Hello everyone I'm Back! sorry for the long hiatus, but i had other things t do and now i'm back. Enjoy the chapter.


Chapter 8

That night during camp after everyone had eaten their fill of dinner and they were about to head off to sleep, Harry stopped Aedan from going into his tent for some sleep. Indicating for Aedan to follow him, Harry led him to where Dane was lying on the ground gnawing on a bone that Luna had given the dog earlier as a treat. Sitting on the ground, Harry waited until Aedan was also seated next to him before speaking.

"I think we should split the group." Harry said.

Aedan was startled by the sudden statement. "Why?" he asked.

"It's simple. If we separate into two groups, we'll not only hasten the process of getting the treatise honoured, we'll also be able to deal with the Darkspawn sooner. And since we're heading to Redcliffe, I can take Alistair with me and a few others to seek help from the dwarves." Harry explained.

Aedan stayed quiet for a few minutes, seemingly thinking about the whole plan and how it would make things easier on the group. Aedan looked at Harry, then at Dane, who was still gnawing at his bone happily, before looking back at Harry and nodding.

"Alright, we'll go through with the plan." Aedan said, agreeing to the proposal. "Who are you going to take with you?" he asked.

Harry pondered this question for a few minutes, deliberating on who he should bring. He knew he was going to bring Luna with him, as well as Alistair, so that he could have some legitimate claim to the treatise. Sten would make a good choice as he would be able to intimidate anyone who thought of stealing or attacking them. While he would bring either Wynne or Morrigan, something told him to allow Aedan to take both of them. While Zevran was still new to the group, his expertise in assassinations would help to spot any of the Carta that he knew would be spying on them. Nodding to himself, Harry turned to Aedan, who was waiting for his answer.

"I'll be bringing Alistair, Zevran, Sten and Luna with me to Orzammar. When we're done there, we'll meet back at Redcliffe Castle." Harry said.

"Alright, good choice. Now if you'll excuse me Harry, I need some sleep. Goodnight." Aedan said nodded at the choice he made before getting up and making his way to his tent to get some sleep.


The next morning after everyone had eaten their breakfast and packed their camp, Aedan told everyone that they were going to split up into two groups, one led by himself and the other with Harry. When asked where Harry's group was heading, he told them that he would be bringing them to Orzammar.

"Why Orzammar? Why not go after the Dalish first?" Alistair asked.

"Because I know the current king of Orzammar, King Endrin." Harry answered. "He and his family owe me debt. So it should be easy to gain their support. As for why we're not going after the Dalish is simple. They are particularly hard to find and do not take kindly to any humans coming near their camp." Harry explained.

"That settles the problem with the Dwarves then." Aedan said.

"Aedan, if we are delayed, you can help Levi with his problem until we meet back at Redcliffe." Harry said, to which Aedan nodded in agreement before continuing on with his group towards Redcliffe.

The journey to Orzammar was mostly uneventful, with only the occasional ambush by bandits and Darkspawn that was easily handled by the group. It would take them two whole days of nonstop trekking for them to reach the mountain valley where the gates of Orzammar were constructed. Coincidently, the doors of Orzammar was just a little ways off from the road that connected it to the mountain pass that led to Gherlen's Pass and onto the Imperial Highway.


Walking behind Harry, Alistair though about their rather strange companion. He was a mage from a noble family that did not immediately throw their child to the Circle of Magi the minute they learned that he was a Mage. Especially since his father was a Templar and his mother a Mage herself. Actually the fact that the father could marry a Mage was something that baffled him even more so, considering that both the Chantry and the Templars would have a fit.

Alistair then focused his thoughts about Harry and found himself somewhat stumped. On one hand as a Templar, he was taught that Apostates were always known as being dangerous due to them being an unknown. They were taught that Apostates would always try to cause chaos by finding ways to become stronger, most likely through Blood Magic. This thought was reinforced with Flemeth and Morrigan, what with their attitudes...well mostly Morrigan.

However with Harry, he seemed to break everything that both the Chantry and the Templars preached. Whenever he looked at Harry, he did not see a mad lust for power or the desire for chaos, but rather he saw a man trying to simply live out his life with his wife. At times whenever Alistair saw Harry, he saw someone who had seen things that would leave lesser men running, the sorrow and pain in those eyes were telling. But there was also wisdom in those eyes, telling any who looked at them to know that this was someone who could help you in times of trouble.

