Forged In Fire

by Lady Urquentha

Elissa Cousland teased Loghain for being ridiculously sentimental when he gave her a diamond ring engraved with the words 'You Brought Me Back to Life'. Now, four months later, he is trying to kill her and she is raising an army against him.

13. Offers

Title: Forged In Fire

Rating: M (for violence and language)

Warnings: none

Summary: Elissa Cousland teased Loghain for being ridiculously sentimental when he gave her a diamond ring engraved with the words 'You Brought Me Back to Life'. Now, four months later, he is trying to kill her and she is raising an army against him.

Disclaimer + Notes: Bioware owns everything you recognise. Everything you don't (including the poetry) is mine. Thanks ever so much to my beta-readers lilpumpkingirl and analect for their help with spelling, style, ideas and all manner of things. They have been life savers! As always, any remaining errors are mine. Thoughts, comments and opinions (negative, positive and anything in between) are always welcome, and I do respond to each review individually.

Happy New Year everyone! Sorry it's a little bit late, I was out of the country :)

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Chapter 13 – Offers

Fingers of fire creep

'neath shattered shields;

Searching and grasping

Burning pathways into

the heart and mind

∞ page 33 of the banned book 'A Free Mage's Tale' by an unknown author

Elissa woke, and the first thing she was aware of was a pounding headache. She opened her eyes with a groan.

"Did anyone catch the blacksmith who used my head as his anvil?"

Above her was the intricately etched stone ceiling of the Circle Tower. They were back in the waking world. She inhaled, and coughed. Yes, they were definitely back in the real world, complete with the stench of demon and spilled blood.

She sat up and glanced around. Duke whined softly as he pushed himself up, his fur bearing the marks of their fight in the dream-world. Her own chest ached where the demon had slammed into her. Alistair's eyes were dazed as he staggered to his feet, one arm wrapped protectively around his ribs. Leliana was already helping a tired-looking Wynne to her feet. Morrigan crouched over a nearby prone body that looked almost identical to the mage they'd encountered in the fade, rummaging through his pockets.

The witch straightened, a slender leather-bound book in her hands. "Here it is. The Litany of Adralla."

"And that will help us against blood magic?" Elissa eyed it dubiously. She'd been expecting something else. An amulet, maybe?

"The Litany is a spell." Wynne leaned heavily on Leliana's shoulder. Her eyes were glowing blue, even here. "It interrupts any blood magic that is being cast."

Morrigan glanced at the book, and then offered it to the older mage. "This is more your area than mine, Circle inmate."

Wynne took the book without saying anything, although the tightening of the skin around her eyes betrayed her thoughts.

"If we're going to have to fight this Uldred, can we do anything about the injuries?" Elissa nodded at Alistair.

"I will try." Wynne fumbled at her waist, and then sighed. "I am out of lyrium."

"I imagine mages don't routinely carry large quantities on them." Elissa turned to Morrigan, with an eyebrow raised.

The apostate sighed. "Very well. If I must." She tossed a flask to the other mage. "And you, Elissa. I have some poultices that can deal with your headache without troubling the healer. And the Sister's burns."

Shortly after, they were making their way across the tower.

"Uldred would have gone to the place where the Veil is weakest." Wynne pursed her lips. "That means the Harrowing Chamber."

"Harrowing Chamber?" Elissa exchanged a glance with Leliana. That sounded ominous.

Morrigan sneered. "Tis how the Chantry thins out the mages."

Wynne gave her a disapproving look. "It's the test that apprentices go through to become mages."

"Senior mages summon a demon to try to possess the apprentice," Morrigan spat. "Those who fail to resist, are killed."

Elissa stared at Wynne in horror. The guilty expression on the mage's face said it all. Elissa closed her eyes. "Alistair?"

He nodded slowly. "I watched one Harrowing, and was sick afterwards. It's why I was happy to leave."

"And the Chantry wonders why there are so many apostates." Morrigan tossed her head.

"It's up ahead. The staircase in that room leads up to it." Wynne gestured to the door ahead of them, clearly trying to change the subject.

"There might be guards in that room then," Alistair cautioned.

Elissa nodded, and drew her sword. She settled her shield on her arm, hearing the scraping sound as Alistair armed himself. From the corner of her eye she saw Leliana slipping an arrow from her quiver and setting it the bow, although she kept it pointed down.

She eyed the shut door, and then glanced at Alistair. "You want to do it?"

He grinned, and approached the door. There was a moment of stillness, and then he lashed out with a foot. The wooden door splintered, and then swung open.

Silence. Cautiously, Elissa peeked inside. The room was empty, except for a brightly shimmering tube of light at the foot of the stone staircase. Warily, Elissa led the group towards it.

A Templar knelt on the floor inside.

"Cullen!" Wynne gasped.

The man's head snapped up at the sound, and he stared at them with wild eyes. "This trick again? I know who you are. It won't work. I will stay strong."

Elissa stepped closer. "Are you all right?"

"The boy is exhausted…and this cage, I've never seen anything like it." Wynne frowned.

"It is fascinating," Morrigan murmured.

Wynne ignored her. "Rest easy, help is here."

"Enough visions." Cullen shook his head violently. "If anything in you is human…kill me now and stop this game."

Elissa froze, her blood turning to ice. He thought they were demons, abominations. Her stomach lurched.

"You broke the others but I will stay strong, for my sake…for theirs…" Cullen clutched his head. "Filthy blood mages…getting in my head…I will not break…I'd rather die."

She tried to recall the name Wynne had used. "Cullen…you're safe. I'm not a blood mage. I'm not even a mage." Elissa knelt beside the column. "And Wynne is here. Don't you recognise her?"

He glared at her, his eyes alight with more than a little insanity. "Silence…I'll not listen to anything you say…now begone!" He squeezed his eyes shut, and then opened them again. His brow scrunched in confusion. "You're still here? But that's always worked before. I close my eyes but you are still here when I open them."

