Once they were back up to the main floor and at the Queen's door, they found Erlina standing by with her hands crossed, seeming to be rather calm despite the fact that they were still very trapped in the castle, and now everyone seemed to know that they were under attack. If Howe hadn't sent his men to go face the Highever rebels, then there wasn't a doubt that they would have faced much heavier opposition.

Once they got close enough Anora came out, dressed in the same uniforms that they were and looked just like one of the palace guards.

"Time to go your highness. I think we've overstayed our welcome." Theron said, looking to the hallway behind them where Aedan and Alistair were watching to make sure no other unpleasant surprises were waiting to catch up on them.

"Then let us be off. I must however stress the importance that my identity isn't revealed." Despite probably never having worn armor in her life, Anora seemed to fit right into her armor, carrying herself properly as a queen should. "We should go directly to Arl Eamon's. If Howe's people find me, I'll be killed. And my people will insist on escorting me back to the palace… where my father may also have me killed."

"If you say so." Theron agreed absently, having no patience for shemlen politics. He stalked out into the hallway, the others trailing along behind. "Let's hope that we're not going to meet any more nonsense on the way-" He paused at the entrance to the foyer, confronted now with an entire battalion of archers with their bows sighted on him, guards having flooded into the room while they went to retrieve Anora. "-out."

The woman who had stood at Loghain's side before was back, a stern look on her face as she stepped down from the raised stairs that lead to the great double doors to the outside, standing firmly between them and their escape. "Warden!" Her gaze was locked onto Theron, switching briefly to Alistair when he made his appearance, but otherwise ignored the rest. "In the name of the regent, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of Rendon Howe and his men-at-arms."

Theron visibly bristled, his hands tightening on the pommels of his blades. "You can take your arrest and shove it-"

"Ser Cauthrine, call down your men and stand aside, or be charged with involvement of the heinous crime to kidnap and assassinate the queen." Aedan said, stepping over Theron's words and placing himself in front of the elf. "Beside, the murder of Howe is not the doing of the Wardens. I put that man down, not them. His blood is on my hands."

Cauthrine seemed taken aback by the bold statement, her brow crinkling. "That does not absolve the Wardens of their other crimes. And outrageous lies will not save you from justice. The queen isn't being held prisoner here or anywhere else. Her father would never stand for such a thing."

"There's no reasoning with this shemlen." Theron hissed quietly from behind Aedan. "We're better off fighting our way through."

Aedan was finding himself agreeing, still wound up from confronting Howe in the basement, his better judgment left at the door. "It was a mistake to put a commoner in the seat of a Teyrn." His words instantly made Cauthrine tense and reach for her sword, visibly angered by the statement just as he knew it would. "I can see now that he is a fool, and only uses fools to do his bidding. Believe whatever you want!"

"To Arms!" Cauthrine called and the first volley of archers loosed their arrows, pinging off of Aedan's shield and armor as they volleyed across the room, a few finding chinks in his armor and only were stopped from mortally wounding him by the chainmail underneath. Behind him Theron made a pained sound, one of the arrows finding their mark through his leathers. A mage standing on the dais began pelting them with spells and Alistair was quick to respond, bringing a smite down on the mage's head that debilitated the spell flinger.

Ser Cauthrine led the charge, her huge sword swinging for Aedan's head and he dared not block it, his injured arm already on the point of quitting after all the abuse that it had taken today. Instead he stepped back and swung in when her back was exposed after the mighty swing, only knocking a glancing blow against her chainmail before she nearly carved him in half with a surprisingly quick backhand. Alistair was there to save him from being completely overtaken, bashing Cauthrine sideways and then there were others piling on top of them.

Solona went to quick work in taking out the archers around the sides of the walls, inflicting them with every curse she had at her disposal, a whole wing of archers dropping on the floor as they were hit with a sleeping spell and started writhing when their dreams were invaded with horrendous sights. Kallian followed up on Alistair's heels, guarding him from a soldier that thought himself particularly clever and had started striking from his unshielded side, scoring a few hits before Kallian put a blade through the tendons in the back of his knee and the man collapsed on the floor.

