She nodded to Ser Perth as they started taking positions. "Lenore, Morrigan, stay back. Focus on healing. Cathiel, Leliana, keep with the mages and use your arrows. Alistair, keep them off the casters and archers. Sten, you, Brehan and I will form a wall. Ser Perth, you and yours form the second line. Brosca, Jerath, stay mobile and flank where you can. Let's go."

Satisfaction lit the faces of both Brosca and Brehan as the traps began to thin the numbers. The satisfaction dimmed somewhat as the things kept coming. Beside her, Sten and Brehan set to work with their long blades. She stepped forward, blocking a corpse that attempted to get past Sten's sword and brought her own blade down. Now and then she saw Brosca or Jerath dart in and out of the fray. Brosca went low, cutting hamstrings and smashing knees, leaving the corpses easy targets for Perth's men or the fire. With a sword in each hand, Jerath resembled nothing so much as a whirlwind of blades, dancing here and there, as he cut down the dead.

The fire had burned out by the time the last wave had fallen. Lenore tended wounds quickly. Ser Perth started to offer congratulations, and then jerked his head as the alarm sounded from the village below. "More of them."

Saitada nodded. "Stay here," she told him. She looked to her companions. "Move."

#

The defenders stood in the rough palisade of spikes. Cathiel quickly grabbed more arrows, and tossed a full quiver to Leliana. She caught it and gave Cathiel a nod of thanks as they took their positions. Saitada called out instructions as the dead started to come, and the wardens took the front lines.

Cathiel kept up a steady stream of arrows. Beside her, Alistair used his shield and sword to take care of anything that got close to her and the mages. She smiled to herself. It was good having someone to watch her back. Griffon darted through the field, finishing off the few that still twitched and tried to drag themselves towards the villagers.

Her companions were doing the brunt of the work. Only a few of the villagers had even had to raise weapons. She nocked another arrow, and then searched for a target. After a moment, she let it down. "Is that all of..."

A corpse limped out from between two houses. Sten cut it in half with an almost casual swing of his greatsword. There was silence for several heartbeats. And then slowly, a cheer started to go up.

She listened as Saitada gave orders. In groups of two, the wardens searched out the few corpses still lingering in the village. Cathiel and Leliana remained at the palisade, bows in hand, as they scanned for any remaining targets.

"Did we lose anyone?" Lenore asked.

"I don't think so," Cathiel replied.

"Thank the Maker," Leliana said. Her words were echoed by several of the villagers standing nearby.

#

Brehan wasn't sure he'd seen anything as lovely as that sunrise. They'd manage a couple hours respite, waiting with bated breath for the dawn to come.

Teagan stood before the chantry. "Dawn arrives, my friends, and all of us remain." He held up his hands. "We are victorious!" A great cheer met his words. He gestured towards them. "And it is these good folk you see beside me that we have to thank for our lives today. Without their heroism, surely we would all have perished." He turned towards them. "I bow to you, noble sers. The Maker smiled on us when he sent you here in our darkest hour."

"Thank you, Bann Teagan. We are honored," Saitada said, giving him a small bow.

Brehan looked around at the faces of all the people. Several met his eye and smiled warmly or waved. It was a strange feeling. Next to him, Leliana smiled. "This part of the story at least, has a happy ending."

"It does indeed," he said.

A woman from the chantry stepped forward, and began to pray for those that had fallen on previous nights.

"Gods above ease their passing," Brehan said quietly as she finished.

Teagan spoke again. "With the Maker's favor, the blow we delivered today is enough for me to enter the castle and seek out your arl. Be wary and watch for signs of renewed attack. We shall return with news as soon as we are able." He looked back to Saitada, and lowered his voice to just above a whisper. "Now, we've no time to waste. Meet me at the mill. We can talk further there."

#

"Odd how quiet the castle looks from here. You would think there was nobody inside at all," Teagan said as they arrived. He turned to them. "But I shouldn't delay thing further. I had a plan... to enter the castle after the village was secure." He fumbled with a ring on his finger. "There is a secret passage here, in the mill, accessible only to my family."

