Recap: "Because Master Reaper has unfinished business with that brat." The mage said before he disappeared with another flash of lightning, leaving the Arl to stew in his own thoughts.

It had been a few days since Aedan had won the duel. Things had turned interesting to say the least. People kept whispering about him while he kept up his bodyguard duties, he was getting invited to soldiers who were playing cards in their off time, hell at one point Oriana handed him Oren for a few minutes since no one else was around to help and Elissa had been busy talking to a guest.

The little child had grabbed Aedan's hair considering he didn't have a beard, only stubble. Aedan had been gently trying to get him to let go before Elissa had come to his rescue. The boy had actually started to whine and fuss when he was pried away from his new toy until Aedan gave him a familiar one, a wisp. The child laughed and a cooed at it as it danced in front of him until Oriana came to collect him.

There was another thing that had changed since that the fight: His relationship with Elissa. Yes, he and the Teyrn's daughter were in something of a relationship now. When Elissa first kissed him on the mouth, he was dumbstruck for a second before nervously replying back. Then they started continuing it until they both needed air. Stupid air. Afterwards they had to play it safe once the Teyrn and Fergus came around to congratulate him. He knew by the look Elissa gave him after the two left that it was far from over and boy was he right.

It was like kissing friends. Friends who tend to let it things get a bit heated in an alley from time to time. They never made it past their clothes being roughed up, but that made things a little difficult to explain. Whenever the two would be in a place that had few people, Elissa would suddenly drag him into an alleyway and press her lips against his. On instinct Aedan would push her against the wall as his hands would start roaming the area of her lower back to her thighs. He would feel one of her hands on his head, fingers combing through his hair while the other would grasp the back of his coat.

Elissa loved it when his kisses would travel from her mouth, down her jaw and on her neck. She loved how his hot breath would move over her skin making it tingle before he would move back up and begin to kiss her again with more fervor and tongue. She loved it when she felt his strong hand sneak under her dress and grasp her supple thigh before bring it up to his hip, holding her there.

Aedan's mind would blank out around this point and going on what he felt was right. He was by no means experienced but if Elissa's moans, groans and whimpers were any indication, he was doing great. He loved feeling her so close. Her lips. Her skin. Her very scent was enough to override his inhibitions after that first kiss. He loved how soft and warm she felt against him.

They both loved how their hearts hammered against their chests. Whether it was because of what they were doing, the fear of being caught or a mix of the two, they didn't know. Both knew that it would never last between them. Not with Aedan being who he was and Elissa being a Teyrn's daughter. But for Elissa, having this man here with her made her feel like she could be, well... her and not some puffed up noble. Aedan made her feel safe and like she has someone who'd treat her equally as well as be brutally honest with her.

Aedan enjoyed spending time with Elissa because she always seemed to make him forget Reaper. At least in moments like this. She seemed to be able to just make the bad things in life go away. He genuinely enjoyed talking with her and being near her. Neria had been able to do something similar, but not like this. And moments like these with Elissa, where the dark cloud over his life was gone, were almost like a drug to Aedan. He couldn't get enough of it.

Both loved these moments where they could forget about their troubles in life and simply enjoy themselves. However, they never would have these moments for long because they would suddenly need to stop and start walking as they subtly straightened themselves out with Elissa smoothing her dress in the front and Aedan rubbing his hair like he had been the one who had messed it up.

Currently, the two were outside of Castle Cousland traveling south toward the Bannorn. Elissa had been told that she would accompany her mother who was visiting Lady Landra, wife of Bann Loren. Aedan, along with several other soldiers, were to escort them along the way. Aedan was somewhat annoyed at the fact that he along with the soldiers had to march all the way instead of riding on horseback while Elissa and her mother got to ride in a carriage. He sighed the situation causing the soldiers to look at him amused.

"What's the matter Master Hellathen, tired already?" One asked. Aedan threw the man an annoyed glance before looking on ahead.

"Not really. Just annoyed at the fact we can't ride on horses. I mean come on. We got horses in Highever that can get us to places faster than marching on foot and it may be safer too depending on what we could run into out here." Aedan said nonchalantly. The soldiers started looking around at the forest. It was true, considering they could be attacked but who would attack so many of them?

"Ah come now, Hellathen! No one would be stupid enough to attack an armed escort of our size. Besides, I hear walking is supposed to keep you fit." One of the others responded after a few seconds of tense silence. This managed to make everyone else except Aedan smile.