The plaintive note in his voice almost broke her heart. He was barely more than a child himself, younger even than she was now, perhaps about the same age as Alistair. She made her voice gentle, remembering how her father had soothed her once she'd been rescued. "I am real, and I'm here to help you."

Cullen looked up gingerly. "Real? You're…human?"

"As human as you are," she told him reassuringly. Of course, she didn't know how much that meant anymore. As this trip had taught her, being a blood mage's victim left its mark on you, a mark that wouldn't ever go away.

He stood, reaching out a tentative hand. He flinched when he touched the blue light, and quickly pulled his hand back. "Don't blame me for being cautious. The voices…the images…so real."

"I know," she whispered, almost inaudibly. It was how they lured her away in the first place, planting images in her mind that she believed were real.

"Wait, how…how did you get here?" He frowned. "Did Greagoir send you?"

"Yes."

Relief washed over his face, quickly followed by anger and determination. "Good. Kill Uldred." Cullen's face darkened, and hatred filled every line. "Kill them all for what they've done." His voice rose, becoming a shriek. "They caged us like animals…looked for ways to break us." He stopped, breathing heavily. "I'm the only one left. They turned some into…monsters. And…there was nothing I could do."

Wynne cleared her throat. "Where are Irving and the other mages? Do you know?"

"What others? What are you talking about?"

"Irving, and the other mages who fought Uldred. Where are they?" she asked patiently.

He covered his face with his hands. "They are in the Harrowing Chamber. The sounds coming out from there…oh Maker…" His voice choked.

There was only silence from the room above now, but Wynne turned towards Elissa. "We must hurry. They are in grave danger, I am sure of it." Her worry was reflected in her eyes, and Elissa nodded.

Cullen's head snapped up. "You can't save them. You don't know what they've become!"

"I don't understand." Alistair glanced at them all, and then back to Cullen. "What are you afraid of?"

Elissa knew. It was the same reason she had avoided mages for all these years. The same fears that lingered in her mind then, and even now, despite travelling with Morrigan.

"They've been surrounded b-by blood mages." Cullen pressed his hands against his cage, taking no notice of the smell of burning flesh filled the air. "Whose wicked fingers snake into your mind and corrupt your thoughts." His eyes were crazed, and he didn't even seem to notice the pain.

"His hatred of mages is so intense…" Alistair's voice held a little bit of awe. "The memory of his friends' death is still fresh in his mind…" He looked away, his eyes distant.

Wynne's face was sad. "He's suffered pain and anguish like few have had to endure." She sighed. "That, together with his lust for revenge, have confused the issue."

The Templar snarled. "Do not presume to judge me, mage. I am thinking clearly – for perhaps the first time in my life!"

Elissa held her hand up. "What do you propose we do?"

"To ensure this horror is ended, to guarantee that no abominations or blood mages survive, you must kill everyone up there," he said flatly.

Wynne caught her breath audibly.

Elissa's eyes widened. That was what they'd come in to prevent. Otherwise, it would be just the same as waiting for Greagoir to enact the Rite of Annulment. But to say that to this boy, who'd already undergone so much trauma…"I cannot decide on that before I see what is going on."

He scowled. "That is your choice to make, but I beg you to consider what I have to say. You cannot tell maleficarum by sight. They look like any other mage, unless they want to. And just one could influence the mind of a King, or a Grand Cleric."

"I will not have the blood of innocents on my hands." Or, Elissa thought grimly, more innocent blood. The blood that already stained her hands was more than enough to be going with.

Cullen growled. "I am just willing to see the painful truth which you are willing to ignore!" He sagged backwards. "But what can I do? As you can see, I am in no position to directly influence your actions, though I would dearly love to deal with the mages myself."

She had no doubt he did. Elissa thought back to those early days just after her rescue. She had only been four, and hadn't known enough to want to kill the mages for her suffering. But if she'd been older, old enough to actually understand and to want something other than her father to protect her, maybe she would have reacted as Cullen did. Inwardly she resolved that he would not get any say in what happened later, if she could prevent it. He was blinded by his own suffering, and while it was understandable, it meant he was hardly an objective judge of whether a mage was a blood mage or not.

"Is there a way to free you?" Leliana stepped forward, her eyes compassionate.

Wynne shook her head. "I cannot undo this spell. There is too much power behind it. Demonic power."

"My cage is Uldred's doing, or one of his mages," he spat. "When they are dead, I will be free."

"Stay safe then, it will be over soon." Elissa gestured for her companions to move towards the stone staircase leading up.

"No-one ever listens, not until it is far too late." Cullen glared at her. "Maker turn his gaze on you. I hope your compassion has not doomed us all."

Elissa slipped to Wynne's side. "Are you going to be all right to come up with us to the Chamber? I mean, after your dream, and with the mages up there…" Could she handle potentially having to kill the mages she had mourned in the Fade?

"I will be fine." Her smile was reassuring. "It will be difficult, but I will do my duty." She paused. "Thank you for taking me from that."

"It's fine." Elissa waved off the thanks, and then hurried to join Alistair at the front of the little group. "Are we all ready? Leliana, can you keep an eye on Wynne. She has the Litany, so we have to keep them off her so she can use it. Shout if you need help."

The archer nodded. "Of course."

This was going to be a sensitive operation, with timing an all-important key. The others she could trust to react logically, but Duke…Elissa crouched in front of her mabari. "Duke." She waited for him to look at her. "If I'm hurt, or attacked, you only attack when Alistair does."

He whined. That wasn't what he was trained to do. He had been taught to obey her commands while she was conscious, and to guard her when she wasn't.

"I mean it." She held the brown gaze.

At length, Duke ducked his head, and she patted it before rising. "Alistair. Uldred is up there, and he's supposed to be more powerful than the others. If he takes control of me, you have to kill me."

He glowered at her. "This is stupid," he muttered.

Elissa pursed her lips. "Alistair."

"If he doesn't," Morrigan drawled. "I will."