"That's convenient," Brosca said.

"Perhaps I should have gone into the castle earlier... but I could not leave the villagers -" He looked up. "Maker's breath!"

Saitada turned in the direction he was facing. A woman was heading in their direction, followed by several guards. She saw some of her companions reach for weapons, and gestured for them to stand down.

"Teagan! Thank the Maker you yet live!" Relief filled the woman's face as she approached them.

"Isolde! You're alive! How did you...?" He blinked. "What has happened?"

Isolde spoke in a rush. "I do not have much time to explain! I slipped away from the castles as soon as I saw the battle was over, and I must return quickly. And I..." She hesitated, and then her voice became firm. "Need you to return with me, Teagan. Alone."

Saitada shook her head. She had to be joking. "We will need more of an explanation than that."

Isolde gave her a confused look. "What? I..." She looked back at Teagan. "Who is this woman, Teagan?"

Alistair sighed. "You remember me, Lady Isolde, don't you?"

"Alistair?" Annoyance filled Isolde's face and voice. "Of all the... why are you here?"

Teagan stepped between them. "They are Grey Wardens, Isolde" His voice was patient as he tried to reassure her. "I owe them my life."

She nodded slowly. "Pardon me. I... I would exchange pleasantries, but..." She looked back at the castle. "Considering the circumstances..."

"Please, Isolde..." Teagan said. "We had no idea anyone was even alive within the castle. We must have some answers!"

Isolde wrung her hands. "I know you need more of an explanation, but I... don't know what is safe to tell. Teagan, there is a terrible evil within the castle. The dead waken and hunt the living. The mage responsible was caught, but still it continues." She sighed. "And I think... Conner is going mad. We have survived but he won't flee the castle." Tears began to fall from her eyes. "He has seen so much death! You must help him, Teagan! You are his uncle. You could reason with him. I do not know what else to do!"

"Do you think this 'evil' could be some kind of demon?" Lenore asked.

Isolde went pale. "I... I do not know. Oh, Maker's mercy! Could it truly be a demon?" She wrapped her arms around herself. "I can't let it hurt my Conner! You must come back with me, Teagan! Please!"

Saitada glanced at Lenore. The mage gave her a slight nod. Demon then. "Tell me about this mage you mentioned," Saitada said.

"He is an..." Isolde hesitated just slightly. "Infiltrator, I think - one of the castle staff. We discovered he was poisoning my husband. That is why Eamon fell ill."

Teagan blinked. "Eamon was poisoned?"

Isolde's voice was bitter. "He claims an agent of Teyrn Loghain's hired him. He may be lying, however, I cannot say."

"So why must Teagan go alone?" Saitada asked. The mage was likely not lying, but she was sure Isolde was. Or at least that she was concealing something.

Isolde was clearly growing desperate. "For Connor's sake, I promised I would return quickly and only with Teagan."

"Promised?" Teagan asked. "Whom did you promise?"

"Something the mage unleashed. So far it allowed Eamon, Connor, and myself to live." She shuddered. "The others... were not so fortunate. It's killed so many, and turned their bodies into walking nightmares! Once it was done with the castle, it struck the village! It wants us to live, but I do not know why. It allowed me to come for you, Teagan, because I begged, because I said Connor needed help."

Saitada looked back at Lenore. The mage's face was grim as she gripped her staff. She met Saitada's eyes, and gave her another nod. Saitada returned it. "Enough questions. We need to decide what to do." Saitada turned back to Teagan.

He met her eyes. "The king is dead, and we need my brother now more than ever. I will return to the castle with you, Isolde."

The woman nearly collapsed with relief. "Oh, thank the Maker! Bless you, Teagan! Bless you!"

"It seems you have little choice," Saitada said.

He nodded. "I have no illusions of dealing with this evil alone. You, on the other hand, have proven quite formidable." He looked at Isolde. "Isolde, can you excuse us for a moment? We must confer in private before I return to the castle with you."

"Please do not take too long! I will be by the bridge." She gave him one more desperate look.