Still, Cauthrine continued to push back Alistair and Aedan, the swings of the great sword threatening to shatter blades and cave in armor with every pass. The others at her side were keeping the two together in easy reach, corralling them so that they had no choice but to face Cauthrine's wrath head-on. Suddenly she seized mid-strike, her face turning red as if in a furious blush and the other two soldiers at her sides put their hands to their head like they had been inflicted with a serious migraine before turning on their immobilized leader, making ineffectual stabs at her like puppets on strings. Aedan whirled his gaze around to see Solona with her hands held out in front of her, her concentration centered on the group of soldiers, her fingers twitching and a red aura surrounding her.

The momentary advantage was interrupted when an older woman in a feathery gown suddenly appeared from the hallway that led to the mess hall, a similar red glow cloaking her figure as she waded to the edge of the battle and cast a spell of her own. Behind the group Solona screamed, falling to her knees and clutched at her arms, holding herself against the infliction that had suddenly gripped her.

Aedan turned away from Cauthrine, his face draining of color. "Solona!"

Alistair moved to put the mage down, the beginnings of a smite forming around him when he was suddenly shut down, collapsing on his knees as if a great weight had been dropped across his shoulders, though the signs of blood magic were not present in this attack.

"Alistair! No!" Theron had just lay the mage on the dais to waste, his head rolling across the floor. With wide eyes he took in the battle scene, grabbing the body of the mage and hid behind it like a shield to avoid a volley of arrows that came singing at him. With Solona down, the spell that had immobilized Cauthrine and her two wingmen was lifted and she returned to take advantage of Aedan's distracted state, very nearly tearing off his arm with a powerful stroke of her blade, vengeance in her eyes.

Kallian saw the lay of the land as well and twisted out of the way as one of Cauthrine's soldiers tried to lay her open. She plunged her dagger into Cauthrine's back, the killing ability of the blade turned aside when the warrior turned, earning little more than a bloody gash though her chainmail for all Kallian's effort. But it was enough. Quicker than Cauthrine could react Kallian had grabbed the warrior's wrist and smashed her foot through the woman's elbow, the bone crunching and popping as it gave way and causing her to scream out in pain. An arrow zoomed across the room and caught Kallian in the shoulder, sticking out of her arm.

With a cry of pain Kallian grabbed Aedan around the arm and dragged him toward the exit. Theron cut down an archer nearest him and went to help, dragging him out the front door.

"No!" Aedan struggled against the both of them, trying desperately to break from their grasps. "We can't leave them behind!"

"We have no choice!" Theron yelled, wrenching Aedan's bad arm on purpose to get the man to listen and another volley of arrows flew at them, one getting Aedan square in the chest and knocking him back with a fist-sized dent in his armor. "That blood mage is too much to handle without Alistair! The battle's lost! We have to save what we can!"

"Aedan, we'll go save Ammy later!" Kallian pleaded desperately, slamming the great oak doors shut to prevent another volley of arrows from making them into pincushions and put all of her weight against the door, bodies shoving from the other side as the soldiers desperately tried to get after them. "But we've gotta go! NOW!"

The crowd that had been petitioning the Arl before dispersed with cries of fear upon seeing the bloodied trio exit the building, fleeing the courtyard in a panic. Aedan gave one last futile tug toward the door, then let himself be turned around by Theron and fled, Kallian ripping out the arrow in her arm as they went with a pained cry and took the lead.

She guided them through the back streets of Denerim, taking every twist and turn she could think of in order to lose whatever pursuit had decided to follow them. They were nearly at the river when she collided with another Denerim soldier, and Kallian was quick to pull a knife on her, scrambling for the advantage after having nearly fallen over.

"Oh! Warden!" From behind the Denerim soldier it was Erlina, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Your highness?" Theron asked, incredulous as Anora righted herself and settled her askew helmet back into place.

"Yes, that is me for what it is worth these days." She dusted her armor off, flicking at the blood that had transferred when Kallian had run into her. "Once the fighting had started, Erlina and I back tracked through the dungeon and came out on the other side of the fight and made our escape from there." She observed the bloodied and beaten group, a frown tugging at her lips. "There is a number missing from your group."