The ex-templar glared at her. "I'll do it. Damn it."

Elissa ignored his mutinous expression. "Right, let's do this." She set her hand to the heavy iron bolt and pushed forward. Unlocked, it swung open easily.

Elissa's first impression was of stone and intricate carvings barely visible beneath the filth-caked walls. Then her attention was drawn to the two abominations standing on either side of a jerking, writhing mage, and a tall, bald mage stood opposite them, with his back towards the door. The stench of sweat, blood and urine filled the air, overlaid by the increasingly familiar smell of the corrupted purple filth coating the walls. As they watched, the kneeling mage on the floor warped and shifted, and moments later an abomination stood in its place.

Elissa's stomach threatened to rebel. She'd seen that happen only once before, and it was something she had hoped never to see again.

The bald mage turned towards the door, a wide smile on his face. "Ah, look what we have here. An intruder. Care to join in our…revels?"

With a start, she recognised the mage as the man talking to Loghain that night in Ostagar. She swallowed her surprise. "I take it you're Uldred."

"Oh, very observant. I confess, I am quite impressed you are still alive. As I always said, if you want something done well, you have to do it yourself." He glanced at them all and laughed. "My, you are a powerful bunch though, aren't you? Wynne, an apostate, a Templar, and….a former victim. And it wasn't even one of my mages. Well, well, well."

Elissa's jaw dropped. "H-how can you tell?"

He chuckled. "Tis a simple thing to see the Fade ripple around you, girl. And even simpler to…"

She barely had enough time to feel a strong tug in her stomach region, before her head exploded in pain. Dimly she registered a sharp pain in her knees that faded to insignificance against the agony in her head. Someone was screaming, and another voice was overlaid on top of it.

Then it ended abruptly, and she was on the floor, gasping. Wynne's chanting died away. Duke was snarling beside her, his entire body quivering, straining towards Uldred. But he hadn't attacked, obeying her earlier command despite it being obvious he wanted nothing more than to rend Uldred's neck in half. Elissa's throat ached. It had been her screaming. She tasted blood. A hand touched her shoulder, and she flinched. It withdrew, and Alistair's face appeared in front of her.

"You're a blood mage!" Wynne's voice was furious.

"Are you all right?" Alistair demanded softly.

She glared at him. "You should have killed me." She reached for her sword and shield, before leaning heavily on his arms to rise. "If he could hurt me that much, he was in control of my brain."

"You survived without hurting anyone," Alistair said stubbornly. "Wynne ended it."

"Mmm. And you carry the Litany of Adralla to spoil my fun." Uldred still sounded amused. "I am surprised you let the girl accompany you, Wynne. You had to know she was more vulnerable to my kind than the others. Though, her presence certainly explains your escape from the sloth demon downstairs."

Elissa straightened her spine and stepped away from Alistair's support. "I got this far and none of your other blood mages succeeded."

"Truly? Their skills were not what I hoped then. I suppose you killed my servants?" He smirked. "Ah well, they are probably better of dying in the service of their betters than living with the terrible responsibility of independence." He shook his head in mock sadness.

"You're turning these people into abominations!" Alistair burst out, his eyes fixed on the newest demon.

"And freeing them in the process, Templar boy!" Uldred's eyes were alight with fanaticism. "A mage is but a larval form of something much greater. Your Chantry vilifies this, calls us abominations, when really we have really achieved our true potential."

Us? Her eyes widened. Uldred was an abomination as well?

He waved his hand at a group of bound mages on the floor that Elissa hadn't noticed before. "Look at them. The Chantry has them convinced. They are denying themselves the pleasure of becoming something glorious!"

"You're mad," Wynne said flatly. "There's nothing glorious about what you've become, Uldred! Abominations! This goes against everything we know."

His laugh echoed off the walls, reverberating and sending chills down Elissa's spine. "Uldred? He is gone. I am Uldred, and yet not Uldred. I am more than he was. I could give you this gift, Wynne. You and all mages. It would be so much easier if you just accepted it. But some people can be so stubborn."

Wynne's eyes flashed."Of course they are! You're trying to destroy their lives, our lives."

The abomination threw its hands up in the air. "Resistance! Everywhere I go, resistance. How very inconsiderate." Then he smiled slyly. "Though, I have the First Enchanter on my side, don't I…Irving?"

Elissa spun towards the group of bound mages, even as Wynne gasped.

"What have you done to him?" the older mage demanded. There was a note of fear mixed with something else in her voice.

A grey-haired mage lifted his head slowly, revealing a face marked with bruises and cuts. "Stop him…he…is building an army. He will…destroy the Templars and-" A bright bolt of red-orange fire crashed into his chest, cutting him off, and he slumped, gasping heavily.

Wynne started forward, almost involuntarily. "Irving!"

Uldred frowned as he shook out a hand. "You're a sly fox, Irving, telling on me like that." He added conversationally, "And here I thought he was starting to turn."

The old mage raised his head weakly. "N-never!"

Uldred whirled. "That's enough out of you Irving." Another bolt of power, this one blue-white with ice, left his hands. Before it had even hit, Uldred was turning back towards them. "He'll serve me eventually, as will you…" His dark eyes fixed on Elissa. "All of you."

Elissa snarled. "No I won't. I'd rather die!"

"Killing you would be a waste." He stepped forward, gesticulating wildly. "Your raw potential, with the power of a demon behind it, would be unstoppable. You've already tasted the skills that come with connection to the Fade. Imagine that magnified a hundred-fold. I can do that – I can give you power and a new life."

"I've already had one 'new' life, and I don't need another one," Elissa snapped. "I'd rather die than serve you!" She flexed her hand around the sword, slowly shifting her weight. This would obviously end in a fight.

"I don't think your opinion matters," he spat. "That is what I have decided and that is what will be done." A cruel smile touched his lips. "Fight, if you must. It will simply make my victory all the sweeter."

