Author's Note: Broken Circle. In the several days that it would take to walk from Lothering north to the Mage Tower, Edward would have had time to learn more about his travelling companions. I would imagine that he and Sten would hit it off fairly well, as both would have similar military backgrounds. Also, after nearly two years of celibacy and now travelling with not one, but three gorgeous women, ol' Eddie is looking for some action.

This chapter was quite long so I split it in half. Enjoy!

Part 5.

"So it was somewhere around here, Sten?" asked Edward, indicating the steep path down to the lake.

"It was. Seven of us fell to the darkspawn that night" replied Sten.

Edward thought about this for a minute as the group crested the hill. Over the last few days, Edward had learned that his qunari friend had been part of a group which was sent to Ferelden to learn about the blight. While they were in this place by the lake, they'd been attacked and slaughtered, Sten being the only survivor. What bothered Sten more than being wounded was the loss of his sword. Edward gathered it was like an heirloom, something that was a part of Sten. Edward likened Sten's situation to the loss of a limb.

Edward and Sten had begun sparring with each other in the evenings, using staves wrapped in hemp rope. The larger qunari had power and bulk, but Edward had mobility and speed, and the matches often came out closer than either one expected. Alistair also tried to spar, but he wasn't comfortable sparring against Sten, and Edward seemed to have the measure of him so far. Morrigan would watch these sparring matches with interest, enjoying the gritty fighting, even if it did mean she had to make a few extra health poultices. Leliana and Nereid would watch and sometimes keep score for the combatants. Leliana had commented on some of the scars on Edward's torso to Nereid. She wondered what they would feel like under her fingertips.

"Keep back! This 'ere is my spot!" came a cry from a grubby little wreck of a man.

"What are you talking about, you bloody idiot?" said Edward, amused at the antics of the other man.

"It's my salvage spot. Everything here is mine, so go on, piss off!" he replied.

"Salvage? You found anything interesting?" asked Edward, deliberately knocking his coin purse so it clinked.

"Oh yeah. Maybe. I found a glove. I think it's a glove..." he trailed off.

Edward beckoned Sten over, then turned back and asked "found any swords? Big ones, like something a giant would use?"

"Nah, nuffink like that. I think I got dudded on this spot to tell the truth."

"Who sold it to you? What was his name?"

"Oh, that's easy. A blood nut bastard called Faryn. He sold it me about two weeks ago and I ain't got much out of it except for a couple of bits of armour and some horse shoes."

"Where is this Faryn now?" asked Sten.

"I heard he was headed to Orzammar. You see him there, you punch him in the face for me."

Edward nodded, and flicked the man a silver coin. Looking up at his qunari friend, he said "sounds like a lead to me, Sten."

"Indeed, Warden" said the qunari. Sten waited a moment before asking "Warden, the scavenger mentioned 'blood nut'. What did he mean?"

"Oh - it's a red head. Blood is red, nut is slang for head. Bloodnut" explained Edward.

"I see. So Leliana would be a bl..." the rest of his sentence was muffled as Edward covered Sten's mouth with his hand.

Leliana frowned, she had heard the conversation, as the scavenger was still shouting to himself in the background.

"Leliana is a flame haired goddess, not a bloodnut" corrected Edward. Leliana smiled and blushed slightly.

"But her hair is red..." began Sten.

"It's a human thing, Sten. Only men are bloodnuts" said Edward, exasperated.

"I won't even pretend to understand, Warden. You humans are strange" said Sten.

At the bottom of the hill, on the edge of the lake, there stood a wharf. There were no boats attached to the wharf, and no-one seemed to be about. Looking up, Edward noted that as dusk was approaching, the boatman may have just finished up for the night. The travellers walked back uphill, towards the inn they had passed on the way down. Edward smiled at the thought of a night indoors as he pushed open the door and walked inside.

The tavern keeper looked up as they came in, and shot them a wide grin. "Evening, travellers! Welcome to the Spoiled Princess. What can I get you?"

Edward approached the bar and sat himself on a stool. Alistair joined him, while the others paired off onto two tables. "We'll start with a couple of jugs of ale, with six mugs, thanks. We'll need rooms for the night - two or three rooms, I'd say" said Edward.

"No problems there, friend. We have three rooms which I can give you a good rate on. I'll get your ale then show you upstairs."

