Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.
Chapter Four: Last of the Couslands
Castle Highever – Highever
Aedan burst through the door into the kitchen.
Andraste's Blood!
Aedan ducked and rolled under the blow that would have gone straight through his neck. He lashed out with his daggers for several moments before he realised that his opponent was only defending and wasn't taking any of the opportunities that Aedan had given him with his tired and uncoordinated strikes.
"Forgive me my lord. I thought you were another of Howe's men. Quickly come with me." Duncan said in his deep baritone voice.
Aedan and Eleanor followed the Grey Warden to the larder. Aedan tried not to look at the bodies of Nan and the kitchen elves. Another dead, Nan was my nursemaid and has always taken care of me. Now when I had to take care of her I failed. At least Duncan has given them dignity in death rather than leaving them where they fell.
"Bryce!"
Eleanor screamed and ran to the side of her husband who sat wearily on the floor covered in blood.
"Father!" Aedan called out and dropped down beside him. "I'm sorry this is all my fault! I should have protected the castle better!"
Bryce Cousland, Teyrn of Highever reached out to comfort his youngest son. "It's not you're fault pup." He gasped out. "I stood the guards down, I wanted them to have one night of peace before they were forced to run all over the Teyrnire putting out little fires. If I'd left the preparations to you, if I'd let your orders stand we might have had a chance. No It's my fault."
"Bryce there is no time for this! We have to go now!" Eleanor said firmly trying to pull her husband to his feet. She was grateful for Bryce's words for she could already see how Aedan blamed himself but right now they had to escape.
"I won't survive the standing I'm afraid my dear." Bryce coughed weakly.
"Then we'll drag you." Aedan declared looking round for something that could serve as a stretcher.
"Only if you want to leave bits of me behind pup." Bryce Cousland chuckled weakly.
"BRYCE! This is no time for jokes!"
"Exactly. You have to get out of here pup, tell the king of Howe's treachery and warn Fergus. I dread to think what Howe has planned for him." Bryce ordered.
"No I'm not leaving you!" Aedan replied shaking his head violently. "We'll find you magic healing or something to keep you alive until we can reach the circle tower."
"Heh heh, you never give up do you pup? Good, you'll need that in the months ahead. Howe cannot be allowed to get away with this. Now take you're mother and go."
"I'm staying." Eleanor declared firmly. "Duncan you get Aedan out of here, I'll stay behind and kill everyone who comes through that door to let you get away."
"NO! I can't loose both of you!" Aedan cried out in despair.
"You have to get away my son." Eleanor explained calmly. "Howe's men have the castle surrounded, it will be difficult enough for you and Duncan to get away without me. If I come with you we will surely be caught."
"Eleanor you could still make it." Bryce choked out.
"Hush Bryce, we've had a good life and been blessed to see our two wonderful children grow into men we could both be proud of. No our time has come and my place is by your side."
Everyone in the room knew that Eleanor would not be leaving. Aedan was about to try and talk Duncan into helping him get the Teyrn out of there as well but before he could open his mouth an almighty crash came from the great hall followed by a blood chilling roar.
"The gates have fallen! There is no more time my darling boy, you must go now!" Eleanor called out in panic.
"Here." Aedan said pressing a flask into her hand. Eleanor recognised it as one of the results of her son's hobby of poison making.. "It's a soul rot bomb, break it and a deadly gas will fill the room killing everyone inside. Howe will undoubtedly come here to gloat and when he does."
Aedan choked on the last words.
"Thank you pup." Bryce said fondly. "We'll do our best to make sure he pays for this treachery, you warn Fergus and make sure that the Cousland line does not die here."
Aedan flung his arms around his parents. "I love you both so much." He gasped though his tears.
"Then live darling." Eleanor said pushing him away gently.
Seeing that Aedan would never be able to bring himself to leave Duncan grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the tunnel as Eleanor swiftly got to her feet and locked the door behind them.
Aedan and Duncan ran down the passage until a crash reverberated down it, both knew that it was Howe's men kicking in the door to the larder.
Aedan turned to try and go back but Duncan was ready for him and caught him around the waist.
"Its too late. You parents have given their lives for you, don't make their sacrifice worthless." Duncan cautioned.
He pulled Aedan out of the tunnel and into the night.
Penglais Hill – Highever
Aedan and Duncan stood on top of the hill and surveyed the devastation before them. On top of the cliff Castle Cousland. No. Aedan corrected himself. That nickname the city's people had given to the fortress could no longer be applied.
On top of the hill Castle Highever was in flames and surrounded by Howe's troops. The curtain walls that linked Castle Highever to the City of Highever below the cliff* were taken as were the city walls and gates themselves and it appeared that Howe's men were already entering the city. Someone had set the warships in the harbour ablaze and inwardly Aedan thanked them. Warships will be of little use against the Darkspawn and Howe should be denied as much as it is possible to keep from him. I'll have to remember to reward whoever did that if…WHEN Fergus and I return.
"It's time to go my lord." Duncan said softly. "We will be travelling south along the North Road before joining the Imperial Highway and heading to the ruins of Ostagar. King Cailan has gathered his army's there."
Aedan silently turned his back on the view of his family and his home destroyed and followed Duncan into the darkness.