Teagan ushered them to the windmill. "Here's what I propose: I go in with Isolde and you enter the castle using the secret passage." He yanked the ring off his finger and offered it to Saitada. "My signet ring unlocks the door." She took the ring from him. "Perhaps I will... distract whatever evil is inside and increase your chances of getting in unnoticed. What do you say?"

"I can't let you do this. It's insane."

"What choice do either of us have? If your business with Eamon is important, you're going to have to go inside to find him."

"He's right," Alistair said. "Without Arl Eamon, we'll never get the support we need."

"Ser Perth and his men can watch for danger at the castle entrance. If you can open the gates from within, they can move in and help you." He sighed. "I don't think there's anyone else who can help you. If you choose not to g, then it's up to me to do what I can." He sighed. "Whatever you do, Eamon is the priority here. If you have to, just get him out of there. Isolde, me, and anyone else... we're expendable."

Stone, the bloody man did remind her of Gorim. "I understand. We'll do our best."

"You're a good woman. The Maker smiled on me indeed when He sent you to Redcliffe."

Leliana shook her head. "So we are just going to send him off with that woman? It seems so dangerous!"

"One fool plan on top of another," Sten said.

"I can delay no longer. Allow me to bid you farewell... and good luck."

Saitada watched him follow Isolde. "Let's go people. The day still needs saving." As they went into the windmill, she held up a hand to slow Jerath. "Protect Alistair," she whispered. "If we lose Eamon, we're going to need him."

He nodded. She was halfway down the corridor before it occurred to her he didn't ask why.

#

"Demons?"

"This mage could have summoned one," Lenore said. "Or thinned the veil enough that some could cross over and take the bodies of the dead."

"Oh. Wonderful." Saitada sighed. "How do we fix it?"

"Kill it," Lenore said.

"That would be the simplest course of action," Morrigan said. "And the most likely to succeed."

"Alright," Saitada said. "You heard them folks. Let's go kill a demon."

#

They encountered the first corpses in what looked to be a storage room. After fighting so many above, these few were little challenge. The next door took them into what was clearly a dungeon. Lenore was looking around for signs of magic when she heard a familiar voice yell, "Get away from me!"

Ahead, several of the corpses were clawing at a door. Before the warriors could close, Lenore summoned fire and threw it into the midst of the dead. From the cell came the familiar voice again. "Hello? Is there someone out there? Who is it?" Lenore shoved past the others. "By all that's holy..." There he was, staring at her. "You! I can't believe it..."

"Jowan?"

He leaned on the cell door. "Maker's breath! How did you get here? I never thought I'd see you again, of all people."

She looked at him. He was bruised and battered, and pale beneath the dirt and blood on his face. "Jowan... what have they done to you?"

"What they'd do to all traitors, and would-be assassins." He hung his head. "I wouldn't be surprised if they sent you to finish me off."

Her hand went to her mouth, and she shook her head in disbelief. "You poisoned the arl?"

"You didn't know? I thought they told you. Unless you haven't spoken to them..."

"Lenore?" Saitada asked.

"This is Jowan," Lenore said, looking back at her. "He's my friend."

"And he's the mage Isolde mentioned?"

"Please," Jowan said. "I know how it seems. Poisoning the arl was... a terrible thing. But I'm not behind everything else happening here, I swear!" He shook his head, and looked back at Lenore. "Before I say anything else, I need to ask you a question. You can do whatever you feel you need to afterward, but I need to know..." He sighed. "What became of Lily? They didn't hurt her, did they? The thought that she might have paid for my crime..."

"The Chantry sent her away. I don't know where."

"Oh my poor Lily." His voice was devastated. "She must hate me now, if she even lives. What have I done?" He sighed. "What happens now?"

"How did you even end up here, involved in this?"

"I... I know it looks suspicious, but I'm not responsible for the creatures and the killings in the castle. I was already imprisoned when all that began." He sighed. "At first, Lady Isolde came here with her men demanding I reverse what I'd done. I thought she meant my poisoning of the arl. That's the first I heard about the walking corpses. She thought I'd summoned a demon to torment her family and destroy Redcliffe." He leaned on the wall. "She... had me tortured. There was nothing I could do or say that would appease her. So they... left me to rot."