He exploded upwards, and a pulse of energy knocked them all to the floor. Elissa scrambled upright, to see a massive spiked monster towering over them where Uldred had stood. It was much bigger even than the ogres they'd fought before. The three 'normal' abominations—if there were such a thing—were stalking towards them.

"Oh shit." Alistair stood beside her. "A Pride Demon."

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "Let's do this." She charged in, her boots clanging against the stone floor in synch with Alistair's, and louder than the pads of Duke's paws. "Die, you Maker-damned bastard!"

The back of her head hummed, and ice flared around her blade, encasing it. Morrigan dashed past them, towards one of the smaller demons.

Leliana's voice rose above the sickly squish of steel cutting into resistant demon flesh. The abomination that had once been Uldred didn't even seem to notice the blades hacking into its legs, leaving shallow cuts.

"Do you accept the gift I offer?"

Elisse glimpsed white light surrounding one of the mages on the far side of the room. "Wynne!"

The old mage's voice cut through the sounds, chanting words that Elissa couldn't understand.

Alistair's face was a mask of concentration, and then power exploded from his hands. It struck the abomination. It was not the first time in the past two days Elissa had seen his Templar abilities in action, but it never failed to astonish her. Uldred staggered as if wounded, though no injury was visible.

"Elissa!" Leliana's scream drew her attention. An approaching abomination was heading for Wynne, and Leliana's bow was doing little to stop it.

"Hold him," Elissa snapped to Alistair and Duke, and then raced across the floor. "Morrigan!"

Ice swirled, and solidified for a moment around the abomination. It held him only for a moment, but it was enough to give Elissa the time to get between the mage and it. She slammed her shield into its face, and then plunged her blade low, into its gut. Leliana drove a pair of short blades into its shoulders from behind. Elissa had seen Leliana carry them, but the minstrel had never used them before. She'd never needed to.

Elissa yanked her blade free and decapitated the creature. Wynne's voice died away, and a quick glance at the bound mages revealed the white light gone.

Morrigan was just turning away from another dead abomination, peppered with Leliana's arrows, and angling for the third. Alistair's left arm was held limply at his side, his shield useless. His armour was black with soot, most likely from a fire-spell. Duke also looked singed, but was biting just as viciously as ever. Trusting the witch to deal with the lesser abomination herself, Elissa threw herself into the fight against Uldred. Her sword flashed, glinting in the mage lights floating around the room.

A long, thick arm swept out, catching her off-guard. She felt her ribs crack, and then she went flying. Anticipating the impact, she shed her shield and braced herself. She crashed against the far wall, and slid to the ground, pain sparking along her bones. The sound of metal on stone nearby was her shield clattering to the floor. Magic surrounded her, and she could feel her ribs knitting together.

Gritting her teeth against the uncomfortable feeling of moving bone, she ran forward again grasping her shield, just in time to be thrown back again as a ring of fire exploded from the abomination. She grunted as she hit the floor, but her ribs held, thankfully. The stench of burning leather filled the air around her. She glanced down to hoist herself to her feet, and swore. She hastily banged her hand against her side. One of the breast-plate straps had caught fire, and was burning merrily.

"And what of you? Do you accept my gift?"

This time, Elissa didn't even have to shout. Wynne was already chanting the Litany before Uldred finished his sentence. Elissa squished out the flames as best she could, and then staggered to her feet. She looked at Alistair, on the other side of the room. This wasn't working. Uldred didn't seem to be weakening at all, but they weren't going to be able to keep it up forever.

Morrigan was there suddenly, ducking in close to throw a spell at point blank rage. The abomination staggered, disoriented.

"Alistair!" the witch shouted.

He stared back at her blankly for a moment, and then comprehension dawned. He threw his hands out, and a Holy Smite struck the already disoriented Uldred full-on. Morrigan was caught in the fringes of the strike and stumbled as her mana was sucked away.

As soon as the abomination's back was to her, Elissa broke into a run. Shifting her grip on her blade so it pointed straight down, she leaped. Her blade plunged into its back, and held. An unearthly roar made the flesh vibrate beneath her as she clung like a limpet. A fall from this height would not be fun. One sharp spike pressed into her chest, slipping under her breast plate, and she could feel warmth dripping down.

"Elissa!"

She didn't dare take her eyes off the rippling neck long enough to look at Alistair. A familiar growl filled the air, and then the abomination staggered again. Elissa jolted as he crashed to his knees on the floor, and her grip slipped. She tumbled to the floor with a crash. Alistair lunged between her and the creature, hacking away. Duke, having hamstrung one leg, was working on the other. Leliana's bow twanged, and a trio of deeply buried arrows sprouted from shoulder muscles.

A weak energy surged pulsed out from the injured abomination, knocking them back a pace but not over. Uldred made a final struggle to his feet, but failed. Alistair's arms rose and brought his blade down with all his strength, cutting half-way through the demon's neck. Magic swirled around the wound, and the light in the creature's eyes died.

Their harsh breathing was the only sound in the chamber. Elissa closed her eyes, slumping back. It was over. She'd made it through the tower, alive and mentally intact. Alistair hadn't been forced to kill her.

"Thank the Maker," Leliana murmured.

Elissa forced her eyes open, and climbed to her feet. She braced a foot against the dead body, and pulled her sword out with a sucking sound that made her stomach churn. It was drenched in blood, and she bent to wipe it off against a ragged strip of the abomination's robes before sliding it back into the sheath.

"Irving!" Wynne hurriedly crossed the floor to the First Enchanter's side. "Are you all right?" Her hands were gentle as she reached for him. Her hands glowed softly blue, her healing magic surrounding Irving and then spreading out along the other mages.

"Maker, I'm too old for this." He pushed himself to his feet, leaning heavily on her arm. "I've….ngh…been better. But I am thankful to be alive. I suppose that is your doing, isn't it, Wynne?" He smiled at her affectionately.

"I was not alone. I had help."

"Ah yes, the blood mage's victim." Irving's face was inscrutable as he pulled away from Wynne.