"Seamus, you believe everything you hear." Another said causing the rest to laugh. Aedan however didn't. He suddenly got the feeling that they were being watched. His eyes scanned the treelike looking for anything out of place. He saw something of in the distance before squinting at it. It looked like a ball of orange light. His eyes widened in startled realization before the light rocketed at the carriage, hitting the carriage traces, knocking it onto its side. The horses ran at the explosion which had freed them. The carriage rider was dead instantly. The guards tried to spring into action before some were hit by arrows. Bandits had ambushed them from both sides with archers picking off the soldiers one by one while others poured in. Aedan cast rock armor on himself before sending fireballs into the trees causing the bandits to panic. Several arrows had struck the layer of stone that had covered him a second later.

The tree branches eventually fell and landed on a couple bandits. Some of the soldiers looked at him in shock having not seen a mage a before in real life. Aedan noticed all of them were looking at him in suspicion while a few looked at him with glares before turning back to the fight at hand. Aedan noticed that Elissa and her mother had gotten out of the overturned carriage before the bandits began charging to them. He quickly cast haste and drew his regulation sword before charging at the group. He hacked and slashed with his sword arm while he cast cone of cold with his other. The soldiers eventually were overwhelmed by the onslaught and Aedan was left to defend the Teyrna and her daughter alone.

"Both of you get back in the carriage, now." Aedan growled out. Elissa wanted to protest, but Eleanor stopped her before getting back into the carriage. Aedan cast force field on himself and began chanting a complicated spell. Within seconds of finishing, the clouds darkened, the winds picked up and a flurry of snow began creating a blizzard. Aedan was protected by his force field while the Cousland Ladies were protected by their carriage. The bandits however were frozen solid. Aedan looked to where the fireball came from earlier to see a mage wearing tevinter mage robes and his face was covered by a hood. Aedan could barely see the arrogant smile on his face from this distance. He heard the ladies get out of the carriage and walked over to him.

"Who is he?" Elissa whispered to him once she got close.

"I don't know." Aedan replied not taking his eyes off the mage. What was he smiling about?

A muffled shout was heard making them both turn to see Eleanor Cousland being restrained by a rogue mercenary who held a dagger to her throat. This bandit wore a mask which covered his mouth and nose. Obviously some type of assassin. Another muffled gasp he heard again, this time it was Elissa who was being restrained by another one of them. Aedan's rose his left hand as pieces of rock started to gather in the palm. He almost casted a stonefist until his body seized up. He stood their frozen in that motion as his sword slipped from his hand to the ground.

"I don't think you should do that." The mage said coming up to them. Aedan was suddenly lifted into the air before being violently cast down onto the ground hard. The mage did this three more times until he finally relented. Aedan's rock armor cracked and broke off and the young man could barely moves his head to look up.

"Force magic tends to be that painful when you are on the receiving end." Aedan tried to move but his body was too battered and sore for that he had to think of a way... that'll work. The mage kneeled by him with that insufferable smirk still plastered on his face. From what he could see, the guy was a few years older than him, had red hair with pale skin and had yellow eyes. The mage looked at him as if studying him.

"I still don't see it. I still don't see how you managed to scar my master all those years ago." Aedan's eyes widened at that. There had been only one person he had scarred a long time ago. With newfound strength mixed with his two most recent spells, he moved his head to look the mage in the eyes.

"Y-Your ma-ster i-is R-R-Reaper?" He asked shakily with a glare. The mage laughed at him before standing up.

"Yes, and you know he's been dying to see you again. He has been wanting to pay you back for the longest time." The mage said before walking away towards Elissa.

"I'll admit you have some skill with spells, but not by much. Certainly not enough to take Master Reaper down." The first mercenary assassin released Eleanor and moved to his leader and comrade who hadn't let go of Elissa.

"But don't worry you'll be seeing him very soon once I take you to him." The mage said as he turned around only to find Aedan standing up, mostly healed. The mage smirked at him.

"Hmmm, Death Magic mixed with... Spell Might?" The mage guessed.

"Good eye." Aedan nodded before two daggers came out of his sleeves and threw both at them. One dagger scored the mage in the chest while other got the one who held Eleanor in the stomach. The mage looked at him in shock before roaring in pain. Aedan picked up his sword before running at them, intent on saving Elissa and figuring out where Reaper was. A tornado of flame surrounded the four before he could reach them. Aedan jumped to prevent himself from being scorched by the flames. He could see through the flames to see them disappearing in the same manner as Reaper did so long ago. When the tornado disappeared there was no one in the center. Eleanor rushed up to his side as she put her hands to her mouth, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"Are they...?"

"Dead? No. He just transported them out of the area. I'm sorry your Ladyship, I've failed." Aedan said saddened before he put on a determined face. Sheathing his sword as he quickly strolled around and walked to where the horses had run off too. One had already come back which he jumped on before trotting back to the Eleanor. She looked at him curiously as he held a hand to her.