"Can you tell us about the ferry to the Mage Tower?" asked Edward.

"Ahh. Well the ferryman is at home at the moment. Since the trouble started in the tower, one of the Templars has been doing the ferrying. He goes back across in the evening, comes back in the morning. You've missed him by about half an hour, I'd wager" said the innkeeper, pulling two jugs of ale.

"Trouble? What trouble?" asked Alistair.

"Can't say for certain. All I know is they stopped everyone coming or going from the tower about two days ago. There's been no news, only a couple of riders and they didn't say anything."

"If you remember anything, let us know. We have to get across there tomorrow, somehow" said Edward.

The innkeeper nodded, and stacked some mugs on a platter. Leaving the ale, he led the group upstairs, where three small but clean rooms waited. Morrigan immediately claimed one room, and made it clear that she would only share it with Nereid. Shrugging, the elf followed her into the room. Sten and Alistair took the next room, Alistair throwing his bedroll out on the floor without much fuss. "Looks like you're with me, Leliana. I could squash in with the others, if you like..." said Edward.

"No, I don't bite" said Leliana. 'Well not unless you want me to, that is' she thought.

"Hmm, double bed. Want to flip for it?" asked Edward, pulling out a silver coin.

"Edward! We can share. We're both adults. I can trust you to keep your hands to yourself, can't I?" asked Leliana with a smile.

Leliana's smile was infectious, and Edward found himself grinning as he and Leliana both unpacked various bits and pieces from their packs. He quickly stripped off his chest armour, and was bringing up his tunic when he felt a touch on his back. Leliana was running her fingers along one of his scars. Probably the crescent shaped one he got in Cumberland, that was pretty impressive, he thought. As he turned around, Edward noted that Leliana was biting her bottom lip and her cheeks were flushed.

"I thought I had to keep my hands to myself?" said Edward, quietly.

Leliana blinked, realising what she'd done, and stammered "oh, Maker. Edward, I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me. You were just so close and... and I just wanted to touch them. I'm sorry, I'll move my things in with Morrigan and Nereid."

Edward put one finger to his mouth and put his other hand on Leliana's shoulder. "It's fine, Leliana. Come on, sit down for a minute."

Leliana allowed herself to be led to the bed and sat down, while Edward pulled over a chair and sat facing her. Edward looked at her carefully, and then asked "Leliana, how long were you at the Chantry in Lothering?"

"Two years" she replied.

"And what about before that, were you at a different Chantry, maybe in Orlais?"

"No, I was a minstrel in Orlais before that."

"That's quite an abrupt change" said Edward.

"Well, the time had come to just put my old life aside. When I came to Lothering, I found peace in the Chantry there".

'Something must have driven her there' thought Edward.

Leliana looked at Edward. She seemed about to say something, but stopped. After a few seconds, she asked "do you miss your wife?"

Edward looked at her eyes carefully. There was no hint of teasing or malice, just friendliness. "Yeah. Yeah, I do. She's been gone over a year and a half now. I've had time to heal though, so its' not as painful now as it was. The memories, I mean. I only remember the good times now."

"We should go back down. Tell me some of the good times after supper, yes?" said Leliana.

"I will. And Leliana, stay here tonight."

Leliana smiled and said "of course, Edward. I want to hear some of your stories." With that she went to the door.

"I'll just have a quick wash and be down in a minute. Pour me an ale, Leliana, make sure Nereid doesn't drink it all" said Edward with a smirk.

Edward came downstairs to see that his companions had pulled together two of the tables to make space for the six of them. Huolir was sitting contentedly gnawing on a bone by the fire. Seeing a place set for him, Edward sat down. In his place there was a tankard of ale, and he downed half the tankard in one go. Edward noticed that Sten had discreetly asked for milk and was drinking that. Morrigan had also foregone the ale and had a goblet of wine, the opened bottle sitting on the table.

"Right folks, I trust the rooms are to your satisfaction. What would you like to eat?" asked the innkeeper. "I should point out that we've got some lake trout today" he added.

"Sounds good. Baked trout it is. Some bread and cheese while we wait would go down very well" said Edward, nodding towards Alistair, who grinned. "That alright for everyone?" asked Edward.

As no-one disagreed, Edward got up and followed the innkeeper back to the bar. "How much are we up for with the rooms and meal, good fellow?" he asked.

