First of all, I want to thank Megglesnake, PheonRen, Warrose, and Jinx1983 for their awesome reviews! You guys rock! :D
A short but very intense chapter!
Bioware owns! ;)
Chapter 20 - The Deal
Believe me baby got your name carved on my soul
'Cause You're the only one that I'll give it to
Go let 'em say that I'm I fool to act this way
'Cause if I'm crazy, I'm just crazy 'bout you.
I'd lie for you and that's the truth
Do anything you ask me to
I'd even sell my soul for you
I'd do it all for you
If you'd just believe in me
Meat loaf - I'd lie for you
.
.
Alistair bristled visibly as he eyed the Beloved, his eyes narrowing slightly. The Beloved sensed his anger and its smile deepened into a grin.
"I do not wish to harm any of you. But if you attack, I may not be able to control my people," it made a noise and Alistair realized that it was laughing.
"You said you wanted to talk. So talk," he spit out, his voice full of venom.
The Beloved gave a nod and eyed him back, clearly amused at his demeanor.
"Very well. Let me tell you that the threat you are facing is far greater than you realize. We are but a small group. A faction of your enemies. But enough of that later. For the moment, I wish to tell you that the reason we have for attacking is to simply be noticed. For I have a plan. I feel my plan will greatly benefit not only my people but your own."
"Spare me the details," Alistair said, his voice harsh and cold. "I know what you are about to say. I met and heard The Architect. I know what you want."
"You were the Grey Warden that killed The Architect, yes?" The Beloved smiled, his eyes glinting madly in the half-light.
"Yes, I was. And I still don't see why you want to talk. You had better say something that is worthy of my attention before I decide to cut off your head like I did to your predecessor."
The Beloved's face contorted with anger at his words, while Alistair smirked. In a flash, something shot out of his hands, and Alistair suddenly doubled over with pain, while clutching his stomach. Chantalle gave a cry and ran to his side, putting her arms on his shoulders, trying to help. Fiona strode to where Alistair stood, her staff at the ready.
"Enough!" She yelled at him, her eyes dark and dangerous. "If you wish us to listen to your plan, you should stop what you are doing."
The Beloved stared at her and Alistair fell to the ground breathing heavily, but no longer in pain. He stood up with the help of both Fiona and Chantalle and continued to stare at it.
"And who might you be?" The Beloved asked, its tongue licking where its lips once were.
"I am the leader of this mission. I demand to know what it is that you want," Fiona replied loudly and calmly.
"What I want is something we all want. A chance to end all the Blights. Isn't that what Grey Wardens want? To finally end it all?" It advanced slowly, till it was closer, yet not so close as Alistair would have liked. He longed to put his hands on its throat and strangle it.
"I sense the Warden Commander wishes to harm me. If this happens, then you will not survive what is happening on the surface," The Beloved said quietly.
Alistair gave a growl of anger, but both Fiona and Chantalle held on to him, and he did not charge as he wanted to.
"Your two females are wise. One, a lover, the other a mother," Fiona's eyes widened with horror. She dared not look at Alistair. "But that is not what I wish to speak about. You know what the Architect wanted. I wish to continue his legacy. I need the blood of the Grey Wardens in order to do that. But aside from that, I wish to stop the carnage happening on the surface. For it is not I you should be fighting. There is another that is attacking your forces at Weisshaupt Fortress. He is the one you should be wary of."
"What do you mean? Don't you command the darkspawn who are attacking Weisshaupt as well?" Alistair asked.
"No. The one who commands them is called The General. He wishes to destroy all Grey Wardens. He is looking for something. Something valuable to him. Something that your companion is responsible for." It pointed past Alistair, whose gaze followed the long finger. The finger that was clearly pointing at Duran.
Duran shifted uncomfortably. Alistair knew what this was about.
"The General is looking for the child?" He asked immediately, not letting Duran speak out.
"Yes. They wish to corrupt the Old God's soul," The Beloved confirmed.
...
"What is your plan?" Alistair asked and saw out of the corner of his eye how Fiona turned to look at him with disbelief.
"Are you saying you will agree to it?" The Beloved asked.
"Just tell me," Alistair shot back. "And tell me what you know about the General's plan as well."
"Very well. The General is distracting the wardens. Fights but not with all the soldiers. The General knows that the Old God is somewhere between Orlais and Weisshaupt, but has no real indication of where. It is not as advanced as I am in these matters. The General wishes to destroy all the wardens. But wants the child first. If The General finds the child, all the wardens in Weisshaupt die. The soldiers will make sure of this."