He actually reminded Alistair of Aedan and Duncan, in that both of these men were more than capable of doing great feats, near impossible tasks and come out triumphant. That and they also led from the front, always seemingly knowing on what to do next, even under pressure. At times he too wanted to be like them, be someone who could lead from the front, to always be able to make the right decisions, but he knew that he did not have the strength to do so.

And with that his thoughts turned inwards, towards himself.


Sten, much like Alistair was also thinking about Harry. He, as part of the Qun distrusted anything to do with Mages and magic. It was the reason why he distrusted the witch, despite her similar viewpoints being shared with him about certain subjects.

When he had arrived to this place, the first thing he noticed was the fact that it smelled of wet dog. As he and his companions travelled through Fereldan under the Arishok's command, he observed the people of this land and found them lacking. The people of this land did not have a purpose or a place. A farmer wished to be a merchant while a merchant wished to be a noble and he noble's wished to be the ruler of the land. It was not right. At least in Par Vollen, everyone had their place and purpose in this world. A farmer was a farmer and nothing else. The merchant was a merchant and nothing else.

Harry however carried himself as a warrior despite him being a mage and that made Sten distrust him even more. He followed the Warden because he was the leader and also that he had some respect for him. Not this Harry.

"Parshaara! I will go no further." Sten said suddenly stopping in his tracks.

"And why is that?" Harry asked turning to look at Sten, along with everyone else.

"I will not follow someone who is not a leader who does nothing wander aimlessly." Sten answered. "Now draw your sword and face me in combat!" With that he drew his great sword and readied himself for battle.

Harry simply stared at Sten with narrowed eyes. "Ashkost Kata Sten!" he said in the fluent qunlat.

Sten narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his sword. "Meravas." he growled out.

"Meravas." Harry replied, drawing his sword out of his scabbard and holding it in one hand not guarding himself.

With a cry Sten charged forward and brought his greatsword down in a huge arc, to which Harry simply sidestepped and proceeded to punch Sten in the face, dazing him. Stumbling back, Sten shook his head and swinged his sword once again. Harry dodged the swing by stepping back a few and waiting for Sten to make the next move. Growling in clear frustration and anger, Sten charged forward once again and brought his sword down, only for Harry to use his sword to swat the sword away and out of Sten's grasp before kicking Sten to the ground. Holding his sword out and pointing at Sten, the blade just inches from his face.

"Ebasit kata itwa-ost." Harry stated as he stared at Sten.

"How?" Sten asked.

"How did I beat you so easily? Simple. You faced someone who has had to fight six of the Berasaad before, and won." Harry stated.

Sten stared at Harry, ignoring the sword inches from his face, and gave a small nod to Harry before promptly standing. Sten then bowed his head in acceptance and looked at Harry. "You are a worthy foe Harry Potter. I name you Basalit-an." he said.

Harry's eyebrows raised at that declaration, considering that the last person to call him that died shortly after that. Shaking his head, harry returned the nod, indicating that he knew and understood what Sten had just stated and it's implications.

Approaching the gates of Orzammar, Harry and the rest of his company trekked through the snow covered ground and up the initial steps to enter a large plaza filled with many shops selling their wares. Many of these store owners were surface dwarves, dwarves either exiled or left of their own free will, while there were a few that were human.

Deciding to restock on their supplies, Harry said that they should take a look around if there was anything they needed. Letting his eyes roam the many stores he found one that sold both weapons and armour that had caught his eye. That and the fact that Sten was also staring at the wares. Moving over to the store, he soon found that many of these weapons and armour had seen battle, what with the chinks and nicks on many of them. one thing that particularly caught is eye was the many designs that had defiant Qunari designs upon them.

"Where did you get these weapons and armour merchant?" Sten growled out.

The merchant, a squirrelly man, stuttered at the fact that a giant of a creature was asking about them. "I f..f..found them sir."

"You lie." Sten stated as he picked the merchant by the scruff of his tunic.

The merchant began to panic and started shouting for help, only to by silenced when Sten growled at him. Harry decided to intervene before Sten turned this man into a mess on the ground. Raising his hand to Sten, indicating for him to wait, Harry stepped up to the man and looked into his eyes.

"Now then, you are going to tell us where you received these weapons from and who you have sold them to since." Harry stated.

"Alright!" The man cried out. "I got these from an old man camped out at Lake Calanhad, said that they were mine to take. After that I sold this one sword to a dwarf, said he was from Recliffe. That's everything I know I swear!"

"You can release him now Sten." Harry said, to which Sten complied, but not before giving one last growl at the man. "Now then, since these weapons and armour belong to your people, do you wish to wear them in their honour?" he asked.