Elissa stiffened. She'd forgotten the other mages had been here for Uldred's conversation. Was he going to turn her in to the Chantry? Her knuckles turned white on her sword hilt. Alistair moved silently to her shoulder, his face challenging. Duke was already by her side, half-crouched. Leliana casually strolled towards them, although her eyes were wary. Morrigan didn't even bother to try to hide her thoughts as she too approached.

Wynne glanced at them, and then back at the First Enchanter. "Irving…"

"Hmm?"

"You're not going to tell the Chantry, are you?" Wynne hurried on. "We owe-"

He looked surprised. "Of course not." Irving glanced back at the other mages, all in various states of injury. "The Circle owes you a debt we will never be able to repay. None of us here will speak of it." He waited for the murmur of agreement from each of the other mages, and then continued. "I was merely thinking. Most with your past would not have even approached the Tower, let alone come in with abominations and blood mages on the loose. And to make it this far…"

Elissa shrugged, a little awkwardly. "I am a Grey Warden, ser. I had little choice."

"A Grey Warden? Then you came looking for allies against the darkspawn?" He looked to Wynne. "Perhaps there is something in that ritual of theirs that strengthens mental defences."

Alistair snorted quietly.

"Unlikely, Irving." Wynne smiled. "Elissa simply has a very strong will."

"Our apprentices learn basic mind skills, to protect themselves against the demons. They do not require magical ability, only discipline. Perhaps someone could teach you them, if you have the time to stay for a few days."

They would all need time to heal. Magical healing, while good, was not perfect. And if this Irving thought he could do something to protect her against blood mages…

Elissa nodded. "I would appreciate that."

"Good." His gaze travelled to Morrigan. "The apostate is with you?"

Elissa nodded firmly. "Yes."

"Then she is protected by the Treaties. But she should be careful around the Templars. Greagoir will understand, but some of the others, well, they have been known to attack first and ask questions later."

"I understand." Elissa looked at the witch. "Morrigan?"

The other woman sniffed. "Very well."

"Then, come, the Templars await. We shall let them know that once again the Tower is ours." Irving looked across at the door and sighed. "Curse whoever insisted the Circle had to be in a Tower."

Elissa limped down the stone hall leading away from the library, her nerves raw. The entire trip down the tower, she'd been watching, waiting with bated breath for an abomination they'd missed on the way up to leap out at them. But it had been a quiet trip, which only made her more on edge.

She stepped through the doorway where Wynne had previously erected a barrier, and sighed with relief as she counted the requisite three children and three adult mages.

Petra's face lit up as she saw Elissa. "You're back? Is everything alright? Is Wynne safe?"

Elissa nodded tiredly, and stepped out the way for the mage to see past her to the group of mages.

"Thank the Maker." Petra beamed. "First Enchanter! Wynne! Look, children, they've come back safely. The Circle is saved!"

"I hear we have you to thank for helping Wynne defend the children." Irving smiled at her.

The mage blushed. "I did what little I could."

"You kept the children safe while we left to clear the Tower." Wynne glanced at the other mages. "And you, Kinnon and Keili."

Kinnon offered her a half-bow. "It was the least I could do, Senior Enchanter." Keili nodded, pale, but said nothing.

A slight tugging on Elissa's mail trousers drew her attention and she looked down into the cherubic face of a blonde child wrapping in mage robes that were slightly too long for her. "Yes?"

"Are you the one who saved us?" Long lashes blinked over eyes that should have been innocent for a lot longer.

"I helped." Slowly Elissa bent her knees into a crouch, hiding the wince of pain. "What's your name?"

"'m Cassandra."

Elissa's breath caught in her throat. Cassandra. An image of a black-haired girl flashed into her mind, with ice-blue eyes and thin lips. Elissa swallowed hard. She looked down into waiting eyes. "My name is Elissa. And this is Duke." She ruffled the mabari's fur gently.

"Will you carry me?" Big blue eyes peered up at her hopefully.

For the second time in a minute, Elissa found herself speechless. But with the hopeful look on the girl's face, she couldn't say no. They were unlikely to find a demon between here and the main doors, so there wasn't a safety problem either. Elissa scooped her up, and settled her on her hip. The child would tire of the cold metal of her armour soon enough. "All right. Let's get moving, then."

Morrigan snorted as the two of them passed her on the way towards the door. Wynne and Irving, accompanied by Alistair, were already on their way past the apprentice quarters, towards the main doors.

Elissa hurried to catch up. The heavy stone doors loomed ahead, and no sound was coming through from the other side.

Leliana slipped up beside her. "A knock isn't going to be heard through that." She nodded towards the doors.

"Any suggestions?"

"Your shield would make a pretty big sound."

The youngest Cousland glanced incredulously at her companion. "Use my shield? Against stone?"

Leliana opened her mouth to respond. A resounding crash blasted their eardrums, and Elissa's head spun in time to see the dust clearing around the doors. A young female mage standing nearest the door was shaking her head, clearly trying to clear the ringing in her ears. Another mage, with grey hair and dark eyes, regarded the door with a self-satisfied smile.

Elissa glanced around for an explanation.

"A telekinetic blast against heavy stone makes loud noises, Warden." Irving winked at her. "We're not entirely helpless. Greagoir," He shouted, his voice amplified by magic. "It's me. The Tower is clear. Open up!"

There were several heartbeats of silence, and then the grating sound of stone against stone filled the air. The doors swung inwards, revealing two columns of Templars carrying bared swords and waiting with wary eyes.

The Knight Commander stood in between the lines, balanced lightly on the balls of his feet. His dark eyes were inscrutable and his expression calm, but the knuckles clenched around his extended blade were white. "Don't come any closer."

The group froze in their tracks. Slowly, Elissa bent and put Cassandra back on the floor. "Stay back," she murmured to the girl. Lifting her head, she met Leliana's eyes, and the minstrel beckoned the girl towards her, near the back of the group. Then Elissa squared her shoulders, and pushed her way to the front of the group.