Alistair felt something like pure terror at the Beloved's words. The scale of this was like another Blight. But this time, he could do nothing to put an end to it. There was no telling when they would find Morrigan and her child, it was merely a matter of time, and he knew how long it took to rally forces in order to fight a horde. He would not be able to make it there with a suitable army to assist. Weisshaupt would be fighting a losing war. There were simply not enough wardens, and too many darkspawn.
"I see the Warden Commander understands," the Beloved said, its features once again imitating a smile.
"I understand perfectly," came Alistair's answer. Beside him, Fiona straightened herself up to her full height. "What is it you wish in return? Some of my blood, right?"
"Yes. The blood of a Grey Warden, and I will send my troops to fight the General and its soldiers. I will make sure all die or flee back here to their home. I will not stop until the General dies."
"How much time do I have to decide?" Alistair asked, his throat dry.
"You can discuss it with your people now, but I will not leave until you tell me what your decision is," The Beloved replied.
Alistair nodded once and turned to his group. His eyes fell on Duran, who was avoiding making eye contact with him.
"I told you nothing good could ever come out of what you did," he said quietly, his anger simmering. "But I'll not blame you, we have a worse problem on our hands."
"I say kill them and get it over with!" Kardol bellowed angrily.
"If that happens, we all die, and everyone on the surface as well. Is this what you really want?" Duran asked Kardol. Kardol lowered his gaze. He did not have an answer to this. "It is not your decision to make anyway. This falls under a much larger scale. You do not live on the surface, you do not see what the people there are suffering."
"You left the dwarves, you know how we suffer here. I will not intervene. I will leave you now," Kardol growled and ordered his men out. "Goodbye my friends. I hope the ancestors favor you, whatever decision you make."
And he left, following his legionnaires out of the chamber.
"Well, now that that is taken care of, let us return to the problem at hand," Alistair said between clenched teeth. "No more distractions this time." He turned back to the Beloved and advanced to stand in front of it.
"I have reached a decision," he said, his shoulders squared.
But before he could utter a word, Fiona cried out and stood in front of him.
"Let it be my blood. I will give my blood," she cried out.
...
"No, Fiona, what are you doing?" Alistair hissed at her.
"Enough Alistair. We do not have another way out. I know what I am doing!" She hissed back, her eyes dark and resolute.
The Beloved stared at her curiously, much like staring at an interesting insect.
"I do not sense the Taint in you. You are not what I want." It said.
"You do not sense it because I have devised a seal of protection against others sensing me through the years. The magic is there, reach out and feel it. I will not let you in. But the Taint is there. I assure you." Fiona replied smugly.
The Beloved chanted a spell and his hands flung out in front of him. Fiona flinched for a moment but then stood straighter, and a soft blue glow emanated from her body.
After a while, Fiona relaxed as the Beloved straightened also.
"You speak truthfully. I can sense the seal around you and cannot break it. What kind of magic is that?"
"Very ancient magic, Beloved. Far greater than yours," Fiona shot back quickly.
The Beloved's grin was back. It made her blood crawl, but she kept her stance and did not flinch.
"Very well. I accept," it said.
"Not so fast. First you must send your horde to battle the General and its soldiers at Weisshaupt. I will not give you my blood until they are all dead or gone. And I wish proof that the General is dead first," Fiona said. "That is our deal. Take it or leave it. Take it or you die here."
The Beloved made a noise that Alistair recognized as laughter. It looked totally amused and did not speak for some time.
"I was prepared for something like this to happen. Very well. I will give the orders to my people. They will fight against their kin on the surface. You will return to Orzammar and wait there for me to contact you. You will know when the General is dead from me. Then you will return here, and I shall take some of your blood."
"No," Fiona replied back quickly. "I will return to Orlais. I will not remain here." Steely, unflinching determination written all over her face. "If you wish to contact me, you will do so there. I will come then and give you your precious blood, but you must meet me in Orlais for this, and remember, I need to confirm that the General is dead."
The Beloved's eyes narrowed. For a moment it seemed to Alistair that it would not agree. But after a while it nodded at Fiona.
Fiona nodded back at it. Then she turned to Alistair and everyone else.
"I believe this is our cue to leave, wardens," she said, her voice hard and cold.
And without another word, she placed her staff behind her back and strode out of the chamber into the dark tunnel beyond, the rest following in her wake silently.
...
A/N: Just remember what Fiona said to them before about the Taint in her, lol. It's important! ;)