"Thank you for pointing out the obvious!" Theron hissed, glaring at Anora. "We've got to get back to Eamon. If you aren't safe, then their sacrifice isn't worth a damned thing. Come on." He pointed them back in the direction of Arl Eamon's estate, the only safe haven in the whole city and left the others to follow along behind.

Kallian dropped back, walking at Aedan's side. "We'll get her back." She said quietly, knowing that he would be just as distressed as she was, perhaps more. They had known each other longer, after all. "Ammy's strong, she can take care of herself."

Aedan remained silent, keeping his eyes locked resolutely ahead as Theron explained in short clipped tones that Alistair and Solona had been taken captive and that a rescue operation was going to be enacted immediately as soon as they had her safely sequestered away somewhere that Loghain couldn't get his hands on her. Once they got to the estate Theron was quick to navigate his way to Eamon's sitting room, and some amount of relief was felt when Aedan saw Fergus there alongside him, a few superfluous wounds being tended to by the elderly mage Wynne.

"We've got a problem." Theron began with no preamble, stopping just in front of the Arl and all heads went up. "Alistair has been taken."

The statement was met with a collective feeling of shock by all of those in the room, and Fergus rose from his seat, looking to his brother.

"They caught Solona, too." He muttered, his grip tightening on his sword. "But Howe is dead. I saw to it personally."

"Good." Fergus spat, coming over to give his brother a comforting arm on the shoulder. "That bastard got what he deserved. His men attacked the estate, but half way through the battle they were turned back. I assume it was because of you."

"While that may be all well and good, we cannot simply sit back and gloat at our accomplishments. Alistair must be retrieved immediately." Eamon said and Theron readily agreed.

"Cauthrien will have probably taken him to Fort Drakon." Anora spoke up, meeting the eyes of the others in the room, her hands folding together delicately in front of her. "Getting in will be no small feat."

A hiss of displeasure escaped Kallian, balling her fist and punching it into her open palm. "That's an understatement of the age, yer queenliness. Drakon's filled to the gills with guards, and they ain't the stupid hirelings that Howe had stuffed in his basement."

"Then we've got to make a plan and quick." Theron replied, rounding on Kallian. "I want everybody in the dining room right away. Wynne, could you have a look at these two-" He gestured toward Aedan and Kallian. "They got the brunt of it when we were making our escape. I'll go round everybody up." Without another word he disappeared out the door, leaving an uncomfortably tense air in his wake.

"Anora, let me get you situated. I fear that you may be here for a while yet." Eamon offered and both the queen and her handmaiden left the room.

Kallian sat heavily in the nearest chair, kicking out her feet and heaving an exasperated sigh. "Well this is a fine kettle of fish. Andraste's bloody sandals, what a mess." She then began inspecting the arm that the arrow had punctured, wiping up the rivulets of blood that had formed down to her wrist with her red wrist marker.

Wynne frowned at the expression and turned to Aedan, giving him a once over before beginning the healing process, her hands aglow with blue magic. "You mentioned that they had taken Solona as well?"

"Yes." Aedan's jaw tightened, staring straight ahead and practically boring a hole in the wall with the intensity of his gaze.

Wynne glanced up from her work to see if he would say more, but the warrior had his mouth clamped shut tight and didn't appear to be in a conversational mood. She was focusing on his side where a blade strike had bruised and nearly fractured his ribs, doing her best to alleviate the pain that he was no doubt ignoring with more important things to think about. "She was a student of mine in the Circle." Wynne said, hoping that some conversation would help to alleviate the tension radiating off of him in waves. "She was always a bright girl. Magic came to her so naturally, like a fish that swims or a bird that flies. There's a bright future for those who excel in the Circle, but she never seemed interested in that sort of thing. I'm not sure if she found what she was looking for outside of the Circle, but the last time that we talked, she seemed happy. I have a feeling that had to do something with the both of you." She smiled at Kallian who exhaled sharply in a 'harrumph' and turned her gaze away, staring at the floor.

