uneventful. At least, to Daylen. In all honesty, the way the Templars were talking about it, he expected an army of incredibly strong demons; not the few irritating randomly placed abominations.
The next floor up, he recalls, is the stockroom, the mage's quarters, and Irving's office. There, they encounter Owain, the Tranquil who was in charge of the stockroom.
He's every bit as cold and hollow as when Daylen met him. He seems completely unconcerned with the recent events, uncaring of the fact that his life and the lives of everyone here are in danger.
It reminds him why he used to wake up screaming from nightmares of Templars branding that sun onto his forehead.
Daylen will admit, he is glad to hear that Niall is alive, even though he only met the man once. In all likelihood, most of his friends and those he knew are abominations, blood mages, or have died a horrible death. So yes, he's glad someone he knew is alive and fighting.
As for the matter of the blood mages, he isn't surprised. Desperate people, desperate times, desperate measures.
That doesn't mean he likes it, however.
The young girl they prepare to kill though, is different. Her mind is her own, under the control of no demon, and shows remorse. She is definitely formidable, as they have seen, but he doesn't see any reason to let her live-
"Help us fight off the Blight," Avina offers suddenly. "Redeem yourself."
Daylen is almost... proud. He hadn't thought of that.
And she agrees. They have another fighter for their cause.
Wynne isn't happy, and Alistair seems confused, but neither of them go against Avina's word.
Irving's office turns up empty. No one is there, no first enchanter, no abominations. Daylen searches the room anyway, looking for clues, books, or anything that might help them.
Among some other things, he finds a small painted box in Irving's desk. He doesn't really know why, but he takes it with him.
When he pulls an ancient looking, yet well kept, black grimoire from Irving's chest, it makes him think of Morrigan. He shrugs, tucking the volume into his pack, and they head up the stairs to the next floor.
The third floor is, by comparison, Daylen's least favorite floor. Why? One word.
Templars.
The third floor is full of them, and none of them listen to reason. They're all either possessed or have been charmed by a desire demon. Either way, they fight like madmen, and a group of Templars against a group of mostly mages is not a good matchup.
He's going to have a headache from all the times one of those idiots hit him with a smite.
The final room, however, has no Templars. Daylen is pleased, but while they fight he realizes that the few Tranquil that are left are being transformed into shades and the corpses in the room are reanimating.
There are only two Tranquil left when they finally kill the abomination and the rest of the creatures.
"Thank you. That was an uncomfortable experience," they say tonelessly. Daylen sighs; at least they thanked them.
And up the stairs they go.
It's more of the same thing they've already faced, until the center room.
In the middle stands a lone abomination, standing over the still form of...
Niall. He may not have known him long, but he recognizes the shaggy brown hair and the neatly kept robes.
Avina cries out in horror at the creature, which slowly turns to face them. His twisted face seems utterly bored.
"Oh look," he drawls in a voice that could only come from a demon. "Visitors. I'd entertain you, but... too much effort involved."
Daylen can feel the power pulsing around this creature; it is no ordinary demon. Panic slowly fills him, but he forces a sneer. "Good. That will make you that much easier to kill."
"But why?" the demon asks. "Aren't you tired of all the violence in this world? I know I am. Wouldn't you like to just lay down and... forget about all this?" His form starts to glow as if on fire. Daylen takes a step back, his head feeling heavier than before... "Leave it all behind."
"This is ridiculous," Morrigan yawns. "You cannot expect me to sleep on a floor sticky with blood."
"No... no..." Avina whimpers, trying to cover her ears as she sways on her feet. Beside her, Griffon collapses into a heap on the floor.
"Can't... keep eyes open," Alistair mumbles. "Someone... pinch... me..."
"Resist," Wynne begs. "You must resist, else we are all lost..."
"Why do you fight?" The demon continues. "You deserve more... you deserve a rest. The world will go on without you."
Everything goes black.
When he opens his eyes, he is alone.
Or so he thinks for a few seconds. He can see the figures of three people in the distance; one being startlingly familiar.
Duncan.
That is the moment he realizes where he is. He knows Duncan is dead. Knowing this allows him to think more clearly, to remember why he's here.
