Chapter 14
Velanna had been keeping to herself since her joining. She didn't like the shems and wouldn't associate with the soldiers in the barracks. Beth insisted that Velanna join their expedition into the Blackmarsh. She had hoped that including her in this mission would make her feel more a part of the Wardens. So with Anders, Nate, Velanna and two soldiers, Beth headed out.
The group hesitated as they entered the Blackmarsh. The gloom overwhelmed them with an oppressive feeling of dread. There was no sound, no birds, no insects, nothing.
Anders broke the silence, "Why would anyone want to go to someplace called 'Blackmarsh' anyway, now maybe if it was 'Beermarsh'," he paused, "...nope that doesn't work either."
"That was not funny." Nate said.
"Why are we here?" Velanna asked.
"One of the Grey Wardens from Orlais, a man named Kristoff, was investigating the darkspawn attacks. There was evidence that they may have originated here." Beth answered, looking around. "Varel said that Kristoff was here in the marsh and not at the Keep when it was attacked. I'm hoping we find him."
"There's a village at the end of this road," Nate said, pointing.
They walked slowly down the only road through the marsh. The trees that crowded the road looked gnarled and deformed. The oppressive gloom surrounded the group. The darkness created by the trees was enhanced by the cloudy day.
"Maybe 'Fancyflowermarsh'?" Anders joked.
Nate rolled his eyes and Beth tried to hide her smile. Velanna said, "I don't understand what you are talking about."
Anders just shrugged.
"I have to warn you," Nate said. "Stories were told about the Blackmarsh and the ghosts that haunt it."
"Ghosts?" Anders said, looking around warily.
Nate smirked, "Yes, ghosts. The village near here has been empty for ages. No one knows what happened to the villagers. A boat with supplies docked here and discovered the village to be empty of people and the buildings burnt. There has never been any evidence of what happened to the villagers." He paused for dramatic effect and looked at Anders. "They say the spirits of the villagers are trapped here and haunt anyone who dares enter their dwellings."
"We come in peace!" Anders shouted, his voice sounding hollow in the gloom.
Velanna shook her head, "If angry spirits truly infest this area, shouting will only enrage them."
Beth smiled to herself, it was good to hear the group getting along. They approached the gate to the village and she could vaguely sense the presence of darkspawn.
The gate to the village hung on rusty hinges and it creaked loudly in the quiet as they entered the ruins of the village. The marsh had taken over the abandoned town. Moss clung to most of the remaining bricks and grasses grew where homes used to be. They walked into the remains of the town square. A large mansion stood toward the north. It leaned precariously, throwing an menacing shadow over the square.
In a corner of the square, a tent had been erected recently. Beth walked cautiously over and found the remains of a camp. Searching further, the group found evidence of a battle near the entrance to the mansion. The corpse of a human stood out amongst the darkspawn corpses.
"Is this the Grey Warden?" Anders asked.
Beth knelt down and felt around the dead man's neck. Fingering the amulet, she nodded. "Yes, unfortunately." Sensing something approaching, she stood up quickly and brandished her blades.
"The Mother is right," a gravelly voice said.
"Great, another talking darkspawn," Anders quipped, readying for battle.
The approaching darkspawn looked like a deformed corpse.
"Who is the Mother?" Beth asked.
"She is mother to darkspawn. She said Grey Warden will come. I kill other and you come." The creature said, wielding a large sword.
Beth took a step forward. "You will pay for this."
"No, you are trap," and the creature threw something at Beth. The bottle broke with the sound of shattering glass and a mist engulfed both Beth and the creature.
Beth heard shouts as the mist surrounded her, "Commander!" "Beth!"'
...
Nate rushed to Beth as she collapsed, catching her before she hit the ground. "Beth!" he said, helplessly, but there was no response. She was still alive, but unresponsive. He looked at Anders, "Don't just stand there! Help her!"