"Come we need to get to Highever to prepare a rescue mission." She grabbed his hand before she was hoisted up onto the horse. The two galloped back to Highever with Aedan casting haste on the horse causing the animal to run at speeds most horses could only do for a short time.

With the mage and Elissa

Within an old decrepit ruin hall, a flame of tornado erupted, illuminating it in a brilliant display of orange light. The mage stumbled out of the fire as he gripped the dagger impaled in his chest. The wounded bandit fell onto the ground clutching his dagger. The other bandit was still holding Elissa.

"Throw her in the cell!" The mage growled out pointing to a cell over at the wall. The bandit nodded before he dragged her to the cell, opening the door and pushing her in unceremoniously before locking it shut. The bandit walked out of the hall and up the staircase without a word. Elissa jumped at the bars and shook them.

"LET ME OUT!" She roared.

"SHUT UP!" She looked at the mage who had roared back at her. His hand still grasping the dagger Aedan had impaled him with. With a painful grunt, he pulled the blade before dropping it to the floor. Blood poured out of his wound like a river. He looked at the other bandit who was still clutching the dagger protruding from his gut. The mage held his hand toward the bandit before blood began to come from the bandit and into his hand. As more blood came to him the better he began to look. The better he began to look, the more prone the bandit got. Before long the bandit stopped moving altogether and the mage stood upright as if he wasn't in pain at all.

"What did you do to him?" Elissa asked her voice shaking at what she thought happened. The mage looked at her then looked at the corpse before looking back.

"I used a spell called grim sacrifice to heal my wound using his blood." The mage stated as if she was stupid.

"He's dead!" She exclaimed.

"Yes, that usually happens when you use blood magic. In the end someone ends up dead. I have no real use for dead weight so I made his last minutes worthwhile. Hell, even in death he'll still serve me." The mage replied with a shrug. He then looked at her with disturbing grin before walking over to the cell.

"I want you to know that when he comes for you, I shall endeavor to find the most creative of ways to break him... and you." He said menacingly. Elissa backed away from the door now that he was on the other side.

"Why are you doing this?" She whispered but the mage heard it.

"Which one? Why have bandits after you or why would I go after the brat?"

"Both." She growled with a glare.

"Well, believe it or not I have no real interest in you. It's the person paying me and my colleagues that wants this. Don't ask me who they are. Full disclosure agreement and all that. As for the brat, my Master wants to kill him and I have orders to drag that boy to him if I ever came across him." The mage said smiling.

"You're all evil." The mage's smile lessened to an extent.

"No, you're the evil ones." With that he left without a word. Before he made it to the exit, he flicked his hand upwards and all the torches on the walls flared to life. The mage then exited the hall, walking up the steps. Elissa looked at the ground in front of her cell and could see skeletons and half rotted corpses everywhere in the hall. Then one of them started moving, before another and another until all of them moved, standing and making snarling sounds. All of them walked over to the corpse before touching it and some light went from each of them into the corpse. After a second, the corpse stood up making the same sounds. Elissa backed up to the wall away from the door as they began to walk around the room. She knew that if anyone was coming to rescue her, they'll have to go through them.

'Aedan, Father, Fergus, please hurry.' She thought desperately.

Aedan was in Bryce Cousland's study along with the Teyrn and Teyrna. Both were frantic about what had happened as Aedan went over the details. Fergus came rushing in demanding what happened to which Aedan explained.

"Well, do you know how to find her?" Bryce asked having calmed down. After hearing that the mage that ambushed them knew Reaper he had to trust Aedan now more than ever especially since Elissa's life was on the line. Aedan nodded before he walked to the book he had read a few days earlier: Old Maps and Ruins of Ferelden. He placed the book on the table before flipping to a map of Ferelden at large then flipped to a map of the Teyrnir of Highever.

"You still think they're in the Teyrnir?" Bryce asked. Aedan nodded.

"Yes, before he left I managed to wound that apostate to some extent. Even if it is teleportation, you can only get so far with a dagger to the chest." Aedan explained.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side." Fergus muttered before his mother grabbed him by the ear. He looked scolded enough having seen her red eyes from all the crying she had been doing.

"Before we left Highever, I had the good sense to place a personal spell I created called the tracking glyph on Elissa. With this map, we'll be able to find where she is." Aedan said making Bryce frown in confusion.

"Wait, if you've placed a tracking spell on her why not follow it?" Aedan sighed before looking at the Teyrn.

"Sadly I haven't been able to bring it to that stage. At best, I'll be pinpoint which direction she's in but it covers an area too. With this map I'll be able point out the location and from the book we may know what exactly she's being kept in." Aedan explained before closing his eyes in concentration. He slowly felt the energy of the glyph he had placed on Elissa. His hand moved over the map slowly, finger tracing over the paper. He followed the energy until his finger stopped abruptly at single spot on the map. Bryce looked at the map.

