The 'epic battle' that happens in the courtyard probably looks like a bad attempt at dancing. Duncan is running around while snapping everywhere and anywhere without the slightest bit of aiming; arrows are raining down from the sky everywhere in order to hit apparently everything; fireballs are exploding all around the battlefield in no particular pattern; and I'm swinging my sword in a giant circle while stumbling around in a bigger circle. Thankfully, our enemies aren't human and can't mock us until we die of shame. Instead, they take us as a serious threat and attempt to destroy us. However, they can't quite do that.
Anything that gets beside Duncan or I gets hit instantly, they can't get to Leliana because she's climbed a tree to precariously sway from the top branch, and Morrigan turns into bugs in order to fly across the battlefield to an unoccupied area whenever they get close enough to hurt her. Thus, the epic battle rages on. The worst that happens to my side is some gigantic, undead warrior uses some spell to yank me over to him, then gets his head blown off by a fireball that hit just the right spot at just the right time. When all of our foes are dead we celebrate by continuing to fight nothing for a solid minute. Leliana is the first to stop by falling out of her tree. Then, Duncan runs into a wall. Then, Morrigan falls on her face. Finally, my sword goes flying from my hands.
I fall onto my ass and, slowly, my team gathers around me. Leliana helps me stand while Morrigan retrieves my sword. I take my weapon, sheathe it, and stumble up into the castle. The sight that awaits me causes me to sigh. Alistair and Wynne are both tied up and dangling from the ceiling. Some man I don't know is dancing, guards are lining the walls, and a little boy and his mother (I'm assuming because they look so similar) are standing in front of a fireplace. I take my sword out and scream at the top of my lungs. The dancing man flips to the side and the little boy steps forward.
"Who dares disturb my court?!". The voice that comes from him sounds like the desire demon that entranced me in the fade, so I mentally prepare myself before screaming for everyone to hear.
"What the fuck is going on here?! Who the hell is responsible for the village?!". The little boy sneers and scoffs.
"Mother, what is that thing? I can't quite see it.". The woman looks absolutely cowed as she answers her son.
"It's an elf. You know elves; we have them here in the castle.". The boy laughs and points at me. A vein twitches in my neck as I take a few steps closer to the child. Finally, he stops laughing. Unfortunately, he says something that will assure his death.
"I remember elves! I had their ears cut off and fed to the hounds! The dogs chewed for hours!". I scream and charge. The child runs like a little bitch and the guards instantly surround me, but the terror in his eyes was worth it. I headbutt one guard and begin spinning like a damned fool. The battle lasts a tiny bit longer than the one outside, but ends in the same way. Well, almost. Everyone is able to stop on their own and form up behind me. The boy's mother stands before me, holds up her hands, and begins trying to speak. I push past her without a second thought. I shoulder the woman on my way as I charge into another room after her son.
The boy is attempting to open a locked door in what appears to be the throne room when I find him. A swift crack across the back of the skull brings him to the ground, but doesn't kill him. I look over my shoulder, but only the boy's mother has followed me. She desperately begins to speak to me as I kneel down beside her son.
"Please! My name is Isolde! I'm the Arl's wife and the boy's mother! Please, listen to me! His name is Connor; and he doesn't need to die! He didn't do it!". I pull my dagger from my boot and rest it against the boy's neck. I give his mother a fair warning.
"If he rouses before we're done talking, then I'm going to slit his throat like he's a pig. Noble or not: he's still a human.". A clapping from the doorway causes me to look over. Morrigan struts in with everyone else (including Alistair and Wynne) except Leliana behind her. My dark friend stops clapping, but congratulates me.
"Finally found your elven roots, have you? Good. Slit the boy's throat and make up for the injustices done upon your people. Let the Arl and his wife know that they suffer due to the debts their ancestors owe you.". My wrist twitches, but Wynne and Alistair speak before I can finish the job. Alistair speaks first.
"It's Connor's fault. He summoned a demon to keep his ill father from dying. His father was poisoned by a mage I freed in the dungeons, but I don't know where he is. He's name's Jowan, though.". My wrist twitches again, but Wynne's words halt me.
"I saw Jowan a few paces behind us. Hopefully, he knows a way to exorcise the demon without killing the boy. With the demon gone, then the entire situation here should resolve itself.". I groan as a person I'm assuming is Jowan walks in.
"There is a way, but it requires blood magic. It's a powerful spell that can send a mage into the fade where the demon is to banish it.". My wrist begins to move. Once again, Wynne stops me.