Greagoir's eyes tracked her progress. "Warden?"

"Yes." She smiled reassuringly. "The tower is safe. We cleared them out, and rescued the mages."

"And you are sure these are not demons tricking you?" The Knight-Commander didn't looked convinced.

"Greagoir." Irving stepped to her side. Hands tightened on steel blades around them and Elissa prepared herself to leap between the First Enchanter and the Templars if necessary. "When we sleep, we walk the dreamscape amidst the stars of hope above."

Elissa glanced at the mage. Was he mad? Reciting poetry, now?

"And when we wake, the world is reborn." The templar relaxed, his sword lowering and his grip loosening. His eyes grew distant for a moment, as he remembered something in his past.

The quote had been a password then. Or something that Greagoir didn't think a demon would know.

"Stand down. It's them." The tension eased from the air as blades went back into sheathes. Or, most of them did.

"But, Commander-"

"I said, stand down!" Greagoir glared at the helmeted speaker. Slowly, unhappily, he put away the blade, although promptly crossed arms indicated his unhappiness.

Greagoir ignored him, and came forward. "Maker's breath, Irving. I did not expect to see you alive." They clasped arms firmly.

"Nor I, you. But it is over, Greagoir." Irving's smile was tired. "Thanks to the Warden, Uldred…is dead."

"You have my deepest gratitude, Warden." Greagoir's smile was warm, and he looked as though a heavy load had been lifted off his shoulders. The lines in his forehead had smoothed away, taking nearly a decade off his age. Even, his eyes almost sparkled. "The Circle, and the Chantry, owe you a great debt."

"Commander!" Cullen, the Templar who had been trapped upstairs in the white light before they freed him, shoved his way forward. He ignored a young woman who fell over when he pushed her out the way. One of the other mages near her caught her before she could hit the ground.

Visibly startled, Greagoir turned towards him.

The light in Cullen's eyes was fanatical. "Uldred tortured these mages, hoping to break their wills and turn them into abominations." He gave the mages behind him a dirty look. "We don't know how many of them have turned."

A gasp echoed through steel helmets around them, and several hands went back to sword hilts. Elissa tensed. Greagoir held up a hand to stop them, his face suddenly stern again.

"What?" Irving snapped. "Don't be ridiculous!"

"Of course he'll say that." Cullen's face was contorted in a mask of hatred. "He might be a blood mage. Don't you know what they did?" He snarled. "I won't let this happen again."

Greagoir's back stiffened. "I am the knight-commander here, not you."

"Irving, a blood mage?" a young female apprentice whispered loudly. "Really? That old stick-in-the-mud who never lets anyone have any fun?" There were muffled giggles from those around her, quickly shushed by the older mages.

Cullen's face went red. "Why, you-"

Elissa cleared her throat, cutting the Templar off before he could get any more enraged. "If my opinion counts for anything, I don't think any of them are blood mages, or abominations. They were all resisting Uldred when I arrived, and he didn't seem very happy with any of them."

The Knight Commander glanced at her and nodded. "We have won back the tower. I will accept Irving's assurance that all is well."

Elissa felt the tension in her spine drain away, and her sore muscles unknotted a little, easing the pain a little. Around her, more of the Templars were relaxing from battle readiness, prepared to accept their commander's decision.

"But they may have demons within them, lying dormant…lying in wait!" Cullen's eyes flashed.

"Enough!" Greagoir jerked his hand in a chopping motion. "I have already made my decision." He paused for a moment. "All of you, perform a sweep of the Tower, in pairs. Kill abominations and demons, but hold any mages until I arrive." The mages scattered to the sides, and the Templars filed through into the tower without any further ado. Elissa was impressed, almost despite herself. For a commander to have that sort of instant obedience, despite any misgivings his soldiers had, was impressive.

"Irving, we have injured," Greagoir began.

The First Enchanter was already waving mages forward, gesturing them towards the make-shift infirmary the Templars had set up on the other side of the room. "Of course. No, not you Wynne. You've overdosed too much on lyrium already."

"Irving!"

"I must go to join the patrols." Greagoir cleared his throat a little awkwardly. "Irving…it is good to have you back."

Irving laughed dryly. "I'm sure we'll be back at each other's throats again in no time. Wynne, don't you dare! I could see your eyes glowing from all the way across the Harrowing Chamber."

"Warden?" A soft voice by her elbow drew Elissa's attention away from the apparently impending fight. The young woman whose ears had been blasted when the other mage had alerted the Templars to their presence stood beside her. Dark brown hair was cut in a bob to just below her earlobes. A streak of blood near her hairline was the only remnant of battle left on her face.

"My name is Desina, and I'm a healer. I can help you, if you permit it?"

Elissa nodded with a relieved sigh. "Please."

"Just take a seat." The mage guided her to a nearby column. "It's easier if you relax, and don't fight it."

Elissa sank down gratefully, and leaned back against the column. Fingers clearly unfamiliar with removing armour fumbled at her side, and Elissa roused herself enough to help unbuckle her chest-plate, pauldrons and arm-harnesses. She lifted her arms for the mail shirt to be drawn off. Desina's fingers were gentle and confident as they prodded her skin through the arming doublet, searching for injuries, which were then bathed in cool magic.

If nothing else, Elissa thought wryly, this little adventure had taught her how to let a mage near her. She'd never thought she'd willingly let a mage cast magic on her, but she'd spent the last forty-eight hours, or however long it had been since they entered, having spell after spell layered onto her.

She glanced around the room, taking in the mages moving carefully among the injured Templars. Another mage was tending to Alistair, who leant against the opposite column. Leliana was surrounded by Cassandra and the other two child mages, playing some sort of hand game with them. Morrigan was standing stiffly off on her own, clearly uncomfortable. Wynne was still arguing softly with Irving, and Elissa watched them for a long moment. They were clearly close friends, and Irving seemed more amused than anything by the older mage's arguments.

"I see you've noticed it."