"No, what I am wearing is sufficient enough." Sten replied as he looked at the many greatswords that were placed on racks, as if looking for one in particular.

"I assume you are looking for the sword you forged." Harry stated, less as a question and more of a fact.

"Yes." Sten replied without turning from his search. "When I and my company came to this land, we came with a single question. What is the Blight? And so for four days and three nights we trekked throughout the land, searching an answer to the Arishok's question. It was on the fourth night that we were attacked by the Darkspawn. In the ensuing battle I was knocked out." Sten said, relaying his story and purpose in Fereldan. "When I awoke, it was in a farmers house. My comrades were killed and my sword was missing."

'that is not good Sten. if you were to return to Par Vollen you would be hunted and killed." Harry stated. "I can assume that you went on a rampage and killed the farmers?"

"Yes." Sten answered with just the barest hint of regret. "In my panic I killed those innocents and lost my honour at the same time."

Harry looked at Sten, to see if he truly regretted his actions and found him to be truthful. He then nodded and placed a hand on Sten's shoulder. "I will help you find your sword Sten, of that I can promise you. From one warrior unto another."

"Thank you" Sten replied before turning around to browse other things.

Once they were done with their shopping, Harry led the group up the steps and the entrance to Orzammar. As they reached standing just before the giant gates of Orzammar, were three guards, armed and in full dwarvish armour.

While many dwarves that leave the gates of Orzammar are considered casteless and are unable to return to Orzammar under pain of death, the guards that stand in front of the gates are the only exception. In fact, when Harry and his group made their way up, they could hear a man shouting to be let into the city, to speak with the King.

"I demand to speak with your king, or Deshyrs or whatever you call them, immediately!" The man shouted.

The guard simply stood there and crossed his arms. "I keep telling you, with the king dead, Orzammar is in a state of political unrest and can speak with no one." The guard said.

That news caught the attention of Harry and he quickly made his way up the last few steps and up to the guard. Placing his right hand above his heart and giving a small bow in the customary welcome of the dwarves. "Atrast Vala Salroka! Did I hear correctly? Is King Endrin dead?" Harry asked.

The guard was taken aback by the greeting that Harry gave, as it was mostly a dwarven phrase, before shaking his head and also placing his right hand above his heart and bowed. "Atrast Vala Salroka. It is indeed true that King Endrin is dead."

"What about his oldest son, Thrain? Surely he would be the next person to take the crown when Endrin passed on?" Harry asked.

The guard simply shook his head and sighed. "Prince Thrain died shortly before his father during an expedition. The second son, Prince Duran, was sent into exile into the Deep Roads after he was caught at the scene by his father and younger brother, Prince Bhelen." The guard explained.

Harry looked down at the ground and closed his eyes. It seemed that their task of retrieving the dwarves help would actually take longer than expected. Sighing, Harry looked at the dwarves and nodded.

"Very well. Alistair, the treaty?" he asked, holding out his hand. Once Alistair gave the treaty to Harry, he then handed it over to the guard. "I represent the Grey Wardens, and have come for the help of the Dwarves as signed by the treaty." He said.

The guard looked at the scroll and unfurled it to see that it was indeed a treaty that said that the dwarves would be called upon to help combat the Blight when asked. Nodding and rolling the again, the guard proceeded to give back the treaty and signalled his guard to open the gates.

"These treatise do indeed call upon the Dwarves help. But I am afraid to say that without a king, these treatise cannot be upheld. However, you may want to speak with the council of Deshyrs to plead your case." The guard said.

Nodding his head in thanks Harry and the others were about to enter when the man from earlier shouted in anger. "You're letting them in! The Grey Wardens are the ones who killed King Cailan! In the name of King Loghain, I demand justice!"

Harry, having heard enough from the man, turned around and punched the man so hard in the face that he fell off the steps and onto the ground. The escort that followed him drew their weapons and was about to attack when two arrows were suddenly shot at them in their throats and they fell down dead. Making his way down to the whimpering man, Harry grabbed the man by the collar and hoisted him up to level with him.

"You listen to me. You will return to Loghain and tell him that the GraveWalker has returned. Got it?" Harry said. The man nodded his head franticly, to which Harry then tossed him to the ground and watched as the man carried his message to Loghain.

Turned back to the others, Harry led them through the gates of Orzammar and into the Hall of Paragons. A vast hallway filled with stone carving of the many Paragons that have been recorded over the many centuries. The hallway was given light by the many torches and the lava fall that was carved around the room.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Hall of Paragons." Harry said as he remembered coming here when he was younger.