"Why did you poison Arl Eamon?" Saitada asked.

"I was instructed to by Teyrn Loghain." He looked at her. "I was told that Arl Eamon was a threat to Ferelden, that if I dealt with him Loghain would settle matters with the Circle." He gave Lenore a hopeless look. "All I wanted was to be able to return." He shook his head. "But he abandoned me here, didn't he? Everything's fallen apart. I never thought it would end like this! Maker, I've made so many mistakes. I disappointed so many people... I wish I could go back and fix it. I just want to make everything right again."

Lenore reached through the bars to put a hand on his arm. "That's good to hear you say."

"Well..." He covered her hand with his. "It's a start, maybe. I don't know if anything I do could ever make it right."

Saitada frowned. "So the teyrn hired you to posion Arl Eamon."

"Connor had started to show... signs. Lady Isolde was terrified the Circle of Magi would take him away for training."

"Connor?" Alistair's face revealed his shock. "A mage? I can't believe it!"

Jowan nodded. "She sought an apostate, a mage outside the Circle, to teach her son in secret so he could learn to hide his talent. Her husband had no idea."

"Perhaps her son is responsible for what happened," Lenore said, looking back at Saitada.

"I thought that, too," Jowan said. "Connor has little knowledge of magic, but he may have done something to tear open the Veil." He frowned uncertainly. "With the Veil to the Fade torn, spirits and demons could infiltrate the castle. Powerful ones could kill and create those walking corpses."

"I see," Saitada said. "I think I understand."

Jowan hung his head again. "The arl's a decent man. I wondered how he could possibly be the threat Loghian said he was, but I did it anyway. I'm such a fool."

"Yes, you are," Lenore said, touching her forehead to his.

"I'm just sick of running away and hiding from what I've done. I'm going to try to fix it, any way I can." He looked at her. "We were friends once. I know I don't deserve to call you that, after what I did... if it ever meant anything, please... help me fix this."

"So how will you make things right?"

"I'd... well, I'd try to save anyone still up there. There must be something I can do."

Lenore looked back at the rest of them. "So if I were to just let you go...?"

"I'd stay and try to help, if I could. Perhaps I can help deal with whatever's been unleashed here."

Lenore nodded. "I'm letting you out of your cell."

"Lenore..."

"He's my friend," Lenore said, turning to meet Saitada's eyes. "He was tricked just like everyone else. He's..." She looked back at Jowan. "He's family." She opened the door, then her hands glowed white as she cast a healing spell. "Escape." She said, putting her hands on his shoulders. "This is your last chance."

He shook his head. "No, I'm not leaving. I made a mistake and I'm going to find some way to fix it."

"Please, Jowan. Run."

He looked at her, then back at the others. Lenore saw them frown, but none interfered. "Then... then I'll go." He hugged her. "I'm sorry things ended this way. I..." He let her go almost reluctantly. "Hope to see you again one day, under better circumstances." He went down the tunnel, looking back over his shoulder once before continuing on.

"I really hope we don't end up regretting that," Alistair said.

#

Brosca crept through the castle a bit ahead of the others. He heard something move behind a door, and signaled to the others. Saitada nodded. Carefully, Brosca opened the door.

"Ahhh!" The young serving woman squealed. "Please don't hurt me!"

"Be silent!" Brosca hissed at her. "You are safe."

"I... I'm sorry; I'm so frightened! These monsters are everywhere!" She shook with terror. "My... my name's Valena, the arlessa's maid. Is she... all right? What happened to everyone?"

"Valena?" Saitada asked. "The smith's daughter?"

She nodded desperately. "You know my father? I want to go back to the village! Is there a way out of here?"

"There is a tunnel leading out in the dungeon."

"B-but the monsters..."

"We've killed most of them. It's safe," Brosca assured her.

She backed away, then nodded. "I'll find my way. I can run fast and I know the castle. Thank you!" She fled.

Cathiel glanced at her mabari. "Griffon, go protect her." The dog whuffed, then followed the woman out.

"Let's find a way to that gate, let the others in," Saitada said.