"If memory serves me properly, I believe there are some old ruins there that lead underground in that area." He said. Aedan looked at the book before nodding.

"You're right. Old elven ruins that lead underground. My bet is that the apostate probably uses that as his base of operations and dispenses his bandits around there for the earlier attempts at abducting Elissa. It'll be best to assume the bandits built fortifications around it." Aedan said before walking away.

"Where are you going?" Fergus called out.

"Going to go prepare and save Elissa." Aedan replied back.

"Not without back up." Fergus said running up after him. Aedan kept walking to where the armory was.

"I move faster on my own Fergus."

"It's suicide." was the reply.

"Then I'll at least cause some damage that'll take the pressure of you and your troops." Aedan fired back.

"Why are you so bent on doing it like this?" Fergus asked. Aedan stopped and gave the man what could only be an ashamed look.

"What do you want me to say Fergus? That I messed up? That I failed the one job I was given? That I allowed Elissa to be taken from right out under my nose? That I allowed another mage to whip my ass like I was a newly minted apprentice? Well, all of that happened Fergus! I messed up... and now I got to fix it." Aedan then left a stunned Fergus to continue on to the armory where he grabbed two daggers and a set of throwing knives. He passed Fergus and walked to his room. He placed the daggers on his lower back, hidden under his coat. He took the throwing knives' sheathes and wrapped them around his wrists before rolling the sleeves over them. He then walked over to a medium sized chest he kept at the foot of his bed. Opening it revealed several potion/poison making supplies. He had bought them all over the course of his stay here at Castle Cousland but right now he focused on six things he had created.

Aedan pulled out 6 flasks, each filled with a different kind of liquid. One was green like grass. One was orange like fire. Another was crystal blue like a jewel almost. The one after that was light purple and held some sort of glowing substance inside it. The fifth one held a murky green liquid inside it. The final one held a hot pink liquid. Aedan shuddered somewhat at it.

'I had been hoping to save this for Reaper but that isn't an option now.' He thought silently before taking the flasks and attaching them to his belt. He grabbed his sword and tied it to his belt before walking out to the stables. He grabbed the same horse that had carried him and Lady Cousland back to Highever.

"I would hope that you would wait for reinforcements, Aedan." Bryce said walking in. Aedan shook his head no as he mounted the horse.

"No, I can't do that your Lordship." Bryce sighed.

"Are you so bent on leaving because Reaper is involved?" Aedan froze for a split second.

"No, no not this time. On the way over it probably was but I couldn't focus on my own selfish vendetta. Not when Elissa is in trouble."

"Are you going after her out of duty?" Bryce crossed his arms when Aedan remained silent.

"I know what you two have been up to." Aedan looked at him in mild shock before calming down. This wasn't the time.

"Look my lord. We can talk about this after Elissa's safe and back in the castle, but until then, we can't focus on anything else. You want to chew me out about it? Fine, we'll do it after this mess is sorted." Aedan said almost snapping at the end. He didn't look Bryce in the eye. He had just basically back-talked the Teyrn to his face. If he had looked, he would have seen the smirk on Bryce's face. The boy was definitely brave when it counted.

"Very well then. Aedan Hellathen as Teyrn of Highever, I charge you with the task of bringing my daughter back safely. If you succeed, I will overlook your... recent mistakes. Do you accept?" Bryce said in an authoritative voice.

"Yes Sir!" Aedan said before casting haste on the horse before galloping out and toward the ruins.

Bryce smiled after him before Fergus came running in, clad in a full set of red steel heavy chainmail.

"Dammit! I missed him." Fergus cursed having been eager to ride off as well to save his sister. Bryce chuckled at his son. He stopped chuckling, his amused expression turning into a serious determined one.

"Don't worry, dear boy. We'll be riding off soon too. Round up a few guards while I get myself ready for battle." Bryce said walking with Fergus following.

"You'll be joining us?" He asked surprised. Bryce nodded.

"I will not wait here while my daughter is being held captive. Eleanor will look after things while we're away." Bryce said before dismissing Fergus who went to round up several troops.

A few hours later...

It was night time now as Aedan dismounted his horse and left it tied to a tree. He followed the energy of his tracking glyph until he came to a bandit camp. It was surrounded by large tree trunks that had been cut down and used as fortifications.