The tower. The demons. The sloth demon.
He must escape this place.
He feels no remorse when he cuts down Duncan's imposter. The true Duncan is dead, and this one is just a poor imitation, a charade to keep him trapped here. The other two are ones he doesn't recognize, but it doesn't matter. He wastes no time. As soon as the pedestal shows up, he has traveled to the next section of the Fade.
Niall only confirms his fears. If every one of his companions are trapped here, completely unaware of what's really happening, this will be...
Very difficult.
He sighs, wiping a hand over tired eyes. It's going to be a long night, he can tell.
He finds Alistair first.
He's actually kind of surprised; he sort of expected to see him here with Avina, living in marital bliss with no less than five children running around.
He should have expected seeing the sister though. Alistair has always longed to belong to a family, after all.
But where is Avina?
Alistair is almost too cheerful as he greets him, and Daylen has to remind himself that Alistair has no idea what's really going on.
"Alistair," he says sharply, to get his attention. "Listen; I need you to think for a moment. How did you get here?"
Alistair only grins. "I flew on a griffon's back. How else are Grey Wardens supposed to travel?"
"Alistair," Daylen groans. Don't lose your temper, he tells himself.
"Is your friend staying for supper, Alistair?" The voice of the demon is so soft and gentle, caring and warm.
"Say you'll stay?" Alistair asks. "Goldanna's a great cook-"
Daylen grabs him by the shoulder, cutting him off. "I know this may be somewhat difficult for you," he snaps, "but think! What were we doing? Why are we here?"
For the first time, Alistair looks doubtful, so Daylen keeps going.
"We need to bring Loghain to justice, remember?" he presses. "And what about Avina? Where is she?"
Alistair jerks back as if struck, his mouth dropping open. "I- I- Avina?"
"The elven healer who looks at you like you're a prince in shining armor," Daylen reminds him. "She's in trouble, we're all in trouble if we can't find each other."
"I remember," Alistair breathes in shock. "The tower... There were demons..."
"Then we were trapped in the Fade," Daylen finishes.
"This... This is a dream? It seems so real," he breathes.
"Of course it's real," Demon Goldanna says quickly. "Now wash up before supper and I-"
"Something's not right here," Alistair insists. "I think I should go."
"Come with me then," Daylen offers. "Help me find the others."
"No!" the demon hisses, it's true voice leaking into Goldanna's angelic purr. "He is ours! And I'd rather see him dead than free!"
Goldanna starts to beat at them with her fists, but her children change and warp into skeletal monsters with swords and bows. Luckily though, Alistair has regained himself enough to help.
When it's over, Alistair stands over the corpse of the demon pretending to be his sister, looking down sadly.
"How did I not see this earlier?" he laments.
"You weren't trained to recognize the Fade and when you were dreaming," Daylen reminds him.
"Yes, well, try not to tell everyone how easily fooled I was. Are we going then?" Alistair asks, just as his form starts to shimmer. "Wait! Where are you going? What's happening to me? Hey!"
And Alistair disappears from sight.
Daylen screams in frustration, punching the side of a Fade hill as he passes on his way to the pedestal.
He just hopes the others will be more helpful.
The next nightmare he enters is Wynne's.
Now he really wishes he had Avina with him; she knew the old woman so much better than he did.
There are dead mage apprentices around her, their eyes open but glassy and unseeing. Creepy. Wynne stands in the middle of the corpses, her face buried in her hands.
She proves both easier and harder to get through to than Alistair. She's almost as stubborn as Avina, but she's also a mage and begins to understand when he asks her to concentrate on how they got to this point.
"Perhaps... some time away from this place will help me think clearly," she says wearily after thinking for a few moments.
"Some time away from here will help you feel better," he encourages.
An elven apprentice lifts to his feet. Daylen jumps, startled, and he opens his mouth.
"Don't leave us, Wynne," he pleads with the voice of a child. "We don't want to be alone."
Wynne backs away from the apprentice, her eyes widening in realization and fear. "Holy Maker! Stay away, foul creature!"
