-RECKONING-

Chapter Four

9:30 Dragon

We retraced our steps back to the dungeon entrance once I had joined my companions. The journey was made in silence. I didn't know if they were just giving me space, appalled at what I had done, or just plain tired and apathetic. Whatever the reason was, I was glad for the silence.

We remained uninterrupted as we made our way towards the Queen's "guest" room. It was probably for the best since I had all the bloodshed I could take that day. Erlina was relieved to see us and rapidly knocked on the Queen's door.

The door opened and Anora stepped out dressed in a similar disguise to the ones we had discarded. Our eyes met for a moment but she rapidly broke eye contact and examined my companions. "Aren't you too short for a guard?" I couldn't resist saying despite my mood.

She raised an eyebrow. "I am. But I'm hardly the most conspicuous one in sight." She smirked and pointed down at me. I looked down and remembered that I had the blood of Howe and his men on my hands. Literally.

"Right. Luckily, we didn't encounter any guards on the way here." I sighed and turned to face the others. "Let's hurry on back to the estate." We rushed down the hallway, marching in a single file. Me in front, Sten, Erlina and the Queen, Morrigan, then Alistair. We didn't get very far, however. The sounds of swords being unsheathed and bowstrings and being pulled back tended to give one pause. A huge group of Loghain's men, judging from the heraldry on their shields, barred our way out of the estate.

My hand gravitated towards the hilt of Starfang as Sten and Alistair rushed to either side of me. "Halt, Wardens!" The captain called out.

"Cauthrien." I scowled. Why can't we catch a break for once?

"You murdered a nobleman in his own home?" She stepped forward and glared at me. "Do you think yourself as above the law?"

"No one seemed to have a problem with it when Howe slaughtered my family!" I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath. Losing your temper won't help anyone, Aedan. "What are you here for, Cauthrien?" I warily asked.

She narrowed her eyes. "I'm here to arrest you for the murder of Arl Rendon Howe. Surrender now and you may be shown mercy."

I narrowed my eyes. "Mercy, huh?" I muttered then looked at my companions for support. Sten and Alistair were waiting for my lead, ready to fight if need be, but Morrigan was glaring at me, promising retribution should I even dare surrender. I considered my options. We could fight our way out of here, but there would be no guarantee that Anora would be able to flee once the fighting starts. There could also be more guards outside. Anora met my eyes again for a moment. We both understood the consequences of either choice; breaking her cover was out of the question. It was either fight or surrender.

I turned back to Cauthrien. The choice to make was obvious, although it still filled me with slight dread. "And my companions?"

Loghain's second hesitated for a moment. "I have orders only for the Grey Wardens. The others are free to go."

"Then I surrender."

"What are you doing?" Morrigan turned to me. "We've faced worse than this!"

I smiled slightly. "Killing them only proves their point, Morrigan."

"So you surrender just to prove them wrong?" She threw her hands up in the air, making the soldiers skittish. "'Tis stupid, Warden."

"You know, for once I agree with her." Alistair remarked. "Cauthrien is the only thing standing between us and freedom." He said seriously.

I held up a hand in a placating gesture to Cauthrien and slowly removed Starfang from my back and plunged it to the ground with the other. "I think there has been enough death for a day." I grimly said as I removed my helmet and hung it on Starfang's handle.

Morrigan snarled at my unwillingness to fight back and raised her hands to cast a spell. The soldiers raised their bows and shields. "Stop!" Sten grabbed her wrist, disrupting her spell. "He has made his decision."

"Let me go, Qunari!" She tried to wrench her arm from Sten's grip but he was too strong.

I held out my hands for Cauthrien to shackle while she threw wary glances at Morrigan. "It'll be fine." I said, trying to convince Morrigan. Although maybe I was trying to convince myself too. Alistair gave up and soon held his hands out as well.

"Go." I ordered and watched as Erlina, Anora, Sten and Morrigan reluctantly left the estate. I didn't actually know whether Cauthrien would keep her word or that there weren't more guards outside but I had done my part. I could only hope.

"Aedan Cousland and Alistair… Theirin, both of the Grey Wardens, you are charged with the murder of Rendon Howe, treason against Regent Loghain and your order's betrayal of King Cailan." Ser Cauthrien formally announced the charges against us although I could swear I heard a tinge of doubt in her voice and a semblance of pity in her eyes.

The fool!

