They had been fighting all the way through Howe's estate. Diana had discarded her uniform when being in the kitchen. She saw Howe's banner and felt the old fashioned rage rising from within. All these soldiers reminded her of that night in Highever, she couldn't sneak past them, acting normal, she craved justice. Even if these soldier's couldn't bring her parents back, it would make her feel better.
She had rescued a fellow Senior Warden, Riordan was his name, that was captured in the lower cells of the estate, he left to Eamon's estate, saying he will see her there.
They ran down to the basement, where they saw more cells, skeletons, dirt and then she saw him.
Her hair, armor and face was covered in Howe's men's blood when she stood face to face with the man that killed her family, her parents best friend.
With a cold voice, she asked him, trying to remain calm.
"Why did you betray us, Howe? I thought you were friends with my father!"
He laughed, and answered with a soft tone.
"Your father was weak and pathetic. I was offered an opportunity of more power. I was no fool to deny it."
Diana was trembling through her entire core.
"You will pay for what you have done!" She yelled.
"You want to know what I did when I found your parents?" he chuckled, leaning towards the nearby pillar.
"My men raped your mother and killed her in front of your father's dying eyes, the last thing he heard was her screams." he said with cruelness in his voice.
"You BASTARD!" She screamed and rushed at him. He easily avoided her, she got caught off guard, Howe's dagger being inches from her back, she saw Zevran deflect his blow with his fast reflexes. He'd threw his dagger at Howe's arm, which caused to him drop his weapon. Howe screamed in pain. The two rogues were standing back to back, fighting the men rushing towards them. For the first time she truly trusted Zevran at her back, she knew he wouldn't let any blows come through to her and she tried her best to do the same. She saw her qunari friend cut two mages into pieces that were trying to interrupt Wynne's spells. When all the guards were dead. She stood in front of Howe, he was bleeding in his right arm.
"I have poisons with me. If you would like to make his death an unpleasant experience." The assassins voice was dark.
"What kind?" She asked not taking her eyes of the man lying in front of her.
"Let me search with my spy eye," Zevran took out a small bag, that was inside his armor.
"I think you will like this one, my dear." He said while holding a little orange bottle in front of her.
"Its called "The draught of Death" It will go slowly through his veins, burning like a fire as it goes. It will not kill him until it reaches his heart, but before it does, the heart will continue pumping it out throughout the entire body. I would give him around two minutes. Two drops should be sufficient!" He grinned while handing it to her.
"It will have to do. Thank you Zevran." She said, smiling at the elf.
"My pleasure." The assasin bowed.
She sat down next to Howe, put the flask in his mouth, he almost choke by her roughness. She gave more then two drops, that's for certain. When Howe started to twitch and screaming in agony,
he said:
"You little whore. I deserved more!" he groaned
"I hope you will enjoy the last minute of your life," she said, stiff as a rock.
When he was dead. She dropped both her daggers, she almost couldn't stand. Vengeance, she had it. It didn't feel as good or justified as she had hoped. Wynne came to her side.
"It is over child. Let us get out of this terrible place. You did what you had to," putting her arm on Diana's shoulder.
Diana smiled at her.
"Do you think they would have been proud? I could have just killed him."
"Do not be hard on yourself. He got what he had coming, your parents would have been proud to see you surviving and sought vengeance upon the man that ripped their family apart!" Wynne's voice was firm.
She and Sten walked up the stairs to see if their path was clear.
Diana looked at Zevran. He hadn't said anything. He went to her and kissed her on her forehead and joined the others.
She looked down at Howe's dead body, and noticed a key chain. She ripped it from him.
"Hey, over here!" She heard a voice yelling.
It was in the back of the room. It was filled with more cells. Only one was occupied.
"Hey you girl. I am the arl of Denerim. I demand that you release me!" Diana recognized this man. It was Vaughan. Arl Urien's son. She had met him on a few occasions when being in Denerim. He always seemed creepy. She had heard disgusting stories about him, what he did to his servants, specially elven and female ones. She felt no compassion when she got closer to his prison door.
"Why would I release you?"
"Hey, I know you. You're Cousland's youngest!"
"It does not matter who I am."
"Very well. Just let me out. I'll do anything,"
Diana raised her eyebrows. She did need gold for repairs and potions
"Coin?"
"Yes, I have a key right here to my lockbox in my study. It contains forty sovereigns. Will that suffice? I will give you the key when you release me!"
"You give me the key first or I will leave you here." she said with a grin on her face.
"Fine, fine" He took out a small golden key and gave it to Diana.
"Very nice. You can stay in your cell. No one has missed you," she was walking away from him and threw the key chain on the cell floor.
"Hey you fat bitch. Come back here and free me!"
Diana ignored him and walked up the stairs.
She and her little party went in the arl's room getting the gold. She handed the pouch to Zevran whom put it safely in his armor.
They were outside the queen's room. They could finally open it. Diana saw the queen. She was dressed in a guards disguise.
"Aren't you a little short for being a soldier?" She asked her.
Anora scowled
"It is a disguise, you have my thanks, now let us get out of here!"
Diana nodded in response.