After healing the cut on his thigh, Wynne stood and looked Aedan in the face, standing between him and the wall that was currently on the receiving end of all of his ire. "You will get her back." She patted Aedan on the shoulder then turned to Kallian, clucking over the wound in her arm and made quick work of the injury.

Fergus joined Aedan, standing at his side and silently appraising his brother's foul mood until Aedan finally looked at him. "You haven't lost her yet, little brother."

That drew a long frustrated sigh out of Aedan who threaded his fingers through his hair, belatedly realizing that he was still wearing the Denerim guard outfit and hastily took off his gauntlets. "I can't lose her Fergus, I can't. I'll-" He shared a long look with his brother then seemed to shrink, defeated. "How is it that you don't blame me?" He asked, his voice tinged with a sad desperation. "Oriana… Oren… I should have been able to save them-"

"Aedan, don't." Fergus took both of his brother's arms and shook him. "What happened to Oriana and Oren was not your fault. I never blamed you, brother. From the accounts of the survivors, I know you did everything in your power to stop Howe. I know that you helped to secure the front gates, that you tried to save everyone who was still alive. I know that you didn't leave because of cowardice, but because the men and mother made you. You had no choice. It's a miracle that you survived at all! Howe got what he deserved. He was a greedy traitorous bastard, and I only wish that I had been there to help you kill him." He gave Aedan another shake for good measure and then pulled him into a tight hug. "Whatever came to pass, I know you did what you had to do. You are a Cousland. I cannot hate you for surviving. After all of this death, never ever think that I am not grateful that you are alive."

Aedan squeezed back, a measure of relief sweeping through him to have his guilt out in the open and turned aside so easily by Fergus. The two brothers parted after a moment to find Kallian and Wynne openly staring at them. Fergus only smiled and patted Aedan on the shoulder. "Come, let us go see what can be done to rescue that little fire-starter of yours."

By the time that they got to the meeting the Warden's companions had all been assembled and appeared to be in a full-swing argument.

"I say that we leave him there." A dark haired woman with heavy purple eye shadow around golden eyes said, crossing her arms over her exposed midriff. "'Tis one less headache that we shall have to deal with."

"Morrigan, how could you say such a thing?" A lithe woman with bright red hair and an Orlesian accent shot back quickly, sounding downright offended. "Alistair is not a headache, and we cannot simply leave him there at the hands of Loghain."

"I think we should just charge on in there." A dwarf with a flaming red mustache braided down to his chest burped, his gravely voice cutting thought the chatter. "Swing some axes, break some knee caps…"

"For once, I agree with the disgusting dwarf." The golem who had been so quiet and still earlier spoke up. "We should simply go crush the heads of the guards like pigeons and rescue the witless Warden."

"As amusing as that would be to see, I do not think that you understand what it is that we are up against." Aedan instantly recognized Zevran's accent and tried very hard not to look at the elf, wary of their last disastrous encounter that ultimately ended up with himself and Solona in a closet. "Normally, I would be all for letting our smelly friend Oghren risk his life in a brave charge, but this time I believe that a certain measure of caution is needed."

"I still do not see why we should save the bleating man-child at all." Morrigan drawled, seeming bored by the whole affair.

"Because without him there is only one Warden in all of Ferelden." Theron snapped, obviously aggravated. "It's been hard enough trying to put together this army with only the two of us. I am not hopeful about sealing the deal by myself."

Keran had been roused by the commotion and came trotting into the room, nudging Aedan's hand and licking the underside of his palm, watching the goings on with cocked ears. Suddenly Aedan was struck by an idea. "You can take the mabaris." Everyone quit the squabbling to stare at him, obviously either confused or thinking that he'd gone mad. "Mabaris are a very valuable dog, every fort has a kennel full of them. Fort Drakon should be no different. Someone just has to take the mabaris up to the fort under the pretense of a gift and they should let you in without much question." From the corner of the room Falonfen perked up, barking once and wagging his tail and Keran seemed to wuff in agreement.

"Then I'll go pose as a delivery boy." Theron offered and was met with such a forceful chorus of disagreement that he was stunned and left baffled.

"My dear Warden, if this should take a turn for the worst, we cannot have both you and Alistair locked up for Loghain to poke at." Zevran said when everyone else had quieted down.

