Their footsteps echoed through the now empty halls. Elissa walked in the front, supporting the elderly first enchanter by his arm. Despite his age and what he had been through during the past week Irving was far from frail and they managed to keep a decent pace. He winced from time to time but would not slow down. Wynne walked on Irvings right side, pale looking but her head held high. Behind them followed Barkspawn, Sten, Morrigan and the small group of mages. In the back Alistair and Leliana half supported half, dragged the young templar. He had insisted he was fine and refused help from anyone, but after he had nearly fallen down the first flight of stairs he grudgingly accepted that he might need some support. Still refusing to let Wynne or any other mage try to heal him Elissa had suggested Sten carry him. This led the young man to throw a fit at the sight of the large qunari moving towards him. Elissa had to threaten to leave him where he was unless he stopped shouting profanities. Alistair and Leliana had eventually taken an arm each and lifted him up on his feet. Now they supported him together through the corridor. The young man, "Cullen" Elissa reminded herself, had insisted on being last. He said so he could keep an eye on them, but she suspected he didn't want the mages to see just how exhausted he really was. Behind the hard words his fear was tangible, she could not really blame him. She glanced back, Cullens head was leaning on Alistairs shoulder at the moment, his face pale and his eyes closed.
The group moved as fast as they could but still far too slow, the templars from Denerim could arrive at any moment so they had no time to waste. The air was heavy will the smell of blood and smoke, Elissa noticed Irvings gaze on every corpse they passed but he didn't stop. There would be time to mourn later. One of the mages slipped and nearly fell when he stepped on the entrails belonging to what looked to be a tranquil. The mage kept his footing but Elissa heard another retching behind them. Morrigan made a noise but kept whatever comment she had to herself; Elissa was grateful for that much at least. Next to her Leliana moved silently, her keen eyes looking out for trouble.
Down and down they kept walking in silence, the only sounds were their footsteps, the heavy breathing from both Irving and Cullen and the occasional sob from one of the mages. A few mages and a small group of tranquil that had managed to hide joined them as they moved forward. After what felt like hours they finally reunited with Petra, Kinnon, Keili and the children, and moved through the final corridor towards the locked doors.
They could hear movement from behind the large thick metal doors but no one opened.
"Come on! Greagoir! Knight-Commander Greagoir, open the damn doors!" Elissa pounded on the doors again while pressing her forehead against the cool metal. Come on, she thought, just open them. Please. It took everything she had not to fall to her knees right then and there. She wanted out. She needed to get out. Next to her the First Enchanter lost his battle and slid down on the floor with a concerned Wynne kneeling next to him. Behind her she heard sniffling and wailing. Sten muttered something in qunlat and Morrigan said something in a snide tone but Elissa never registered the words. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Alistair stood beside her and started banging on the door as well.
"Knight-Commander, we have the First Enchanter!"
Right, Irving. Greagoir had said that he would only open the doors if he knew Irving was alive. Elissa kneeled beside Irving and Wynne.
"First Enchanter, I need you to call out for the Knight-Commander. He said he would only open the doors if he heard your voice."
Irving smiled weekly and nodded. Elissa and Wynne pulled him back on his feet, he stood swaying for a few seconds before calling for Greagoir. Elissa suspected he used magic because even in his weakened state his voice boomed throughout the hallway and echoed against the tall stone walls. Footsteps and other noises from outside the doors, louder now. And then they opened. In a semicircle around the doors stood templars, shields up and swords drawn. There were around ten of them, all that was left of Kinloch Holds templars and, in front of them all, the Knight-Commander.
"Irving? Maker's breath, I did not expect to see you alive."
"It is over Greagoir, Uldred…is dead. The circle is safe."
This time Elissas knees did buckle and she fell to her knees on the floor. Alistair and Wynne both rushed forward but Elissa waived them off. She looked up and noticed that Cullen had regained some of his strength because he had rushed past them all and was now standing between Irving and Greagoir talking in a very agitated voice but Elissa could not make out what he was saying. Now both Irving and Greagoir's voices was added.
"I am the Knight-Commander here, not you." Greagoir's voice boomed as the rest of the hall fell silent. The other templars still stood with their swords and shields ready, the children were weeping loudly and behind her Elissas companions all reached for their weapons, this was turning ugly fast. She forced herself on her feet.
"Well, what does the Knight-Commander think then?" She felt everyone's eyes on her. The templars moved slightly to let her pass as Greagoir waved her forward. Cullen stared at her and in that moment she was very glad he was unarmed. Wynne, Alistair, Morrigan and Barkspawn followed, the rest of the group remaining inside the doors, the tension in the entrance hall too much for them to step out at this moment in time.
"We have won back the tower." Greagoir spoke once Elissa had walked up to him. "I will accept Irving's' reassurances that all is well."
"But they may have demons within them, lying in dormant. Lying in wait!" Cullen shouted, Elissa felt the air change around Wynne, Irving and Morrigan - as did Greagoir.
"Enough!" His voice booming yet again. "I have already made my decision." He stepped away from Cullen and spoke directly to Elissa. "Thank you. You have proven yourself a friend of both the Circle, and the templars."
Elissa looked around. The energy in the hall was completely different from just a few moments ago. The templars around them had stepped back, their swords still in their hands but their stance far more relaxed.
"And what about the darkspawn? I require aid."
"I promised you aid, but with the Circle restored my duty is to watch the mages." He looked over to the small group of mages standing in a cluster in the hallway, still not sure if they can step into the entrance hall or not. "They are free to help you, however. Speak to them."