"Incredible!" Luna said, awed by the many carving of statues and craftsmanship.

"Impressive. For such short creatures to create such works and large hallways." Sten said.

"I must wonder why the dwarves must build such large structures when they are so short." Zevran asked mostly for himself.

"The only other force to ever constantly face off against the Darkspawn, it is both humbling yet awe inspiring to see that the dwarves could survive such hardships to their people." Alistair said as he looked at the many caring of the Paragons.

Leading their little group onwards, they arrived in a market place, also known as the Commons, where the Merchant Caste both worked and lived in. On the right side, was where the armoury, and tavern were, as well as the entrance to the Diamond Quarters. The living area where the Warrior and Noble Caste lived as well as where the Royal Palace, Shaperate and Assembly was held. To the left were other simple shops, it was also the entrance to the Deep Roads and the entrance to Dust Town, where the Casteless reside. To the front was a long bridge that led to the Proving Grounds. A place where dwarves would shed blood against each other for honour and the favour of the dwarven Ancestors.

Entering the Commons, the group was treated to a standoff as two dwarves with escorts were in the middle of the street, about ready to come to blows. One of them was a young dwarf with dirty blonde hair and beard, dressed in a finely made set of armour, who Harry recognised as Prince Bhelen. While the other, an older dwarf with grey hair and beard, dressed in finely made clothes fit for a noble was King Endrin's advisor Lord Harrowmont.

"It is the Assembly who makes a king, and a king who nominates his successor. None of it is carried by blood." Lord Harrowmont said.

Here Prince Bhelen crossed his arms and argued back. "Or, as now, when someone tries to use the Assembly to pull a coup. Who's to say what my father said in his final hours when the usurper Harrowmont was the only one by his side?" He asked.

"I'll have you thrown in prison!" Harrowmont shouted, anger clear in his face.

"You've bitten off more than you can chew old man!" Bhelen shot back.

Here one of Harrowmonts guards spoke up. "Handlers! Separate these deshyrs in the Diamond Quarter! I will not have Bhelen incite a riot!"

"You will not speak about the man who should be king!" one of Bhelen's guards shouted, drawing upon his axe as he did so.

The guard swept his leg under other dwarf, causing him to fall on his back as Bhelen's guard forced his axe into the dwarf, killing him. Harrowmont and the rest of his group looked on in horror before fleeing the Commons while Bhelen and the others looked upon the dead dwarf, now bleeding on the floor before turning and heading back into the Diamond Quarter. Harry and the others watched the whole spectacle a little ways off, showing them just how difficult it would be to convince the dwarves to fight the darkspawn with their own civil war brewing.

Just then several guards came running to where the dead body was and began to curse. "Stone-blind dwarves the lot! I will not have fighting in the Commons, especially in front of outsiders!" The guard took a deep breath before exhaling. "Alright two of you, get rid of the body, and two of you clean up this damn mess."

Harry turned to the others and began to tell them what to do. "Alright, now I'm going to the Assembly and try and convince the dwarves. I need you, Zevran to go to the tavern and learn as much as you can about this whole civil war that is brewing between Bhelen and Harrowmont." Harry said, looking at Zevran who gave a smile and nodded, going off towards Tapsters. Turning to Sten, he thought about what to send the Qunari for when he looked at the armour he was wearing. "Sten go to the armoury and get yourself some better armour." He said giving him a small pouch of money.

Turning to Alistair and Luna, Harry beckoned them to follow. Leading them into the Diamond Quarters, Harry remembered being escorted here with King Endrin. Remembering where the Assembly was, was simple and before long they were at the large doors leading to the Assembly of Deshyrs.

"Luna, I want you to go to the Shaperate over there." Harry said indicating to the large doors at the end of the walkway. "Find out what you can about what happened to king Endrin, Harrowmont and Bhelen."

"What about me?" Alistair asked.

"You're staying with me. Someone needs to tell them about the Blight, and who better than a Grey Warden." Harry said as he opened the front doors and entered into the main hallway leading to the Assembly.


"Ashkost Kata Sten!" (You are seeking death Sten!)

"Parshaara!" (Enough!)

"Meravas." (So shall it be)

"Ebasit kata itwa-ost." (It is ended. You all have fallen.)

"Basalit-an" (Non Qunari worthy of respect)

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Remember to leave a review and have an awesome day.