#

They made their way through the castle. The corpses of servant and soldier alike had risen, and were put back down by the blades of the wardens and their companions.

The scene in the great hall was disturbing. Teagan danced and cavorted like a jester to the laughter and applause of a boy. He turned his gaze to them as they entered. "So these are our visitors? The ones you told me about, Mother?" His voice was deep, with a curious echo to it. Saitada saw Lenore stiffen.

"Yes, Connor," Isolde sounded as though she were trying to hold back terror.

"And these are the ones who defeated my soldiers? The ones I sent to reclaim my village?"

"Yes."

The boy's voice became a whine. "And now it's staring at me! What is it, Mother? I can't see it well enough."

"This is a dwarf, Connor. You... you've seen dwarves befroe. We've had them here at the castle..."

Connor laughed. "Had them? For dinner, maybe. Looks like a tough chew, maybe in a nice stew. Shall I send it to the kitchen, Mother?"

"Connor, I beg you, don't hurt anyone!"

The boy's voice became lost and frightened. "M-Mother? What... what's happening? Where am I?"

Isolde straighted. "Oh, thank the Maker! Connor! Connor, can you hear me?"

"Get away from me, fool woman! You are beginning to bore me."

"He's possessed," Lenore said. "An abomination."

"Grey Warden... please don't hurt my son! He's not responsible for what he does!"

"What did you do with Bann Teagan?" Brehan asked.

"Here I am!" Teagan's voice was mocking, almost clownish. "Here am I." He laughed.

Connor chuckled. "I like him better this way. No more yelling; now he amuses me!"

Saitada gestured for the others to spread out a bit, and take positions. Isolde saw them move and started shaking her head desperately. "Connor didn't mean to do this! It was that mage, the one who poisoned Eamon - he started all this! He summoned this demon! Connor was just trying to help his father!"

"And made a deal with the demon to do so?" Morrigan shook her head. "Foolish child."

Connor actually looked indignant. "It was a fair deal! Father is alive, just as I wanted. Now it's my turn to sit on the throne and send out armies to conquer the world! Nobody tells me what to do anymore!"

"Nobody tells him what to do!" Teagan laughed. "Nobody! Ha-ha!"

"Quiet, uncle. I warned you what would happen if you kept shouting, didn't I? Yes I did." Connor folded his arms, his expression surly and belligerent. "But let's keep things civil." He focused his gaze on Saitada as she walked towards him slowly. "This woman will have the audience she seeks. Tell us, woman... what have you come here for?"

"I came here to help, if I could." Saitada watched the others move in carefully.

Connor raised an amused eyebrow. "To help me? To help Father? To help yourself? Which?"

"To help the people you've terrorized."

"I was just having fun! Everyone else had fun too! ARe you having fun, Uncle?"

"Marmalade!" Teagan said.

"You see?" Connor laughed. "We're having fun. I think you're just trying to spoil things. What do you think, Mother?" He looked around, as if noting the others for the first time. "I think it's threatening me."

Isolde looked at Saitada desperately. "I... I don't think..."

Connor rounded on her and snarled. "Of course you don't. Ever since you sent the knights away, you do nothing but deprive me of my fun. Frankly, it's getting dull." His voice rose to a shout. "I crave excitement! And action! This woman spoiled my sport by saving that stupid village, and now she'll repay me!"

The guards charged, and the wardens met them. Teagan came at Saitada, and Sten solved the matter by simply punching the man in the face before he could draw a sword, sending him flying to the ground in an unconscious heap. She struck a guard across the belly with the flat of her blade, and then slammed her shield into his face. Across the room, Jerath tumbled into the legs of the two men coming at him, tripping them both. Brosca slammed the hilts of his weapons into their heads as they fell.

"Lenore?" Saitada asked.

"If its blood magic controlling them, I think I can help," she replied.

Saitada nodded. "Start with Teagan. Leliana, Brosca, bind the others. Brehan, Alistair, Sten, guard the doors. Cathiel, please see to Isolde. Jerath, Morrigan, see if you can figure out where Connor went."

