Chapter 5

Matthew crept through the tunnel that led to the pantry of Highever Castle, the very same tunnel that he had used to escape Arl Howe's betrayal just over a year ago. The memories of that night still caused him sadness, but now that he was back at his old home, still occupied by Amaranthine's troops, a different emotion coursed through him; rage. How dare his family's murderers lodge themselves in his home!

According to Zevran, who had infiltrated the castle some days before, the soldiers here had no idea that their Arl was dead and disowned. Alistair, however, was still hesitant to launch a frontal assault; if the soldiers chose to fight, than the Army of Fereldan would take horrendous damage; it was still battered from the Battle of Denerim. Therefore, Matthew suggested that he take a small group, infiltrate through this hidden entrance, than open the gates from within.

So far, everything was going to plan; he, Morrigan, Lelliana, and Zevran had slipped past the outer patrols and gotten to the tunnel without a hitch, and were now about to exit into the pantry. Matthew had tried to convince Morrigan to stay out of the fighting, for their child's sake, but he quickly discovered that he might as well tell the ocean to stop making waves.

Exiting into the pantry, the group took position on either side of the door. Slowly, Matthew eased the door open, and was immediately greeted with a very familiar shouting. "Will you all stop standing around, and actually do some work for a change!" Matthew could have cried with happiness; Nan. The old women was Highever's head cook and, further back, Matthew's nanny. Matthew, with his tendencies to bore easily, and saying exactly what was on his mind, had driven the poor women to near insanity, and by the time he had grown up, and Nan was transferred to cooking, she had acquired a nasty temper, and Matthew had the feeling that he was responsible for the many tongue lashings that the elven servants had received from her.

"Oh, come now, do you think the the teyrn's son wants to eat that measly peice of pork." At this, Matthew opened the door, looked at what was on the plate, and said, "Oh, I don't know. I've certainly had worse, Nan." The old women spun around, and, upon seeing who was speaking, clutched at her heart, and gripped the table for support. "My lord…" she finally spluttered. Matthew quickly placed a finger on his lips to silence her. "It's good to see you too, Nan, but please be quite. We would prefer to be stealthy for the time being."

"You must flee," Nan whispered. "Rendon Howe's son is here. Thomas is here, my lord. If he finds you, he will send you to his father, and who knows what that bastard will do to you." An uncharacteristic sadistic grin twisted Matthew's features. "Don't worry about Rendon, Nan. That traitor is dead; I killed him myself." Suddenly, Matthew remembered his past experiences with Thomas. Matthew, at his father Bryce's request, had tried very hard to like the Howes. The effort with Thomas lasted as long as the effort with his father, Rendon. Thomas was his sadistic, selfish father in miniature, though his own father had refused to see their true nature until it was too late. If he could rid the world of him, he would be doing everyone a favor.

Nan's eyebrows shot up. "You killed Rendon Howe?" Matthew nodded. "Then I guess I don't need to worry about you." "No, you don't." He paused, then continued, "Nan, get everyone into the pantry. The army is waiting for us to open the gates, and I don't want Fergus to get impatient. I'll explain everything later." Nan hesitated, than had the kitchen staff follow their rightful lord's instructions. Matthew and his group, in the meantime, left the kitchen and headed for the main gates.

When they rounded the last corner, however, he beheld a sight that chilled his blood; a semi-circle of Amaranthine soldiers stood with their backs to them, and trapped between them and the closed gates was an elf girl with dress that had been ripped at the shoulder; she couldn't have been older then fourteen. And standing over her, looking the spitting image of his father, was Thomas Howe, a sickening, sadistic smile on his face.

"Is he really so pathetic that he requires 20 armed men to force women to go to bed with him?" Morrigan stated with a frankness that stunned him. "He is a Howe, Morrigan," Matthew spat. "It runs in his blood." He then turned to the two rogues in the group. "Zevran, Lelliana, go up the stairs, and open the gates. Morrigan, you're with me." The two pairs than went their separate ways; the rogues to the gate house, and the Couslands to would be rapist.

Drawing his fire-enchanted Summer Sword from his shoulder, Matthew shouted "THOMAS, leave that girl alone!" The Howe and his men turned to face their adversary, and Thomas, who looked surprised, then pleased by the newcomers, drawled "Well, well, well, if it isn't little Matthew Cousland, back to avenge his Orlesian-loving parents. And such fine company you keep," his eyes drifting to Morrigan, who was looking at him with the expression of one who was forced to use a public outhouse that no one ever seemed to clean. "After I hog tie you and send you to my father in Denerim, I will have fun with your companion."