They hurried out, when they reached the front gates of the estate. Diana's heart sank. Ser Cauthrien stood there with at least twenty heavily armored knights.
She had her sword out, and yelled. "Surrender Warden!"
"I'm here for the queen!" Diana's voice yelled back.
"The queen?"
"Yes, tell her Anora." She said moving aside to let Anora through.
"Ser Cauthrien, how lovely to see you, this brigand tried to kidnap me!" The queen almost sounded like she was on the verge of crying.
Diana sighed, somehow she was not surprised by this.
"You double-crossing bitch!" She sneered
"Unbelievable, guards! Take the Warden to Fort Drakon."
She gestured to her friends to stand down.
"They are to many." She whispered.
"I'll be fine" She was looking at Zevran, giving him a faint smile.
--
"I have no quarrel with the rest of you. Go away and you will be shown mercy!" Ser Cauthrien continued.
Diana looked at him, Zevran did not want to leave her side.
"Please Zevran, we can't kill them all." she whispered
The close by guars grabbed Diana and took her away. He didn't see Anora and he couldn't care less.
They ran back to the estate.
When they arrived in the estate, entering the arl's study, he already saw the queen talking to Eamon. How she got there faster then them, he could not say.
"Eamon, I might have done a terrible thing."
"What's this? She threw her savior to the wolves, and now she starts second-guess her decision!" Zevrans voice was calm, filled with anger, that was gonna explode any time.
"What in Andraste's name has happened?" Eamon asked, Alistair next to him.
"The Warden has been kidnapped." Anora said
"And this may have been your fault, maybe perhaps?" Alistair hissed
"Never mind that now. The question is how to rescue her. Getting in Fort Drakon will not be an easy task!"
"I will go. I owe her that." Zevran said. Wynne stood next to him, "I will go aswell. She might have been...hurt. She will need my healing."
"I will come with you!" The templar said.
"No, Alistair I know you care for this woman. But you can't rush yourself into this" Eamon said coldly.
Alistar frowned."Of course I'm going!"
"No, you are not." Leliana's voice interrupted.
"The arl is right. We need you alive, my future king. I will go, she's a dear friend and I will not lose her."
Alistair was about to argue but the assassin interrupted.
"Three is enough." Zevran said firmly.
"Agreed!"
And the three companions set off to Fort Drakon.
--
Diana woke up. Her entire body being in pain. She has never felt this psychical weak before. They had knocked her out before putting here in this cell wherever here is. She tried to move, but couldn't. The cell was covered in dried blood, and she saw dead bodies across the room. It smelled like decaying flesh. She almost had the urge to vomit. She noticed that her wrists were cuffed from the chains that were hanging from the ceiling. She had been stripped of her armor, the only thing she had on her was her small clothes. She'd never felt this exposed.
"Oh, the bitch finally woke up it seems!" She heard someone say.
"Yes, Vaughan wanted us to inform him the moment she would come to."
She noticed the guards standing outside her cell. They were smirking at her.
One of them went away, not for long. Soon Diana saw, oh no, not Vaughan.
Ser Cauthrien's men must have found him.
He had an escort of four guards following him. He gave the guard a nod and he opened her cell door. Diana felt helpless and wished that all of this was a bad dream.
Vaughan stood in front of her, looking at her body. She didn't like it one bit.
"So here is the little Warden." He lips folded an evil smile and with an closed fist he hit her in the face. Diana had felt pain before, but then it was darkspawn or beasts. She was trembling in her entire core, here she could not defend herself.
He took her face in his hand and forced her to look at him. His free hand grabbed her breast. Diana wanted to scream. She noticed her feet were still free and kicked Vaughan in the groin. He let go, and his eyes were furious.
"Cuff her feet!" He yelled.
The four guards came close, two on each side, she could do nothing. They took down chains from the ceiling and cuffed her feet. Her body was now hanging in the air. Vaughan smirked
"Oh, I will enjoy taming you!" He came close to her, took out a small dagger and cut her panties off.
He hit her face again.
"You little bitch, did you know who you were stealing from?!"
He placed the dagger in the middle of her chest and cut off her bra, while cutting her skin. He slapped her.
Diana thought of Zevran. His blonde hair, his tanned skin, his smile. Him holding her, she wished he would rush in.
She felt tears running down her face.
Vaughan laughed.
"And now the little whore cries. Guard give me the torture whip!"
The guard handed him a black, thin whip, it had small blades covering from the handle to the top.
He punched her in the stomach.
"You are pathetic," she said coughing.
Looking at him.
"You can't get women any other way. You have to use force to be able to be with one!" Vaughan hit her with his fist again. She chuckled, tasting her own blood, her entire body was aching in pain.
He slashed the whip on her thighs. Diana screamed, and felt her blood dripping.
"Pathetic am I?"
He took of his clothes and got closer to her. She saw the guards behind him were taking their armor off. She tried to shut off her mind.
Think about happy things, Diana!
Flashbacks were flickering in her mind, her parents smiles, Fergus teasing her, Highever, Zevran. She concentrated the best she could, not wanting to feel, hear or see what her future held.
"I'll show you pathetic!" Vaughan said his face inches from hers.
He placed his hands on her bloody thighs and the nightmare began.