"Don't hurt him!" Isolde said as Cathiel guided her to a chair.

"They won't," Cathiel assured her.

Lenore knelt next to Teagan, and closed her eyes in concentration. After a few moments, he stirred and sat up.

"Teagan! Teagan, are you all right?" Isolde tried to stand up, and Cathiel blocked her from doing so.

"I am..." Teagan looked around as if slowly becoming aware of his surroundings. "Better now, I think. My mind is my own again."

"Blessed Andraste! I would never have forgiven myself had you died, not after I brought you here. What a fool I am." Isolde looked at Saitada, and then outright shoved Cathiel out of the way to throw herself at the ground near where Saitada was kneeling. "Please! Connor's not responsible for this! There must be some way we can save him!"

"I'm not about to kill a child."

Teagan sighed, his face bleak. "I do not know if we can save him. Demons do not listen to reason."

"He is not always the demon you saw. Connor is still inside him, and sometimes he breaks through. Please, I just want to protect him!"

"Isn't that what started all this?" Teagan shook his head reproachfully. "You hired the mage to teach Connor in secret... to protect him."

"If they discovered Connor had magic, then they'd take him away. I thought if he learned just enough to hide it, then..."

Saitada looked at Lenore. "What are our options?"

"The boy did break through a bit," Lenore said. Her eyes went distant as she considered. "Maybe... if we can capture him, keep him contained for long enough, there may be a way. We could confront the demon in the fade."

"Explain?"

"There is a connection between the demon and Connor. If we can get into the Fade, we could kill the demon, and thus free Connor."

"You can do this?" Isolde turned her eyes beseechingly towards the mage.

"Not easily. To enter the Fade we need lyrium and many mages. I don't think I could do it with just Morrigan. We'd have to go to the Circle."

Saitada nodded. "Well, we were headed there next anyway."

#

They regrouped in the Chantry. Leliana helped Brosca negotiate for supplies, trading away most of Lenore's elfroot potions for things like arrows. Brehan briefly admired a battleaxe, only to find the blacksmith practically pressing it into his hands. It was a well-balanced piece. He left the blacksmith with the sword he'd used earlier.

He noted Jerath talking with a boy and a young woman. Jerath handed the boy the green hilted sword he'd been using earlier, then closed the woman's hand over something. The boy held the sword to him proudly as he looked up at Jerath, eyes wide and almost worshipful.

An older woman looked at him and made a clucking sound. A moment later he found a heavy, well-made green cloak being draped over his shoulders. "There. That will do to keep the weather off you a bit better than the rag you were wearing earlier."

"Mas serannas." She looked at him blankly. "Thank you," he said.

"Don't you be thanking me," she admonished him. She pointed over to where a soldier was sitting with a toddler in his lap. "My grandson still has his daddy because of you and yours." She cocked her head at him. "Your accent, and those marks. You're Dalish?"

"Yes."

A little girl looked up at him. "Really?"

He knelt down to her level. "Really."

"But you're nice! You saved us."

"Most Dalish are nice. We just don't usually like cities much."

"Are you 'lergic?" She looked up at him. "Daddy says he doesn't like cats much cause he's 'lergic."

Brehan laughed. "I suppose you could say that."

A few minutes later, he found himself surrounded by half the children in the Chantry as he wove the tale of Hesiria and her silver horned halla.

#

Teagan walked with them towards the edge of the village. "Maker forgive us. Connor is but a young boy, and this is happening to him only because he wished to help his father."

Lenore smiled at him reassuringly. "I've defeated demons in the fade before. We'll help him."

He nodded, then looked at Saitada. "The castle is under control for the moment, though I hear pockets of those creatures remain. For now, my main concern is ensuring that Eamon lives and Connor remains..." He sighed. "Where he is." He glanced towards Morrigan and Jerath. "I am not certain what keeps him there, but he will not stay there for long. Just do what you intend to do quickly."

Saitada nodded. "It's three days to the Circle, and three days back. Hopefully, Morrigan's spell will last the week."

He turned to Alistair, and put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Maker go with you." He looked them over. "All of you." He turned, and walked back to the village.