"I know of the spell he speaks of. It doesn't have to require blood magic. If you go back to the Circle Tower and retrieve the mages, then they could perform the spell. Connor need not die.". I feel a headache coming on. I raise my dagger high in the air and tell everyone what I'm going to do.
"I'm just going to kill the kid. Going and saving him will take too much time. Besides, he could be trouble while I'm gone. Easier just to slash his throat.". His mother lets out a wail like a dying animal and charges me. I bring my dagger down. It slides into the fatty, soft tissue of Isolde's shoulder. The woman cries out in pain, but clutches to her boy like he's driftwood and she's just been flung off of a sinking ship. I snarl and begin sawing the woman's shoulder up.
"Move!". Wynne begins yelling over Isolde's howl of agony.
"Getting the Circle would be best! The entire family could live, and you'd still get the army you need!". Alistair is the next to yell.
"Please, I'm begging you to try the Circle option! The family has suffered enough!". I stop sawing, but give the woman a fair warning.
"I swear I'll kill you to get to him. Now, stand and watch your son die like a woman.". Isolde howls and begins begging.
"Please, he's my child! He's only a boy; he doesn't deserve to die!". Her watery eyes find mine and she's almost crying as she struggles to talk.
"You're a woman! What would you do if he was your son?". I shove my face against hers and snarl my answer.
"I would have taught my little brat not to mess with demons!". I headbutt her and send her flying across the room. Isolde howls as I bring my bloody dagger up again and prepare to end her son's life. That's when a final voice from the doorway halts my swing.
"Tabris!". I freeze and clench every muscle in my body. Slowly, I turn my head towards where Leliana is standing.
"Yes, my love?". Leliana is looking at me with fire in her eyes and a snarl on her face.
"Were you really going to kill that boy?". My dagger clatters to the ground and I shake my head as I return my emptied hand to the boy's throat.
"No, my sweet. I would never dream of it.". Isolde carefully crawls over to her son, but (smartly) doesn't say anything to me. She just seems happy her son isn't dead yet. I don't break eye-contact from Leliana as she storms into the room. Everyone scatters from her path. I drop my eyes and posture until I'm almost kneeling by the time Leliana reaches me. Nobody comments on how I'm basically kneeling at my lover's feet like a bitch would. Instead, they all stay silent as Leliana asks a question.
"You weren't going to kill him because he was a human child, were you?". I shake my head and keep denying her questions.
"No, my lovely. I wouldn't dream of it.". Slowly, Leliana uses her foot to nudge me onto my side. I inwardly sigh as I relent to her shoving. My lover slides me away from the child like I'm a damned doll. When I'm done sliding, Leliana comes over to me and kneels. The next words she speaks are only loud enough to reach mine and Isolde's ears.
"Good. Because if you killed a child for being human, then I might stop fucking you because you're a knife-eared whore. Understand?". I nod, but it isn't enough for Leliana. Apparently, she's every passionate about not killing children. Her hand comes to rest on my throat. From the way we're positioned only Isolde can see the scene playing out before her. Leliana presses down against my throat and corrects me.
"What was that?". I barely manage to hiss my response.
"Yes, I understand you.". Her hand tightens even more and I begin seeing stars.
"One more time.". I use the last of my air to say what she wants me to say in the way she wants me to say it.
"Yes mistress, I understand you.". Leliana releases my neck and turns to my friends.
"Tabris has agreed to go get the circle.". Everyone cheers besides Isolde and I. From my position I can see the woman (still clutching her son) through Leliana's feet. I clutch my neck as I look at her. I do my best to glare. The woman doesn't turn away or cower like she should. Instead, she just stares at me in complete shock and a little bit of confusion. I chop it up to her still being shocked her son isn't going to be murdered. The woman finally breaks eye-contact. I take the chance to stand. Leliana clasps me on the shoulder with a smile on her face.
"So, who are you going to take to get the Circle with you?". I can't even answer as Morrigan walks over, takes my hand, and answers for me.
"She'll take myself, Duncan, and Wynne.". Leliana's eyelid twitches and she instantly disagrees.
"She's definitely going to be taking me along.". Morrigan stands a little straighter as she challenges Leliana.
"Who will keep the peace with Tabris and you gone? Nobody else will, and Connor will most likely be killed in the chaos.". Leliana sighs and looks at me. I shrug and Leliana relents. She kisses me once on the cheek before walking away back towards the group.
"Be safe and quick. I'll miss you.". I nod as she goes. That's when Morrigan begins yanking me away.