Elissa looked up at the healer. "I'm sorry?"

Desina nodded at the two older mages. "They're the worst kept secret in the Tower. They've never been particularly good at hiding it."

The worst kep…Elissa's eyes widened. Wynne and Irving were lovers? Really? She certainly hadn't expected that. The old mage had seemed far too…prim, to have a lover outside of marriage, and since mages weren't allowed to marry, the thought had never even crossed Elissa's mind. Stick-in-the-mud, the girl had called Irving. This was hardly stick-in-the-mud behaviour was it?

"There. I'm all done." Desina sat back on her heels.

"Thank you." Elissa heaved herself to her feet again, and refastened her armour. A glance at her companions indicated they were ready to go too, or in Morrigan's case well past being ready to go. A quick look out the one slitted window at the red and pink-stained sky, and then she approached the First Enchanter and Wynne. "First Enchanter?"

He broke off whatever he was saying and looked up with a smile. "My name is Irving, Warden."

"And I am Elissa." She paused. "My companions are tired. I think it would be best if we retired to the inn for the night."

He grimaced. "I would offer you quarters in the Tower, but it is hardly in hospitable shape."

"We will be fine in the inn." It was probably better this way, in fact. If they stayed here, Morrigan would doubtless get herself into trouble with the Templars.

"Very well. When you return tomorrow, I will have arranged for a teacher for you."

Elissa hesitated. "Before I go, I, uh, wanted to talk to you about the reason I came in the first place."

"Yes, of course." He nodded briskly. "Greagoir said you came here seeking allies against the darkspawn. I think the least we can do is help you. I would hate to survive this only to become overwhelmed by the Blight."

"So I have your word?"

"You have my word as First Enchanter. There are few mages left, but what is left of the Circle will join the Grey Wardens in the fight."

Elissa concealed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, First Enchanter."

"Irving, remember?" He smiled. A call from across the room drew his attention. "If you will excuse me?"

Three mornings later, Elissa and Alistair climbed the stairs leading to the second floor. For being barely two and a half days after a virtual blood bath, the Tower was surprisingly clean. Flagstones had been scrubbed, the filthy growth along floors and walls had been scraped off and disposed of and books and furniture had been cleaned and replaced in their positions. The grey smoke from the funeral pyres had drifted north over Lake Calenhad, and if she squinted, Elissa could see the cloud hovering on the horizon.

Cullen stood at the top, watching a trio of nearby mages closely, an ugly expression on his face and his hand on his sword. Alistair eyed him as they went past. Then he leaned closer in to Elissa, dropping his voice. "Can't you…talk to him, or something?"

"About his experiences? Why would he listen to me, over the Knight-Commander?"

"Because you went through the same thing?" Their boots clicked loudly on the stone floor.

"Shhh." Elissa glanced around nervously, hoping no-one else had heard that. Thankfully, the Templars all looked oblivious. "But I can't tell him that."

"Why not?"

"Do you think he wouldn't go running to the Chantry as soon as he found out? He's a fanatic now. It'd be signing my own death warrant," she said flatly.

He sighed. "I suppose." He looked back over his shoulder. "I don't understand. What made him react like that? You didn't."

"I was four. Too young to really understand...and the memories have faded since." Not that it didn't haunt her dreams. She'd woken in a sweat just that morning, dreaming of abominations chasing her through the fields and of wooden splinters sinking into her scrabbling fingers. "And, what they did to me wasn't nearly as bad as this. They showed me images, and used my blood. But they tortured him, and used his own mind against him."

Alistair sighed again.

"Warden!" a high pitched voice called and the sound of tiny running feet followed. Elissa turned to see the young apprentice Cassandra running towards her, an older mage some distance behind her but clearly trying to catch her.

"Apprentice." Elissa stooped to catch her.

The elf mage, in the robes of an older Apprentice, puffed to a stop in front of her. "M-my apologies, Warden. She ran away from me when she caught sight of you."

"Did you do that?" Elissa fixed the blonde child with a stern stare.

Cassandra giggled. "Yes."

"And why was that?" Elissa poked the child in the stomach.

"'Cause I wanna be a Grey Warden!"

Elissa exchanged a look with Alistair over her head. "Why?"

"'Cause I wanna be a hero!" Cassandra looked up hopefully. "Will you take me with you?"

Elissa coughed.

"Cassandra, that's enough! I'm so sorry, Warden." The mage was clearly horrified. "I don't know what's gotten into her."

"It's quite all right." Elissa set the child down on the floor and crouched to face her. "I can't take you with me, Cassandra."

Big fat tears welled up in the five-year-old's eyes.

Elissa reached out to wipe them away. "You're too young now and what I do is very dangerous. But if you study hard, and become very good at magic, maybe I can come back for you later."

Cassandra's face glowed. "Really? When?"

Elissa glanced up at Alistair, who shrugged. "I think we normally take mages after their Harrowing."

"Once you're a full mage. But only if you study very hard," she warned.

"I will!" Cassandra beamed. "I'll go and start studying now." Then she was off, her short legs carrying her down the corridor as fast as possible. The other mage took off after her, shouting for her to slow down.

Alistair gave her an amused look. "You have an admirer."

Elissa rolled her eyes. "Hardly an admirer." She looked down the passage the child had disappeared. "She won't take the Harrowing for at least another fourteen years. We might not even be alive then. And even if we are, we'll only have fifteen years left."

He put a hand on her shoulder, saying nothing.

She sighed. "Let's go." They continued walking around the curve of the hallway, heading for Irving's office. She froze outside, hearing raised voices inside, and grabbed Alistair's arm to keep him from knocking.

"…mad. They won't forget this, Greagoir!" That was Irving.

"The Tower is safe. We've seen no sign of abominations or blood mages. There's no reason to use the Rite."

"The Cha-" Irving broke off. There was a beat or two of silence, and then the door opened. Irving's head poked out and he smiled broadly as he spotted them. "I thought I felt someone out here. Come in."