Anders knelt down, he had smelled the lyrium in the mist and suspected what had happened. He closed his eyes and concentrated as he passed his hands over her. The power of the Fade confirmed his suspicion, "She's in the Fade," he said aloud.
Nate looked at him, "So, what does that mean?"
"We must guard her until she is brought out," Velanna answered.
"Can't we do anything else?" Nate asked, worriedly.
The soldiers accompanying them had gathered around in a defensive stance. Velanna looked at Anders and said, "One of us could go in and get her."
Nate looked at Anders hopefully. Anders sighed, "I'll go." He looked at Velannna then at Nate, "We need to prepare."
Nate nodded and watched as the two mages began sorting through their packs. He looked down at Beth, who seemed to be sleeping and brushed a stray hair from her face. He realized at that moment how much she meant to him and knew he would do everything in his power to protect her.
Anders motioned for Nate to lay Beth down on the ground and to step back. Nate gently put Beth on the ground and took a step back and watched. Anders laid down next to Beth as Velanna knelt beside him and began chanting. Anders joined her chant and an eerie glow began to surround him.
Anders' eyes closed and he stopped chanting as he drifted into the Fade.
...
Beth looked around as the mist cleared. The town square was empty save for the darkspawn and herself. "What did you do?" she shouted.
"No. The First is deceived. Only Grey Warden to go to Fade. Not The First." The creature looked around angrily. "Must find way out. Must find Mother. Must kill Mother!" It looked around the town square and ran toward the mansion.
"Wait!" Beth called to no avail. She shook her head and began to follow the creature. She knew she was in the Fade, it wasn't the first time. She felt the familiar sense of overwhelming magic and as she walked toward the mansion, remembered the last time she was in the Fade.
The Circle of Mages had been taken over by evil Blood Mages and Beth, along with her friends, were fighting the summoned demons guarding the Tower. One particular demon, a sloth demon, had trapped Beth and her friends in the Fade, hoping that they would give up.
The version of the Fade then had been taken from their desires. Beth had found herself amongst the Grey Wardens at Weisshaupt and it had taken all of her willpower to break the spell. She had searched for her friends and had helped each one out of their version of the Fade.
Finally the group had confronted the demon itself and upon killing it, they had awakened from their trap.
Beth hurried to catch up to the darkspawn. Perhaps killing this beast was the key to her release from this version of the Fade. She approached the mansion and heard the sounds of people shouting. She cautiously entered the gate and saw a crowd of people in the courtyard. They were shouting and banging at the doors to the mansion.
...
Anders looked around the town square and took a deep breath, "Andraste's flaming knickers, I hate the Fade," he mumbled. Seeing no sign of Beth or the darkspawn, he paused, trying to get a sense of where they might have gone.
The sound of people drew his attention towards the mansion and he hurried towards it. Walking through the open gate, he saw a crowd of people surrounding a brightly glowing spirit and Beth.
"I will help if I can." Beth was saying as she saw Anders approach. "Anders!" she exclaimed. "How did you get here?"
Anders smirked, "I have my ways..."
"Anders, this is Justice. He is a spirit trying to help these people move on." Beth motioned toward the spirit. "Justice, this is my friend, Anders. He is also a Grey Warden."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," Justice said.
Anders turned to Beth, "Beth. I came to get you out."
"I can't leave yet. I have to help these people," Beth said, looking around. "Justice can't confront the Baroness alone and these people are only ghosts who have no real power."
"The Baroness is a blood mage who was using the people of her village to power her evil spells. The people of the village burned down her mansion to rid themselves of her, but she cast a spell that has trapped them here," Justice spoke in a calm, but powerful voice.
Anders sighed, "I think I was better off back at the Circle." He looked at her and knew he couldn't deny her anything, "Alright, let's go kill a maleficar."
Beth took his hand, "Thank you, Anders."
"There may be a side entrance to the mansion," Justice said.