The Circle Tower – Lake Calenhad
Aedan and Duncan had been travelling for several days when they reached the Lake Calenhad docks. Having never been to the Circle of Magi before Aedan was surprised to discover what he did at the end of the north road.
It was clear that the Imperial Highway had once run out through the lake directly to the Circle Tower but this part was in worse shape than the majority of the highway. Large gaps had been blown in it, intentionally or by nature Aedan couldn't tell.
"Why the docks?" Aedan asked Duncan quietly. "Even if it would be too expensive or dangerous to let mages and stonemasons repair the Highway surely it would be simple to build small wooden bridges to cover the gaps and connect the tower island to the mainland again?"
At last. Duncan thought in relief. He had been worried since Aedan had not said a world since departing Highever several days ago. He could have picked a more pleasant topic but at least he's talking again. That's a good sign.
"The Chantry likes it the way it is. It makes it more difficult for the mages to escape from their guilded cage. The mages don't complain partially because they know it will do no good and partially because it prevents lynch mobs reaching the tower when people wish to take their anger about a bad harvest or a deformed child out on a target that is not allowed to fight back."
Aedan's face twisted in distaste as he contemplated that answer. I've always been a champion of the elves because of Nerus. I didn't realise that the mages had it almost as bad as the city elves.
"I have some business to attend to in the tower." Duncan began.
Aedan's temper flared. "I have already agreed to be recruited into the Grey Wardens! Must we waste time here finding another candidate that meets your approval? The King must be told of Howe's treachery as soon as possible."
Good. The Cousland sense of justice is strong in him. That will serve the Grey Warden's well though it may give him a problem with some of our less savoury recruits. He's also not willing to take any distraction to his mission lying down and will challenge the worth of any side quests. Yes Aedan Cousland will make an excellent addition to our ranks. "Fear not. First Enchanter Irving has a candidate picked out for me already, I will be gone no longer than a couple of hours and as we had to pass here anyway on our route south I think that the gains outweigh the short delay."
Aedan nodded as if giving permission and then blushed as he realised what he had done. You idiot! Duncan is not one of your fathers men. He commands you not the other way around. Oh Andraste's holy knickers he must think me a petulant spoiled child.
Duncan chuckled and took Aedan's shoulder in a firm grip. "Do not worry Aedan, a lifetimes habits are going to be hard for you to break. Besides one or two of my Wardens could do with being kept in line." Duncan said his eyes twinkling. "Do you wish to come to the tower with me?"
Aedan pondered his response for a moment before deciding. "Actually I think I will stay at the inn, The Spoiled Princess." Aedan replied reading the name. Seeing Duncan's expression morph into disapproval he hurried on. "I'm not going to drown myself in ale, well maybe one or two, but…Bann Loren has no idea what happened to his wife Landra or his son Dairren. He deserves to know the truth not whatever story Howe decides to spread in Denerim."
Duncan nodded sombrely. I do not envy him that duty. "Very well I shall be back soon."
Aedan was still putting the finishing touches to the hardest letter he had ever written when Duncan returned, his mood foul.
"Problem?" Aedan asked. Stupid question, he's only been gone for a half hour.
"Indeed." Duncan replied sitting heavily and waiving over the dwaven barmaid with a pint of ale. "It seems that the young man I came to recruit would have been a great asset to the Grey Wardens."
"Would heve been?" Aedan asked softly.
"The young man in question was an elven mage named Alim Surana. He was in love with a fellow mage, his best friend Jowen. Jowen however was exclusively attracted to women and fell in love with a Chantry initiate named Lilly. When Jowen was accused of blood magic they attempted to escape and Alim risked everything to help a friend in need even though it meant he would never see his love again."
"They were caught?" Aedan asked sadly.
"Indeed." Duncan replied drinking deeply. "They were cornered in the last stage of their plan. Jowen was indeed a blood mage having dabbled a little in the forbidden arts as he believed it was the only way he could escape. He was proved correct in that, he managed to get away even though Lilly refused to go with him, she was sent to Aeonar."
Aedan hung his head. "And Alim?"
"Jowen left him behind hoping that they would believe that Alim was a thrall under his control and he wouldn't spend the rest of his life being hunted for helping him. Alim refused to go along with it and screamed in Knight Commander Greggor's face that he had caused this, struck at First Enchanter Irving for allowing it to happen and then collapsed in tears at the fate of his friend and secret love. Greggor ran him through then and there."
"Not even a sham trial?" Aedan asked angrily.
"Greggor probably would have for a human mage but Alim was an elf. He referred to it as pest control when Irving tried to intervine."
Aedan's cider filled tankard exploded in his grasp from the sudden increase in pressure. "We'll post this letter in Lothering." He said deceptively calmly as he put a silver piece on the table to cover the loss of the tankard.
"It is getting dark, we won't get far." Duncan cautioned. But if he wants to go we will, this can't be bringing up any good memories of either Highever or the stone wall he has encountered in is fight for the elves.
"It doesn't matter." Aedan replied darkly. "As long as its far away from here."
* Just like Fort Drakon is part of the City of Denerim and yet not. This situation of a walled city joining directly on to a castle/fortress is known as a Citadel and can be found throughout the medieval cities of Europe, especially in Spain.
Review if you want me to continue! Tell me what you like and what you don't and what particular play through you would like to see in the next chapter. Obviously this is Ostagar so there are no options atm but the principle stands for later chapters.