Feeling slightly embarrassed at being caught eavesdropping, she followed him in, Alistair right behind her. "Forgive me, First Enchanter. I did not want to interrupt…" Greagoir and Wynne stood on either side of the desk, stacked once again with parchment and books. Elissa shot a guilty glance at the chest she'd stolen the book from.

"It is no matter." Irving waved a hand dismissively. "How are your lessons going, Elissa?"

"Well, thank you." Elissa watched Greagoir out of the corner of her eye, but he didn't seem surprised at the mention of lessons. Clearly Irving had either filled the Templar in, or had come up with some other explanation for a why a non-mage was taking lessons from a mage.

"Good."

"But, I think it's time we moved on. We have a lot we need to do, and not much time before the Archdemon makes its appearance." They weren't on a precise schedule, but Alistair had said the night before that the Archdemon would probably be making the surface in fairly short order.

"Of course." Irving smiled warmly. "Where are you headed next?"

"Redcliffe, I think."

"We hope to get Arl Eamon's help," Alistair added.

Irving tilted his head. "There are rumours that he is ill."

Elissa nodded. "I've heard those. We're hoping he has recovered."

Irving looked thoughtful. "Well, you just missed the boat to Redcliffe. It left last week."

A boat? That would be much more comfortable than walking south for a week. Except maybe for Alistair. "When will it be back?"

"Not for another two weeks." He shook his head.

It would be faster for them to walk then. She sighed.

Wynne cleared her throat. "Actually Irving, I have a request." She waited for his attention to turn to her. "I seek leave to follow the Grey Wardens."

Elissa gave her a surprised look. Wynne wanted to follow them? Why was this the first she'd heard of it? And did she even want the old mage with them? The larger their group grew, the easier it would be for people to track them. Her age was an issue as well. Would she be able to keep up with them? She and Morrigan didn't seem to get along, either. The last thing they needed was more friction in the group. But then again, Morrigan didn't seem to get along with anyone except Elissa.

"Wynne." Irving frowned. "We need you here…the Circle needs you."

And yet, she had already demonstrated how useful she was in a fight. They'd lasted much longer in each fight than their group would have been able to do without her. She was a healer, and Morrigan couldn't heal beyond mixing potions and poultices. And having someone a little more experienced with magic than the witch, just in case something went wrong or something happened, would be a good idea.

Wynne laughed. "Thank you for the sentiment, Irving." She smiled fondly, and Elissa wondered why she hadn't noticed the blatant love before. "But the Circle will do fine without me. It has you. This woman is brave and good and capable of great things. If she will accept my help, I will help her achieve her goals."

A quick glance at Alistair, and then Elissa inclined her head. "I would be honoured to have you join me…us, Wynne."

Irving shook his head, an amused smile on his lips. "You were never one to stay in the tower when there was adventure to be had elsewhere."

"Why stay when I can be of service elsewhere?" Wynne spread her hands.

Greagoir stepped forward. "This is most irregular, Senior Enchanter. The rules regarding mages leaving the Circle…you would need a Templar escort."

"This young man is Templar-trained, Knight-Commander," Wynne said gravely.

"You are a Templar?" Greagoir's eyebrows shot up as he turned towards Alistair.

Alistair coughed. "I did not take my vows, ser. But I do have the skills."

"Nonetheless, you do not dress as a Templar." Greagoir's eyes narrowed. "There will be concern in the Chantries you pass that Wynne will appear unescorted. But, perhaps….this is what you want, Wynne?"

Wynne? Well, the Knight-Commander was probably on first-name basis with all of the Senior Enchanters. Particularly one like Wynne, who had been so close to becoming the First Enchanter.

"It is."

He turned abruptly to Alistair. "Warden, if you will permit me, I would give you Templar armour and weapons. Otherwise, you will be questioned in any Chantry you visit." His smile was tiny. "And, our weapons are of high quality and layered with spells. You will likely find them an improvement on what you carry now."

"I don't normally fight in heavy armour," Alistair began slowly, and then fell silent.

Greagoir pounced. "But you are capable of it?"

"Yes, of course." He glanced towards Elissa.

The Knight-Commander was right. Travelling with a mage was dangerous if they were caught by the Chantry, and while they could use their status as Grey Wardens to unravel any trouble they got into, it would cost them precious time and make it easier for Loghain to track them. And, they had two mages. Not only would it protect Wynne, but also Morrigan, even if the witch chose to dress as an apostate. "If you are willing, it would help us, Alistair."

"Then, thank you, Knight Commander." Alistair nodded firmly.

And the Templar shield would give him something to carry without drawing the unwanted attention that the Grey Warden shield he currently carried would.

"Then I give you leave to follow the Grey Warden, Wynne." Irving reached out for his lover's hands, ignoring their audience. "But know that you always have a place here." He murmured something too softly for Elissa to hear.

Elissa glanced at Greagoir, wondering what he made of this relationship. If she recalled correctly, mages weren't forbidden from having relationships. But she'd hadn't imagined it was something they would blatantly flaunt in front of the Templars, who swore oaths of chastity. On the other hand, her lip quirked slightly, maybe that was more reason for the mages to taunt their captors. But the First Enchanter? It didn't seem like something he, or Wynne, would do. Nonetheless, Greagoir didn't seem very affected by it. He was watching them, with an indecipherable look in his eyes, but without any sign of irritation.

Wynne stepped back. "I will pack my bags then, and meet you by the front doors, Elissa?"

"That sounds fine, Wynne."

The old mage disappeared through the door. Irving coughed lightly. "I think I can match Greagoir's offer as well." His smile was sly. "I'm sure can find some special robes in the Vaults for Wynne, and your apostate. Ones designed for battle rather than every-day wear."

"I would appreciate that." Elissa was hard pressed to keep the delight from showing on her face. She wasn't naïve enough to believe they weren't going to end up in more fights, and anything that would help them was good. The only problem would be convincing Morrigan to wear them.