"You must face them, Wynne," Daylen whispers to her as he readies his staff. "This is your greatest fear; if you can defeat them you can leave this prison."
The dead apprentice follows her. "Stay, Wynne," he commands. "Sleep soundly in the comforting embrace of the earth. Do not fight it. You belong here, with us."
Wynne shakes her head frantically. "N-no, not yet. My task is not yet done... it is not time yet."
The ghostly mage floats forward another step. "Come... come away to your rest."
And that's all he can say before Wynne casts arcane bolt, throwing the apprentice away from her.
The other apprentices rise as well, but with Daylen at her back Wynne strikes them down one by one until none remain.
"Is it over?" Wynne says, almost disbelievingly. She turns to Daylen. "Oh, thank the Maker for you." She starts to shimmer. "Wait, what's happening? Where are you going?"
Then she too disappears.
Daylen lets out a sigh. Well, with any luck, they would at least be there when he had to face the Sloth demon itself.
When Daylen steps into the next nightmare, he knows whose it is immediately, because he can hear her already.
"Away!" Morrigan snaps. "Away with you! I shall have no more of your pestering!"
In front of her stands an imitation of Flemeth, wearing a forlorn expression.
Frankly, Daylen only finds it disquieting.
"I am your mother," the demon replies, sounding hurt. "Do you not love me?"
Morrigan scowls. "You are as much my mother as my little finger," she holds up her pinky, "right here, is the Queen of Ferelden. I know you, Fade spirit. You cannot fool me."
The spirit frowns back at her, eyes narrowing. "Are you more clever than your own dear mother? Surely such pride must be punished!"
The spirit slaps her across the cheek. Hard.
Morrigan stumbles back briefly, holding her face.
"There!" the Fade spirit spits. "That is for not showing respect!"
Morrigan only laughs, putting her hands on her hips. "That is far more like it, but it is too little too late, spirit." She notices Daylen finally, and she turns to him eagerly. "'Tis you at last! Come and rid me of this vexatious spirit! I weary of being prodded!"
Daylen raises an eyebrow. "... Why is she prodding you?"
Morrigan crosses her arms. "You ask me? It cannot even read my mind well enough to form a decent copy! Yet it hounds me still!"
The false Flemeth looks sad again. "She doesn't even acknowledge her own mother! My heart, it breaks!"
Daylen can't help himself; he snorts. "Wow."
"Oh, slay it, and quickly!" Morrigan groans. "Even the true Flemeth was never as annoying as this!"
Daylen takes up his staff. "As you wish, my lady."
And he does.
"'Tis about time. That was most-" Morrigan is cut short, her body glimmering faintly as if on fire. "Wait! What is this? No, not this again! I refuse!"
Refuse though she did, she disappears anyway.
Daylen cracks his neck to the side. Only Avina and Griffon left now.
Griffon is easy to find, and he proves the easiest to wake from his nightmare.
Because in Griffon's nightmare, he's just asleep.
"Griffon!" Daylen calls in relief.
Griffon twitches in his sleep, one of his legs kicking out as if he were running in a dream.
"C'mon, boy!" Daylen booms, leaning down to gently thump him on the side. "We have things to do, darkspawn to kill, wars to stop! Up and at 'em!"
Griffon snorts, then his eyes flutter open. And though Daylen thought that Griffon didn't care for him, the dog leaps to his feet and jumps around excitedly. Daylen thought that he would fade away as the others had, but as he watches, Griffon runs off into the mist as fast as he can.
He assumes this means he's free. He hopes so, at least. If not, he's sure Avina will kill him for losing her dog.
When at last he finds her, he thinks at first that he's possibly in the wrong dream.
It appears he's back in Redcliffe dungeon, but this time there are three guards around the cell that held Jowan. He tries to look inside, but all he can see is a huddled figure in the corner.
One of the guards notices him and hits his sword on the bars of the cell. "Oi, Maleficar!" He snarls. "Wake up, you stupid bitch! You've got a visitor."
Daylen's eyes widen. No... it can't be...
But it is. Avina turns her dirty face to the door of the cell, allowing him to see her. Her hair is down and tangled down her back, and she wears tattered robes that hang loosely around her skinny frame.