"Hmm. I'd guess just a bit over a sovereign all up."

Edward thumbed down two sovereigns onto the bar. "Tomorrow morning we need to be up at sunrise. Can you have packed up some bread, cheese, salted or dried meat, couple of waterskins, couple of bottles of wine, dried fruit. You know, trail ration type stuff."

"Yessir, I'll make sure of it. Err... you said you was going to the Mages Tower? The Templar came over about an hour after dawn yesterday. Should be enough time to eat, then get packed and be down there, I'd wager."

"Good. Thanks, friend" replied Edward, pushing the cash across the bar.

When he sat back down, Edward noticed his tankard had been refilled for him. Soon he was enjoying some sharp cheese and bread with his ale, and the whole group seemed at ease. Even the stoic Sten didn't look tense. Nereid was enjoying herself especially, having drunk almost all of one pitcher of ale. Leliana was telling her about some of the wines in Orlais, and Morrigan was listening and occasionally taking a sip of her red wine.

The main course arrived and after a long while where stews were normal fare, the baked trout was delicious. As they finished it, Nereid asked for another couple of bottles of wine. Leliana and Nereid were drinking the potent wine like water. Edward and Alistair had finished the second jug of ale, but Edward hadn't ordered any more. The night drew on, and Morrigan excused herself and went upstairs to bed. Thinking that was a good idea, Edward said "we'll be up at dawn tomorrow. We should all get some sleep."

Sten rose and he and Alistair left. Nereid was looking very flushed. Her slight elven frame seemed to be able to absorb the alcohol readily. She was a little unsteady, but grinned at Edward and staggered upstairs, Huolir padding up after her. I hope she doesn't throw up on Morrigan, thought Edward. Leliana was humming some Orlesian tune, and she collapsed against Edward with a smirk on her face. "Let's go to bed, Ed" she mumbled, before giggling at her impromtu rhyme.

With a sigh, Edward put his arm around the bard's shoulders and flicked her legs up with his other hand. Leliana yawned and leaned into Edward's shoulder. Edward clomped upstairs, carrying the dozy bard in his arms. Using his bum to push open the door into their room, he propped Leliana up on her feet. She yawned again, but remained holding on to Edward. "Come on Leliana, over here" said Edward, half-walking, half-dragging her to the wash stand. He poured a mug of water, then poured some water into the basin. Wetting his free hand, he splashed Leliana's face, waking her up a little. "Drink this" said Edward, handing her the mug of water.

Leliana did as she was told, spilling a little, but drinking at least half of the mug.

"What do you sleep in, Leliana?" asked Edward.

"A tent" she answered, dreamily.

"No, I know that. What do you wear to bed? You need to get changed now" said Edward.

"Oh" was the reply. Letting go of Edward, Leliana staggered over to her pack. Hanging on the back of a chair was a shirt. "This'll do" said Leliana.

"That's one of my shirts" thought Edward. "Pah, who cares, it'll look better on her anyway."

Leliana stripped off while Edward poured some more water into the wash basin. Quickly splashing his face and using his toothrag to clean his teeth, he dried off as Leliana pulled his shirt on. While it did cover a lot of Leliana, it didn't leave much to the imagination either. She stumbled over to Edward and proceeded as best she could with having a wash and cleaning her teeth. Edward changed quickly and jumped into bed. He closed his eyes and heard Leliana padding across the floor towards him. He felt the bed go down and the covers raise. He could feel her against him, snuggling up with her back to him. After a short while Edward leaned over, catching the scent of her hair, and put one arm around her before saying "goodnight, Leliana".

Leliana was already asleep.

About half an hour before sunrise, there was a knock at the door, as the innkeeper's maid did the morning wake-up calls for the three rooms. Edward was on his back and Leliana was wrapped around him, using his chest as a pillow. Edward yawned and thought "I could get used to this". Leliana mumbled as Edward gently eased her onto the pillows, pulling himself away from the bards' embrace. Edward opened the door and grabbed the fresh pitchers of hot and cold water, using them to make a warm basin of water to wash in. After he had finished washing, he threw on a tunic and looked over at Leliana. She was watching Edward from the bed, her blue eyes still half closed from sleep. "Did we...?" she asked.