They began to circle the building, looking for a way in. Anders hesitated a moment and looked at Beth. "Did you mean what you said?" he asked.
"When?" Beth responded, confused.
Anders looked embarrassed, "When you introduced me as your friend..."
"Well, you are, right?" she asked, smiling at him warmly.
"I've never had a friend," Anders said, solemnly. "Okay, maybe I did...once. There was a cat that used to visit me in the tower. I guess he was my friend."
Beth looked at Anders sadly, "I'm sorry things were so hard for you. I promise you will have more friends, now and the Grey Wardens are like a family."
Anders smirked, "All I want is a pretty girl, a decent meal and the right to shoot lightning at fools."
Beth shook her head, smiling.
"Here!" Justice pointed. "A way in."
A wooden door hidden within the stone wall was slightly ajar. Beth pushed and the door opened slowly. They entered the mansion.
"Now, where would a maleficar set up shop?" Anders asked.
...
Nate looked around nervously. "How long is this going to take?" he asked quietly.
Velanna looked up, "It is unknown. We must rely on Anders to break the trap."
"Meanwhile we just wait here?" Nate asked, frustrated.
"Yes...and guard them," Velanna responded.
The soldiers shifted nervously as the silence of the marsh surrounded them.
...
Beth opened the door in front of her and entered the room. She stood shocked for a moment, this was exactly like the study in Arl Eamon's estate where she had spent so much time before the Landsmeet. She looked around and spotted a figure at the window.
Anders watched as Beth's face lit up. "Alistair!" she cried out and raced into the man's arms. They embraced and kissed. "But how?" she asked.
"I am here for you, my love," Alistair answered softly.
Beth looked at him confused, "What do you mean?"
"I remain here until you are ready to move on," he said, caressing her face.
Beth looked deeply into his eyes, tears forming in her own. "You mean that I have trapped you here?"
"I don't feel trapped," Alistair frowned. "I'm just waiting for you, my love."
"But..." she said in despair.
Alistair stepped toward her and gently wiped the tears from her face. "Don't be upset. Everything is fine. I am so proud of you." He kissed her gently and she wrapped her arms around him.
"Why did you leave me? Why couldn't you have stayed?" she sobbed.
"You know why. There were only the two of us and I would not have been able to go on without you." He lifted her face to look into her eyes, "You are so strong. I knew you could survive."
"I'm not surviving, I'm barely living." She rasped through her sobs.
"That is not true. You have already begun to restore the Grey Wardens and have surrounded yourself with friends." He looked at Anders, "and there are even ones who love you."
She sighed into his chest and her sobbing ebbed away. "I miss you so much."
"I know, but you do not honor me by shutting yourself away." He ran his fingers through her hair. "Beth, you have mourned me long enough. It is time to move on. I am ready and so are you."
"No I'm not. Every day I miss you more and more. I can't stand being separated from you. You were the one who gave me my strength." She looked up into his eyes. "I'm just going through the motions of daily living, waiting to join you..."
Alistair looked down at her, his eyes filled with sorrow. "You cannot do this to yourself. What's done is done. I will not find peace until you make peace with yourself. Stop feeling guilty. You did not choose this...I did." He paused and smiled at her, "Do not blame yourself for my death. You must calm your sadness and move on with life."
Beth buried her face against his chest and clung to him. She was torn between knowing what was right and her emotional heart. She took a deep breath, squeezed him tight in her arms and looking up, she kissed him deeply. "Alistair, I will always love you."
"And I you," he responded with a smile. "Now go. Be happy."
Beth took a step back and nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "Goodbye, my love."
Alistair started to shimmer and fade, "Until forever, my love," and he disappeared.
Anders glanced at Beth, unsure of what to say. Justice remained in the doorway, quietly observing.
Beth cleared her throat, wiped her face and said, "Let's move on."
Anders nodded and moved protectively closer to Beth as they worked their way through the mansion, looking for the maleficar.