'It's almost like they're expecting to be attacked by a sizable force of soldiers.' Aedan thought before sneaking to the wall. He placed the flask of orange liquid on it, inserting some magical energy into it before moving to another place on the opposite side of the area. He snapped his fingers and the flask exploded in fire causing the bandits inside to run the sudden distraction. Aedan moved out into the open as the bandits crowded around the area where the fire bomb had gone off. The wooden wall was now catching fire from the explosion. Aedan focused his mana and his arms lit with flames as he raised them into the air before dropping them, the flames dying as he did so. Fireballs rained from above and showered onto the unsuspecting bandits who howled and screamed as the apocalyptic firestorm ate them.

Aedan saw where the ruin entrances was now that the wall had caught fire. He approached it quietly without a word. Several heavily armored bandits ran out of the entrance to see what the commotion had been. Each were using two-handed weapons such as greatswords, mauls, and battleaxes. Aedan didn't even blink nor stop as they charged at him. Once they got close a brown fog engulfed all of them. It dissipated as instantly as it appeared revealing Aedan walking calmly while the big bandits were shying away from him shivering in pure terror. Aedan picked out the purple glowing flask before dropping it onto the ground. Once he was a few yards away, the flask exploded in lightning and shocked the armored bandits to death. A waking nightmare mixed with a lightning bomb proved to be very deadly to heavily armed men apparently.

Aedan forged on through the ruins and into the darkness.

A few minutes later...

Outside more bandits had come to the camp to see it on fire. They ran to it knowing it was under attack. Once in they realized that their master was right. That the enemy would attack them with spells after sneaking in. The prepared to enter the ruins to flush the miserable fool out before one of them was struck by an arrow. They turned around to the beating of hooves and began fighting for their lives against armed soldiers clad in chainmail.

Back with Aedan...

Aedan had finally managed to find Elissa. Unfortunately he had run into a problem. He had charged into the room ready for a fight with the mage but Elissa had warned him too late. Now he had to fight a room full of reanimated corpses and skeletons. His sword ignited with flames around it as he slashed with powerful swings. Some of the corpses caught fire and died but the rest kept coming. One managed to jump on his back. He quickly grabbed it and tossed it over him on the ground before stomping its skull in. He followed with a two-handed sweep, killing a few more but it wasn't even a dent in the number of enemies coming at him.

'This is getting me nowhere fast!' Aedan thought before using repulsion field. He stabbed his sword into the ground already feeling his mana draining from the corpses trying to get close. He grabbed two more flasks and threw them in different directions. One exploded and froze several corpses solid while the other exploded into a brown-green murky fog. The corpses caught in that fell to the ground like puppets cut from strings. The corpses still weren't finished though. With one last thought Aedan released the repulsion field and erected a force field around himself. He then chanted an incantation with his hands raised in the air. Magic surrounded his arms as he waved them in a circular motion. He finished the incantation and huge column of swirling flame engulfed him and the corpses.

Elissa watched horrified thinking Aedan might have just killed himself but kept watching, hoping she was wrong. Once the flames died down, Aedan was shown standing tall without being burned if a little sweaty from the heat. Elissa breathed a sigh of relief. He was fine. That was when clapping was heard as it echoed all over the hall.

"Okay, I'll admit you have some skill." The mage said as he walked down the stairs. Aedan turned to him with his sword pointed to him.

"You're pretty full of yourself aren't you?" Aedan asked. The mage smirked.

"Well, I do have my pride after all and I'm not Master's most powerful apprentice for nothing." He said taking out his acolyte lightning staff. It was shaped almost like an arrow where the lightning crackled from it, the grip was ornate while the other end held a high keeper staff blade. Aedan glared at him.

"There are more of you?" He asked not lowering his blade. The mage nodded still smiling.

"Oh yes, 5 more besides me."

"What're your names?" Aedan snarled making the mage's grin.

"We all abandoned our original names when the Master found us. Each took up a new name. Mine is Pride." The newly revealed Pride said with a mocking bow. Aedan raised an eyebrow at him. They named themselves after demons?

"Then let me guess: The other names are..." Pride smirked.

"Desire," Pride nodded.

"Rage," He nodded again.

"Sloth," Another nod.

"Hunger," A nod.

"and Despair?" Pride shook his head no.

"Not that one. She's Envy." Pride replied.

"I'm guessing Reaper changed his name?" Pride shook his head.

"Wrong again. Master never changed his name. Not when it inspires such fear and respect. We all have that reputation. Each of us holds a few bandit groups under our thumbs and united under the Master's banner-"

"-you have a small army at your beck and call." Aedan finished. Pride nodded again.

"Smart boy. I'm starting to see why my Master is so fond of you." Pride said before his smile turned serious. "But now I tire of this pointless talking."

Pride raised his staff and fired a lightning bolt fired from it. Aedan erected a spell shield and an arcane shield around himself which took the full brunt of the attack. Pride smirked at him before firing a stonefist which broke through both shields and knocked Aedan back a few feet. Aedan quickly casted rock armor on himself. Pride's hands crackled with electric energy as he chanted and focused on Aedan whose eyes widened as he recognized the spell.