"No. You were out like a light as soon as you hit the bed" replied Edward. "I'll meet you downstairs, best hurry, we have a long day ahead of us."

Edward walked over to the door and stood in the doorway, then shrugged. He turned around and with a few steps was beside the bed only a short distance from Leliana. Looking directly at the bard, he said "that was the best night's sleep I've had in a long time, Leliana. Thank you." So saying, he leaned in and kissed the surprised bard on the forehead. With a sigh, he turned and left, closing the door on the way out.

Over breakfast, Edward hashed out his plans for the Mage Tower. They knew there was trouble at the tower, but they didn't know what exactly. They knew that they needed the support of the Mages, so that meant talking to the First Enchanter, who was called Irving, according to Alistair. There were also Templars who may be useful as allies against the more exotic magics of the darkspawn.

"We take supplies for three days. If we know this ferry is being stopped at night, then things might be serious over there. We have to assume that getting the treaty handed over isn't going to be cut and dried" said Edward.

Morrigan was listening very carefully to this information. "Why are we persuing these mages at all, Warden?"

Edward looked over at Morrigan. "Two reasons, Morrigan. First, firepower. One mage is worth many men in combat. Second reason is I intend to invoke the right of conscription there and get us a healing mage. I think we all can see that as we gather more friends, we will attract larger and better equipped groups against us. That means injuries. I know you can't heal, and none of us are mages, so we have to rely on poultices."

"Ah. So this is mainly for my benefit, is it?" said Morrigan with a smirk. Morrigan and Nereid had both been making herbal poultices in the evenings at camp, and the witch had complained about it on several occasions.

"If you like" replied Edward, shooting her a charming smile.

"We should be careful over there. The Templars would love to catch themselves an apostate" said Alistair.

Edward looked at Alistair and then back at Morrigan. "While Morrigan is with us, they shouldn't bother her."

Morrigan nodded her thanks.

At the dock, the group waited for the ferry to arrive. They were still a little early according to the innkeeper, so Edward was checking his pauldron while the others sat and waited. Sten and Alistair were talking about the darkspawn attack on the qunari group, while Leliana and Nereid were chatting idly while squatting on the cool ground. As he shed his pauldron, Morrigan wandered over to Edward. "Hello Morrigan" said Edward.

"Warden, I have... hmm" muttered the witch.

"Are you alright, Morrigan? If you're worried about templars you can wait up at the inn, we should be fine."

"What? Oh, no it's not that. I had a favour to ask, actually."

"Let's hear it. Oh, while you tell me, can you hold this strap straight please? Little bugger keeps twisting."

Morrigan leaned closer and held the leather strap running down Edward's side. "While the tower is in disarray, I believe we should take advantage of the situation" began Morrigan.

"How so?" asked Edward.

"Some time ago, my mother was divested of a very precious book by a particularly zealous Templar. I am sure that this book would have made it back to this tower" continued Morrigan.

"Ah, I see. So while they're running about like disturbed ants, we should plunder the nest?"

"Exactly, Warden. The book is black leather and has a leafless tree on both covers. If we find it, I would be very pleased indeed".

Edward snapped his pauldron back in place and pulled the strap down, tightening the armour. Gently removing Morrigan's hand and tucking in the strap, he said "sure, we'll get your book if it's there."

Morrigan smiled, saying "my thanks... Edward."

When the ferry arrived, the argumentative templar who crewed it attempted to block the groups' attempts to get across the lake. Edward knew that he did not have time to be arguing with this stupid shit of a man. As the Templar looked lustfully at Nereid, Edward cuffed him across the back of the head, hard enough to knock him out. throwing the Templar in the bottom of the boat, they loaded up. Nereid convinced Huolir to sit still in the boat. With Sten taking one oar and Edward the other, they made good time across the water.

As they paddled across, Nereid asked Alistair "why does the tower look like a giant penis?"

Alistair, who had been drinking some water at that moment, let out a spray of water and began coughing harshly. Nereid giggled, with Morrigan and Leliana joining in a fit of laughter.

"Nereid, your timing is impeccable" said Edward, grinning while pulling back on his oar.

Soon a jetty was visible on the side of the island the tower was built on. Steering in towards it, Sten and Edward maneouvered the boat into place, while Alistair grabbed the jetty and fastened a couple of ropes onto the boat. "We better wake up our host" said Edward.