Matthew's blood boiled, but he held his temper in check; the gates needed to be opened to let the army in, and he needed to distract Thomas from the gatehouse for that to happen. So instead, he grinned and said, "Unless you wish to have your favorite body parts frozen, I wouldn't suggest trying. And besides, I don't think your father will be torturing anyone ever again, unless a blood mage should stumble into the Arl of Denerim's estate." For the first time, Thomas hesitated. "What are you talking about?" "I infiltrated his estate in Denerim, and put him to the sword personally. Your bastard of a father is dead, Thomas! And his buddy, Teyrn Loghain! And Alistair, Marric's son, is king. Your family has been stripped of its lands and titles. And you are going to pay for the abuses you have heaped on the people of Highever; MY people!"

"You lie!" Thomas screamed. "You lie, you pathetic, Orlesian boot-licker!" Matthew reached into his pocket, pulled out Rendon Howe's bloody signet ring, and tossed it to Thomas. "Your father was the pathetic one, Thomas. He blamed the world for his own failings, betrayed everyone who trusted him, and when justice came for him, he tried to wiggle free. I didn't let him escape, and I won't let you, either." Thomas laughed then, and it was the laughter of a madman. "'Won't let me'. You and what army?"

At that moment, the gates unlocked, and swung outward, and the Army of Fereldan, led by King Alistair and Teyrn Bryce Cousland, rose up and charged, screaming war cries to the heavens. "This army!" Matthew screamed, and he charged the group. Behind him, Morrigan conjured a Chain Lightning spell that killed 10 of the men in front of them. At the same time, Lelliana started firing arrows from the battlements, and Zevran leapt down to fight hand-to-hand, and the entire group was disposed of within seconds.

Thomas and Matthew engaged in a one-on-one duel in the courtyard. Neither could seem to gain the advantage; Thomas, fighting with dual daggers, was too fast and agile for Matthew to hit with a killing blow, but Matthew had such large reach with his greatsword that Thomas could not get close enough to inflict injury either. Finally, Thomas managed to hobble Matthew by kicking him in the leg, and sending him to the ground. He then jumped into the air, intending to jam his daggers into the Hero of Fereldan's back, confident that the Cousland was helpless before him.

Matthew, however, had a habit of surprising people. Coming into the kneeling position, he took his sword, and, driving the flaming blade upward, skewered Thomas Howe in midair. Thomas convulsed once, than lost consciousness as blood poured out of his descending aorta. Within a minute, he was dead.

Matthew let the Howe's corpse slide from his blade onto the ground just as Bryce, Alistair, and the first of Fereldan's troops came through the gate, and began spreading throughout the castle, killing all the soldiers who resisted them. Upon finding the castle swarming with hostile troops, and their leader dead, most surrendered before they were sure what was happening, and within a half-an-hour, Highever Castle was back in Cousland hands.

Two hours latter…..

Morrigan walked through the streets of Highever Castle, trying to wipe the blood from her sword. During their travels, Morrigan had become interested in swordplay, and had asked Matthew to teach her. She regretted the request almost immediately; Matthew had defeated her so easily it looked pathetic, and she had not continued the lessons until they had discovered the essence of an ancient elf, who had taught her how to become an Arcane Warrior, channeling her magical power to increase her martial might. Later, and the Temple of Andraste, they had found an ancient elven sword, especially constructed for Arcane Warriors. It was this blade, and these powers, she now wielded with deadly results, fighting with her love, side-by-side.

That is, when I can find him, Morrigan thought bitterly. After the castle had been reclaimed, Morrigan expected to find him discussing noble-like things with his brother and his fool of a friend, Alistair, but they claimed not to have seen him either; which brought her back to her search. Walking into the kitchen, she noticed the pantry door was ajar, and she could hear faint sobs. She knew now where her love was, and why.

Walking into the pantry, she saw Matthew kneeling on the floor, his head in his hands, crying. She recalled that this was the room he had been forced to leave his parents behind in, and wondered how he could have brought himself come back into the castle by the same route. Walking up to him she placed a hand on his shoulder, and when he looked up at her, whispered "I'm sorry." She then knelt beside him, and grieved together. Then, when the sun had set, got up, and walked together to Matthew's old room, laid down on the bed, and went to sleep.