Aedan fired an arcane bolt which hit Pride, interrupting him. He followed up with a fireball. Pride saw this coming and dodged it before it could reach him. The fireball crashed into the stone wall and destroyed a potion of it which led into a tunnel. Pride used winter's grasp on Aedan. At the same time Aedan used stinging swarm. Aedan found himself frozen while Pride was waving his hands around madly as he was bit over by insects. Aedan struggled for a few seconds before using anti-magic burst which got rid of the ice incasing him. Pride had enough of being bitten and mind blasted the insects away.

Both glared at each other with hate before they thrust their hand and staff forward. Lightning bolts fired from their tips and clashed, illuminating the hall as each vied for dominance. One pushed and lost ground before regaining and pushing again. Neither one won as they both exploded in a tempest of lightning. Aedan stabbed the ground with his sword before causing earthquake. Pride tried to stand up but couldn't due to the shaking Aedan's spell had caused. The ground shook and the walls cracked from the strain. Eventually it stopped. Pride got back on his feet but was suddenly stung by different cuts on his body. A throwing knife imbedded itself into his leg before the stings stopped.

"Damn, I guess that earthquake spell threw my aim off." Aedan said breathing heavily a little. Pride grabbed the knife and pulled it out of his leg before healing it.

"You know, I noticed you used Death Syphon earlier when we talked. Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to cast all those spells as you did. But now it looks like your mana has run dry." Pride said as he pointed his staff at Aedan. Aedan got up from kneeling and pulled his sword from the ground, smirking.

"So is your's." Pride look confused before he tried to use flame blast. All that came out from the end of his staff was a mere 'pffft' from a dying flame. He looked at it and back to Aedan before he took the throwing knife and smelled the blade.

"Concentrated magebane." Pride dropped the knife in annoyance. Those stings earlier were from other throwing knives coated with magebane. No wonder his mana was gone. Time to do things the old fashioned way. He ran at Aedan with staff crackling with electricity as Aedan ran at him with his sword covered in flames. Both clashed and began swinging, parrying and blocking each other's attacks.

"You're not so bad. If you weren't on my Master's bad side, you could join us!" Pride said as he swung at Aedan's head.

"No thanks." Aedan ducked the swing and slashed upwards before delivering a pommel strike to Pride's chest. Pride stumbled back from the blow before he looked at Aedan. Something smashed against his face and broke. He howled in pain as he felt glass digging into the side of his face and the burning that came over his skin. He held his face before taking his hand away form it and could see that the skin was melting off. Aedan had smashed an acid flask on the side of his face.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! I CAN SEE WHY MY MASTER HATES YOU NOW! I CAN CLEARLY SEE WHY! AHHHH!" Pride roared out before he began swinging at Aedan with renewed zeal. Aedan was on the defense now as he blocked and dodged the mad swing until one caught him in the face. Aedan was knocked onto the ground and spat blood out, his sword gone from his grasp. A foot pressed down on his chest until his back was touching ground and a blade was at his throat.

"I'm going to break you!" Pride snarled. Aedan surveyed the damage he did to the maleficar. His right eye was white now. The skin on the side of his mouth was gone and revealed tendons, muscles and teeth. (Think Thranduil when he talks to Thorin from The Hobbit.) Aedan's left hand slipped under his back with a dagger and tried to stab Pride's leg, but Pride saw this and stabbed him in the left shoulder. Aedan nearly screamed from pain but only let out an agonized roar of pain.

"You will not one up me again, bastard!" Pride growled. Aedan gained a smirk as his right hand came from behind his back with another dagger. This time he managed to stab Pride's leg straight through. The maleficar roared in pain before hopping away from him, holding his impaled leg. Aedan got back up and walked to where his sword was before picking it up. He looked to see Pride kneeling on his hurt leg while leaning on his other, staff pointed at him.

"Burn." He hissed and a flame blast shot from it. Aedan stuck his hand out and used cone of cold to counter it. The attacks equalled each other and created a mist around the room, hiding whatever was in it. Aedan stalked along the wall looking for the cell Elissa was in while keeping an eye out for any surprise attacks. Suddenly, fire caught in an area and he heard Elissa shriek. The mist finally dispersed showing Pride at the tunnel while the cell Elissa was trapped in was on fire.

"Come after me or save the girl. Choose!" Pride said as he limped into the tunnel, dagger still stuck in his leg. Aedan ran to the cell and extinguished the flames with another cone of cold.