"Shit, you hit him hard, Edward" said Alistair, roughly hoisting the Templar into a sitting position. Edward shrugged, not saying anything.

Alistair splashed some water on the Templar, who spluttered and woke up, groggily. "Thanks for your hospitality, ser templar" said Alistair.

"Wha...?" said the Templar. "Ow, my head hurts. What happened?"

"You hit your head on the jetty when you were helping our lovely elven friend into your boat, don't you remember?" lied Edward. "We rowed you across in case you needed to see a healer" he continued. Nereid gave a short but deep bow, making sure the Templar saw clearly.

The Templar shrugged, wincing in pain. "I'll be alright" he said, getting a poultice and slapping it across the back of his head. He waved off the group, struggling to remember what had actually happened.

Greagoir stood in the centre of the ground floor of the tower. He was marshalling his Templar troops, who still held the lower floors - the stores and catacombs. The upper floors were overrun, and yesterday morning he'd ordered the great doors sealed, trapping any surviving Mages and Templars within. He turned as the outer doors opened, and gaped as the strangers entered. Six people - a qunari, four humans and an elf, along with a mabari hound. "Who the hell are you? I gave Carroll orders not to bring anyone across!" he growled.

"We're Grey Wardens. We would have come yesterday but there was no ferry" said Edward.

"It wouldn't have made any difference. The tower is lost" said Greagoir with a sigh.

"Lost? How?" asked Alistair.

"A couple of days ago, abominations began appearing at the top of the tower. Those they didn't kill outright, they enslaved or enthralled. Blood mages were running rampant, killing mages and templars alike. I ordered the doors sealed, and sent to Denerim for the right of Annulment yesterday morning."

"What's a Right of Annulment?" asked Nereid.

"It is permission to raze the tower. Kill everyone in it and start over. It would come with a contingent of Templars from Denerim" replied Greagoir.

"Isn't that a little extreme, even for Templars? What if there are survivors in there?" asked Edward.

"No. It's too late for survivors. The Tower must be cleansed."

"You sent for this Annulment thing yesterday, right?" asked Edward.

"Yes."

"A fast rider would take two days to get to Denerim. Say another two to rally the Templars and another three to get back here with the troops. That's a week."

Greagoir nodded.

"So we have some time then. We will go in and look for survivors, and get to the bottom of this. We must have those mages against the blight, any survivors will be worth it."

"You realise that you will be dealing with abominations in there? Not just one of them, either. And Maker knows what other things they have summoned in the last day or two" said Greagoir.

"Do you know if Irving is still alive?" asked Alistair.

"No, I don't know."

"We can deal with these abominations" said Edward.

"Once you cross that threshold, there is no turning back. The great doors have to remain barred. I'll open them for no one until I have proof that it is safe. I will only believe it is over if the first enchanter stands before me and tells me it is so. If Irving has fallen... then the Circle is lost, and must be destroyed" said Greagoir.

Edward nodded and beckoned his companions further into the room. A frightened looking man with a shaved head looked up at them as they approached. "Are you going in to the tower?" he asked.

"Yes, can you tell us anything helpful about the abominations?" asked Edward.

The man gulped, and said "they are like nothing on Thedas. Hideous to look at, and they wield dreadful magic. Some even strike with their limbs and where they hit open skin, it dissolves like wax on a flame."

Edward looked behind the man, seeing the piles of equipment and supplies. "Are you willing to loan or trade with us?" he asked.

"Of course. What do you need?" he replied, looking a little calmer.

Edward noticed an ornate looking staff, and waved Morrigan over. Passing the staff to her, he asked "would this be helpful at all, Morrigan?"

Morrigan eyed the staff carefully, gauging the power locked in the tough looking silver material. Hefting it a couple of times, she nodded at Edward, saying "yes, it would be an improvement indeed."

Edward found a well balanced two handed sword which he handed to Sten, and both Nereid and Leliana were able to get themselves fresh supplies of arrows. Alistair found a good piece of Templar chest armour that wasn't too badly dinged up. Nereid also picked up a wicked looking dagger, tucking it into her belt. Edward haggled with the trader, getting a decent price after a bit of back-and-forth. Finally equipped, the group entered the main doors.

The main doors clanged shut behind them, reminding Edward of a tomb sealing for some reason.