He can't believe it. How could this be her nightmare? As far as he knows, Avina isn't a Maleficar. Not that he'd ever asked her. But she couldn't be, right? He'd have known otherwise?
As he stares, she stands on shaky legs. Now that he can see the rest of her, he can see the bruises running up and down her arms and legs. Bile rises in his throat.
"Avina?" He manages to murmur.
She doesn't meet his eyes. "It's time, then?" she asks quietly.
Daylen's brow furrows. "Time for what?"
"My execution. Are you here to kill me?"
"What?" And she sounds so empty, so indifferent about it. It's so different from the fierce young woman he thought he knew. Was this really her, or was she an imitation, and someone else's nightmare?
"I don't get visitors," she tells him. "No one wants to see me."
"Avina, it's me!" He practically shouts at her. "Daylen Amell, remember?"
A wrinkle forms between her brows. "Are you the one who dared Anders to bed me?"
Oh. Right. "Well, yes, but... that's not what I mean. We're comrades. Grey Wardens."
The guard closest to him guffaws. "Ey, you hear that, mate? We got ourselves a Grey Warden here!"
The other guards laugh. "Yeah, and I'm Duke Prosper."
Avina's eyes start to shine. "So you are here to make fun of me," she accuses.
"Avina, no!" He curses. "Listen. We were chosen together by Duncan. He took us to Ostagar. Don't you remember? Daveth and Jory didn't survive the Joining, but we did. We lit the beacon at the tower of Ishal, but Loghain fled and left us to die. We were shot. That's where I got these scars." He shows her his collarbone, which has two scars. "You threw yourself in front of Alistair to save him."
The sound of Alistair's name sends a rush of air into her lungs, but he keeps going.
"Morrigan's mother saved us. We would have died, but she rescued us from the tower and sent us with her daughter to end the Blight."
Avina blinks rapidly, as if trying to open the eyes of her real body. "What- but, I was caught learning blood magic in the Circle."
"That's not true. Jowan was," he corrects.
"Jowan escaped," she insists.
"He did, but Loghain caught him," he explains. "Offered him a way out. Told him to poison Arl Eamon. He was invited to the castle by Lady Isolde, the arl's wife, to train their son Connor to hide his magic. But Connor was distraught over the poisoning of his father, and accidentally tore open the Veil. A desire demon possessed him. We're at the Circle now, trying to get the mages to save him. You won't let them slay him, and you didn't let Jowan use Isolde's blood to send you into the Fade. But we have to hurry, Avina. We have to kill Sloth and escape, so we can find the first enchanter and get out of here."
Avina looks at him in shock, and the guards laugh harder, mocking both of them. Avina bites her lip, looking at the floor with indecision.
"Avina," he whispers. "If you don't escape, we'll die. Griffon will die. Alistair will die. Connor, Leliana, Sten, and Morrigan will die. And the world will be ended by the Blight. Please."
"Yes, please save us, Grey Warden!" A guard chortles, placing the back of his hand on his forehead. The other guards are practically roaring.
Avina lowers her head, her hands clenching into fists.
Daylen sighs, and is about to try again when-
BANG!
The cell door flies back, propelled by a chunk of stone the size of an ogre's head. It hits one of the guards head on, crushing him beneath it, and a furious mage steps out of the cell.
Flames light up her hands as she faces the one standing to the left of her cell, forcing him back with the blasts as Daylen, almost too surprised to act, turns on the last guard.
They shriek inhumanly as they die, their bodies crumpling under the combined force of Daylen and Avina's magic. When it's over, Avina stands over them panting, her fists still shaking in fury. She glares down at them as if she wishes she could kill them again, and if it were Daylen, he would too.
He's expecting it this time when her body starts to shimmer, but she looks up in a panic.
"It's alright, Avina. We're getting out of here!"
That is all he has time to say before she is gone, too.
But her nightmare leaves him curious.
Is she a blood mage?
He'll have to ask her the next time their lives aren't in immediate danger.
Tel'abelas.
Next chapter: Where Demons Hide