"Aedan! You're ok!" Elissa said happily. Aedan smiled back at her until they heard an explosion go off. The their heads snapped around to the tunnel to see that pride had collapsed it to cover his escape. Aedan looked back to her.

"Back away from the door." She did so as Aedan cast a stone fist to slam into it, breaking the door off its hinges. She jumped out of the cell and hugged him tightly before she grabbed his face and kissed him, hard. His knees went wobbly for different reasons besides fatigue when her tongue visited his inside his mouth. After a minute their lips detached with a wet pop before she rested her head against his chest, hugging him tightly like he was her lifeline. He hugged her back just as fiercely, thankful she wasn't hurt. The blissful moment was broken when the room started shaking. Aedan looked around before dropping his sword and pulling her with him to the exit.

"The whole place his coming down!" He shouted as he practically dragged her to the staircase. They both ran up it with Elissa taking the lead and Aedan following closely after her. They finally got outside, having dodged broken pieces of the ceilings and walls collapsing around them. Once they were outside the ruin collapsed in on itself fully, entombing whatever was left inside. They were both on the ground panting hard and covered in dirt, but still alive. Aedan glared at the ruins. There was no chance of him going after Pride now. His gaze moved over to Elissa and his anger dissipated. At least she was okay. That's all that mattered.

"Elissa! Aedan! You're both alright!" They heard a familiar voice say causing them to look behind themselves. Behind them was Bryce Cousland, clad in white steel heavy chainmail with Fergus and several soldiers surrounded by dead bandits. Bryce hugged his daughter as she and Aedan got off the ground before Fergus joined in.

"What took you?" Aedan breathed out. He felt terrible, exhausted. Bryce answered him, having stopped hugging Elissa though Fergus kept hugging her.

"These bandits came in large numbers after you entered. We had arrived around the same time they did and well... you see what happen. What about you? Where's the mage who took her?" Aedan shook his head.

"He bailed once he realized he was in over his head. Made me choose between saving Elissa or going after him." Aedan felt like he was swaying now.

"I'm glad to see you made this choice." Bryce said. Aedan nodded not having really heard him. Sweet Maker and Gods he felt tired.

"Sheesh, you look terrible." Fergus said having stopped hugging his sister.

"I feel terrible." was all Aedan said before he fell forward. His last moments of consciousness was feeling several hands grab him and hearing concerned voices before darkness consumed him.

With Pride...

Pride had made it to another ruin further away from Highever and closer to central Ferelden, in the Bannorn. Right now he was furious! That brat had manage to wound him like this. Him! Oh he'll make the bastard pay. He'll rip his arms off so he can't do anything to him and then drag his sorry ass to Reaper if it was the last thing he'd-

"You look like shit." A male mage came from behind a pillar wearing the same robes Pride wore. The mage was eating a mutton leg. Pride scowled at him.

"Shut up, Hunger." Pride hissed as he tried to keep as much weight off his left foot as he could.

"Temper, temper. And I thought that Rage was supposed to be the one with a short fuse." A sultry voice said as a female mage came from behind another pillar. She was wearing the female version of their robes, showing of her impressive bust and wide hips, wearing the short dress robes which were cut revealing her hips and thighs.

"What did you say about me, Desire?!" An angry voice said as a male stepped out from behind Pride, anger coming off him in waves.

"Rage, could you not be so loud? I'm trying to rest." Another mage said who looked similar to rage.

"Sloth, I don't envy you about trying to sleep through an important meeting, you lazy fool." Another female said as she walked out. Her outfit wasn't as revealing as the other woman's was but she was staring at her with clear envy.

Pride snorted at how the others talked as if nothing was going on. His state should be a matter of concern considering he was the strongest of them! He was about to yell at them to be quiet when someone else beat him to it.

"Children, you should be more concerned about how your brother his wounded and not about yourselves." A voice said which froze them before all of them kneeled down except for Pride. In front of them was an older man with greying brown hair that was swept back, cold blue eyes that held power in them and pale skin with travel lines on them. In his right hand was an old tome while in his left was golden staff that held a blue crystal and he dressed in aged light blue robes that seemed to radiate mana with its enchantments. His most prominent feature was however was the huge burn mark on his left eye.

"Master." They all greeted. Reaper looked at Pride for a moment. Something had obviously got to him considering half his face was melted off and he'd been stabbed in the leg.

"Envy, remove the dagger." Envy walked over and grabbed the dagger before pulling it out fast. Pride hissed in pain.

"Desire, heal him."

"Yes Master." Desire said before she used healing magic on him. It helped but it would take some time for it to completely heal.

"Pride, what happened to you?" Reaper demanded.

"He's out Master." Pride said immediately gaining Reaper's interest.

"He?" Pride nodded.