"Indeed. I think you will have a very difficult time slaying the Archdemon from behind bars." Morrigan quipped, examining her nails as if the conversation didn't particularly matter to her.

"I'll do it." All eyes snapped again to Aedan, some looking skeptical, others downright unimpressed. "I've been around mabaris all my life. I could pose well enough as a dog trainer if I had to impress a guard."

"Convenient as that is, Alistair is one of my people, and I look out for my own." Theron replied, almost to the point of bristling.

"And Solona is one of my people." Aedan snapped back, not much in the mood to negotiate. "We both have a friend behind those bars, and we're wasting time. The second that Loghain hears that he's got a Warden in his dungeon I haven't the slightest doubt that he'll come running to execute Alistair himself."

Theron quietly considered that, looking Aedan up and down. "Zevran." The Antivian assassin cocked his head. "Go with him and make sure that he doesn't get stabbed in the back."

Zevran chuckled at the naked irony. "Of course my dear Warden."

Aedan couldn't think of a person that he wouldn't rather have had to team up with than the assassin, but the serious matter of Alistair's capture seemed to have knocked some of the flirt out of the elf. "Let us get to it then, yes? Wouldn't want to keep Alistair waiting." Zevran smirked and led the way out of the library, probably heading back to his own room.

Aedan turned and left as well with Fergus and Kallian close on his heels. Surprisingly, it was Kallian who spoke up first. "Don't you take no more risks than you need to, you hear?" Her voice was pitched to affect her normal carefree tone, but it was laced with an inescapable sense of worry.

He couldn't help but to give her a small smile, touched by the elf's concern. "I'll be careful. And Keran will be there to back me up if things get messy." The mabari barked in agreement, trotting ahead of them. Aedan looked over his shoulder, expecting Fergus to be giving him a disapproving look, but instead found that his brother seemed more at peace with it than anything.

"You'll get her back." Fergus said quietly to the confused look on Aedan's face. "Whatever it takes. I know you Aedan, as much as you've changed in the past year. You always find a way to make things work out."

He felt calmer with his brother's reassurance and he sped up to get in his room, quickly throwing off the bloodied Denerim armor that he been wearing the whole time in exchange for a set of clothes that were just weathered enough to peg him as one of the lower merchant classes.

Kallian stood in the doorway, looking nervous and jittery. "Listen, Basher, imma go make sure that Sorris got outta that estate. I can't just sit around here an' wait fer you to get back. I'll go crazy worryin' 'bout you an' Ammy. Just… Just be careful, you hear?"

Aedan nodded, slipping his shirt over his head and straightening it as he walked toward the door. "You do what you have to." He replied, clapping Kallian on the shoulder. "I know I don't have to tell you how important family is. We'll return soon, have no doubt."

Nodding silently, Kallian looked like she was trying to convince herself that his words were true, then shook her head once. "Right. I'll see you in a bit. Do the Knifers proud. This is the biggest heist in the history of Denerim, so don't botch it." The two exchanged smiles and then Kallian left, disappearing into the hallway. Aedan left shortly after, dressed as well as he could for the role that he was about to play and went to find Zevran.

Any of the times that I accidentally got myself killed at the end of the Rescue the Queen sequence I never waited for my companions to come and get me. I always just fought my way out. Something tells me that Alistair might not be as handy at seducing guards or trying his hand a lock picking as my characters apparently were. So, I suppose that we shall see if it's all going to work out in the end. Will Solona and Alistair be in the dungeons, or will it be too late and one or both of them already executed? Will Zevran's constant hounding finally be enough to make Aedan bi-curious? Will Keran and Falonfen be able to bluff their way through Fort Drakon? Find out next chapter!

Also, the spell the mage used to incapacitate Alistair I would imagine is something like a cross between Crushing Prison and Fist of the Maker. It'll leave it up to ya'll to figure out what that means about the identity of this mysteriously feathered woman~

In other news, I'm heading for surgery this Friday. I tore my ACL back in March and I'm getting it repaired (finally). I have a chapter in the hopper for next Monday, so keep a weather eye out for an update and wish me luck!