Morrigan glared at Sten's back while they walked back to the estate. "We could have fought our way out of there." She fumed.

Sten glanced over his shoulder and looked down at her. "It is done. Kadan has made his decision. Whining fixes nothing."

"I am not whining!" She protested. "We could have fought our way out of there, despite the fool's insistence to surrender." Morrigan faced the Queen walking beside them. "Well, maybe not all of us."

"I beg your pardon?" Anora returned her glare with equal intensity. "While I could have fought my way out of there just as easily as you, it would have been for nothing. My father would have sent more troops once he realized Ser Cauthrien's absence and her death would have resulted in more leverage against Arl Eamon for the Landsmeet… If he didn't decide to march those troops against Arl Eamon himself. Consequences be damned." She paused. "Aedan knew fighting would only result in more complications and made his decision."

Morrigan opened her mouth to retort that she didn't care one bit about politics but she realized that something was off. "Aedan?" She warily asked.

The blonde turned to her in confusion. "Yes… The Warden. His name is Aedan, correct?"

"Yes. Although 'tis most unexpected that you would know such a thing." Morrigan narrowed her eyes. "Considering that none of us has mentioned his name in your company."

Morrigan barely noticed the Queen's eyes widen as she realized her mistake. Anora was good, but Morrigan had been around the Warden enough to catch such tells in people. "Is it?" Anora scoffed. "I make a point of knowing all potential allies. Or enemies." She added, peering pointedly at the witch through her visor.

Morrigan sneered. "And yet you ran straight into Howe's arms anyway?"

Anora scowled. "That… was an unfortunate miscalculation on my part."

"My lady, perhaps we should focus on getting to Arl Eamon's estate?" Erlina piped up. "It is not far now."

"As entertaining as this discussion is, I agree with the elf." Sten dryly remarked as he pushed his way through the crowds, leading the way back to the estate.

-Arl of Redcliffe's Estate-

Eamon stood in the main hall waiting with the Warden's other friends. Having paced as he eagerly awaited news from the Warden and his companions, he was surprised to find only Sten, Morrigan, Erlina and a female guard running up to him.

"Eamon!" The female guard called out. "We have a problem."

"Queen Anora? Is that you?" The arl crossed his arms and frowned as he looked over the group. "Why isn't Alistair and the Warden with you? Where are they?"

"They have been captured by this Ser Cauthrien." Morrigan said, irritated. "The fools surrendered in order to let… us escape." She said, looking at the Queen pointedly.

Anora rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Never mind that. What we need to do is set him free." She paused for a moment. "Alistair too, of course." She added as an afterthought.

Eamon sighed and started to pace as he considered his options once again. "Where could they be? Ser Cauthrien could have taken them anywhere."

"I know where they are." Morrigan smugly interrupted. Everyone in the room turned to look at her. "The Warden is in possession of a ring that allows me to locate him."

"A… ring?" The Queen paused and narrowed her eyes. "And why haven't you mentioned this while you were blaming me for this fiasco?"

"Because," Morrigan fiddled with the ring's partner on her finger. "Actually getting to him is another matter." She stared intently at her ring. "He seems to be in a place that's heavily reinforced if the 'interference' I'm sensing is correct." She started to walk around the main hall, still staring at the ring. After a while, she stopped and pointed straight ahead. "There."

Everyone turned to look at what she was pointing at. "I was not aware that the Warden liked to hide in vases." Zevran remarked with a chuckle.

"Not the vase, Crow." Morrigan scowled. "But in that direction. 'Tis not as far as I had believed."

"By the Maker, they're in Fort Drakon." The arl of Redcliffe rubbed his temples and groaned.

"So we know where they are?" Oghren growled. "Then let's go and break 'em outta there!"

"I agree with the drunken dwarf." Shale rumbled.

"It is not as simple as that. Fort Drakon is a fortress older than Denerim itself." Eamon resumed his pacing. "You cannot just it attack head-on."

"Then how about infiltration?" Anora suggested as she turned to some of the Warden's companions. "Surely some of you are… well-versed in such things?"

Author's Note: Aand cut! Sorry for the slight delay in posting this chapter! It proved kind of difficult to write down. Thanks to all who've reviewed/fav/followed this fic! I also thank everyone who gave me ideas for this chapter! (Enchantme3nt and HuntressoftheLight, thanks guys!)

P.S. : I will now post updates on my profile page for this fic. Just so you guys know I haven't stopped writing haha.