"You mean the First Enchanter?"
"Yes, Irving. But first…" Greagoir's gaze shifted and he looked at Morrigan. "You there, young lady. You are not from the Circle."
Morrigan laughed. "No, I am certainly not."
"There's something about you." He stepped towards her.
"Oh, I bet there is, templar."
"Don't." Elissa realised to late that she should have kept quiet.
Cullen sputter something about apostates in the background as the templars changed their stance yet again.
"It appears my secret is out." Morrigan's voice kept its usual condescending tone.
As the templars moved forward so did Elissa and stepped in front of Morrigan.
"Knight-Commander! She is with the Grey Wardens." If a needle had been dropped at that moment everyone would have heard it. Elissa reached back behind her and grabbed Morrigan's wrist.
"She is with the Grey Wardens."
Irving stepped forward. "The Grey Wardens has the right to conscript anyone, as you know Greagoir. Even apostates."
"That's right." Alistair spoke up for the first time. Greagoir looked over at Sten and Leliana who had also stepped forward. A pale young woman, a qunari, a former templar recruit, an apostate, a mabari and her – they sure looked like they accepted literally anyone.
"She helped save your Circle. She is leaving with us Knight-Commander."
It only took a few moments for Greagoir to speak for Elissa it felt like an eternity.
"Of course." He looked at Morrigan again but seemed to decide it wouldn't be worth it. "Well, like I said, speak to Irving about your request. For now, I will have to oversee a sweep of the tower. There may be some survivors and we should to our best to tend to them. Please excuse me." He said as he gently pushed past Elissa. He stopped for a second. "And Irving…it is good to have you back."
"Ah, I'm sure we'll be at each other's throats again in no time.
The Knight-Commander scoffed and signalled for his templars to follow. All around them there was movement. The mages in the hallway hurried out into the entrance hall, glad to finally be able to leave their horrific ordeal behind them. Some of the children was still crying; one of the mages - the one that had been throwing up earlier - was sobbing openly. A few of the templars remained in the hall and helped the calmer mages take care of the children. Cullen finally sat down, leaning the back of his head against a pillar in the hall, the last of his energy drained of him. Everybody left him alone, no one seemed eager to check on him at the moment. Morrigan had pulled her hand away from Elissa's and was shooting daggers with her eyes at the Knight-Commanders back but thankfully she remained quiet and still. Barkspawn sat by her feet, following the templars with his eyes.
"Here we are," the First Enchanter had turned to her again, "the tower in disarray, the Circle nearly annihilated…. Though it could have been much, much worse. I am glad you arrived when you did. It's almost as though the Maker Himself sent you." Irving smiled at her, she returned the smile more as a reflex. Elissa knew she should feel joy or at least relief, but she mostly felt empty.
"So I have your word?"
"You have my word, as First Enchanter. The Circle will join the Grey Wardens in the fight."
Well, that was done at least. They had recruited the mages… The few that were left. All of that and they had doubled their so-called army from six to what, fifteen people? Elissa wanted to cry. Or scream. Or both. Instead, she smiled.
"Irving," Wynne had stepped forward, "I have a request: I seek leave to follow the Grey Warden".
Elissa could barely believe what she was hearing. Irving protested meekly at first but then agreed, and that was that apparently. Wynne would join them.
"Wouldn't you agree?" Elissa looked up, the First Enchanters hand rested on her shoulder, he had apparently been talking to her.
"I'm sorry what?"
"I said you and your companions looks like you could use some rest yourself. You can spend the night in the apprentices' quarters or if you'd rather stay here in the entrance, I can arrange that."
"With all do respect First Enchanter, I cannot get out of this tower fast enough." The thought of spending even another hour in here was too much to bear. Irving smiled sadly.
"I understand. There is much to be done here and I must go." He waved a templar over. "He will take you across the lake. There's an inn there." Elissa nodded. "Talk to the innkeeper. We have arranged for guests of the Tower to spend the night there before. Tell him I sent you, sleep, eat and drink and we will take care of it."
"Thank you First Enchanter."
As they walked towards the great wooden doors towards the exit Elissa suddenly remembered something.
"First Enchanter?"
"Yes child?"
"Can the Circle go to Redcliffe to save a possessed child?"
"The child is possessed? But… killing the demon would mean killing the…" He stroked his matted beard as he talked. "Unless you intend to enter the Fade? Yes… yes, it can be done with a group of mages…" He seemed to lose himself in thought.
"Please First Enchanter, it is very urgent. The demon that has possessed the boy holds all of Redcliffe hostage and as already killed many."
Irving nodded while listening to her.
"The boy is the Arls son." Alistairs voice was low but clear.
"I see." He swayed a bit as he stood. "You came with a ship?"
"Yes, from Redcliffe. It is anchored by the docks. We dared not sail all the way to the tower unannounced. I am sure you can have the captains' quarters to rest First Enchanter."
"I am not the only one in need of rest. I will gather what mages I can. Greagoir must be informed, he will want to send at least a few templars with us, and we need to gather lyrium. Give us until dawn and we will go."
Elissa opened her mouth to protest but Irving simply laughed.
"I understand it's urgent child, but none of the tower's mages are in any shape to perform such a straining task at this moment. They must rest or they will not be able to save the boy. You must be patient. I take it since you left the boy has been locked away for the moment?"
"Something like that. He was…calm when we left." She gave him the short version of what had happened in Redcliffe and how they believed that without the walking corpses the demon could not do much at the moment. But who knows how long it would remain docile? But Irving was right. They agreed to meet up by the docks across the lake at dawn.