"The brat you told us of." He said making all of them go wide eyed. Desire's healing spell faltered for a split second before continuing.

"And you just let him get away!?" The Rage demanded in outrage.

"The brat was more cunning then I had anticipated." Pride replied coolly.

"That is no excuse!" Rage said as he walked up to him ready to harm him for his failure.

"Enough!" Reaper said making Rage freeze.

"Pride, are you sure it was him?"

"Black hair, green eyes, around 16 or 17 and he knew your name without me telling him? I'm sure, Master." Pride replied.

"And how would you rate his power?"

"As a mage? He's on par with Desire." Pride replied making his 'brothers and sisters' gasp. Desire was the second strongest of them.

"And not a mage?" Reaper asked.

"Very cunning and strong." Pride replied. Reaper nodded.

"Very well. None of you will be going after him then." He was met by mild protests from all of them. Despite them being adults they still acted like such children.

"Be silent!" The protests stopped. "If he was able to do this to Pride, who is the strongest of you, then he can do much worse to the rest of you. I will not have you risk your lives against him." They looked down at not being able to go after Aedan.

"Besides," They looked back to their master. "he will come to us. And when he does, we will crush him together!" Reaper said making his followers smile. Reaper smirked at the news. Things had finally become interesting.

The following day at Castle Cousland...

"Are you sure that you can't stay for another day?" Elissa asked, almost pleading for the fifth time. Aedan nodded as he continued to strap the saddle on the horse. That morning he had come into the hall where the family was eating and told them he was leaving. The bandits were not problem anymore now that they had been massacred by the soldiers last night and without Pride there was no one to stir up things anymore. The Couslands had taken his announcement with some discomfort. Fergus was sad that his sparring partner was leaving. Oriana was even a little down and Oren was crying having picked up on the mood. Eleanor was telling him to be safe and to watch himself on the road and to be respectful like she was his mother. Bryce had understood but had told him to come back if he ever got into trouble. They'd keep him safe for a few days. The toughest one was Elissa. She hadn't separated herself from his side since he told them of his impending departure.

"Yes Elissa. As much as I'd love to stay, and believe me I would, Reaper is at large still and not only that if his followers are anything like Pride is, they might come after me too since Reaper as grudge against me. If I stay here, I am placing you and your family in great danger. Not just from Reaper either, the Templars are already sniffing around and if they catch wind that I'm here, that I've been a guest of yours then the chantry might get you guys too." Aedan said as he finished.

"Well, where will you go then?" She asked saddened. Aedan stopped before thinking. That dream he had before meeting Elissa popped into his head and he felt something, like a call.

"I'll head to Denerim first. There's something I need to see to there." He said before hugging her and kissing her crown.

"I am going to miss you." He said. She sighed wanting to stay in his embrace for a while.

"Same here." She replied before looking at him and giving him one last kiss. The two separated after a few minutes.

"You should probably bid all of us a fond farewell before leaving, dear boy." Bryce said with the rest of his family approaching.

"Be safe Aedan, you'll be in all of our prayers." Eleanor said before going him a hug. He hesitantly hugged back.

"Thank you, your Ladyship." She released him before Fergus came up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

"I'll miss you, my friend. Things won't be as lively here without you around. Be sure to give that Pride a kiss from me ok?" Fergus said with a grin and in rare moment, Aedan joked with him.

"Oh I'll kiss him alright. Give him the kiss of death." He replied with a smile making Fergus laugh at him before backing away. Oriana bid him goodbye and Oren cooed at him before waving his hand at him. Then Bryce walked over to him and handed him something.

"What's this, milord?" Aedan asked looking at the bundle in his hands.

"I realized that you lost the daggers you brought with you and decided to get these new ones." Aedan unwrapped the cloth to reveal two golden daggers. The blades looked as if they had been folded with lyrium.

"From what I could find out, these were made volcanic aurum. A very strong metal, among the best you can find in Thedas, but very rare." Aedan's finger traveled over one of the blades.

"Not only that, but they're enchanted. The blades are folded with lyrium, making them even stronger and lighter." Aedan observed before looking at the Teyrn.

"Try not to lose these ones." He said.

"I'll do my very best, your Lordship." He said with a respectful bow. He then climbed onto the horse before giving a final look to all of them.

"Thank you for allowing me to be a guest in your home. It is far more than any apostate deserves. If more nobles were like you, or maybe if more people were like you, then the world would be a much better place. Hopefully we'll see each other again. Under better circumstances next time. Farewell." With his piece said, he galloped for Denerim intent to find what had been calling him there.

Okay there we go! The extra long finale of Dealing with Nobles Arc. Tell what did you think of this latest chapter.

Good?

Bad?

What?

Hope you enjoyed it! If not, oh well!