I had waited at the gates with Perth and his remaining men. Relegated there by none other than Finn of course. But I knew where he was coming from, Leiliana was better with the slim daggers crossed on her back, arrows might not be of as much use in the tunnels, it was Alistair's home, somewhat, and yeah he was still pissed at me. Still. But I had done what he had asked, but I could see Teagan's eyes on the play between us and Alistair to some extent, I fancied I could also see the cogs in his head turning, questions oozing from his ears. A Dalish? Why? What is she to them? God damn it I knew I would have to talk to the others, namely the Wardens about what to do about me. But as soon as I saw the Revenant between the grid like barricade of the gates everything else was irrelevant. A suit of scratched armour, metal wings on each side of a battered helmet. Apart from the patches of bone showing through chinks and gaps in armour and the giant sword that would make anyone cringe; it was the pair of red glowing horrible eyes just made me feel cold. Like my very core was shaking. And I knew that it wouldn't be the worst that I would see. By any stretch of the imagination. But I also knew he would be a son of a bitch to kill, especially this early on with so much more to do. Even perhaps with the men who stood with me? His armour stats were high, and with those skeletons around…

"Stop it Wolf, you'll be needed in a second. Just hang out with Perth for minute."

I pushed the hound off with a foot, it begrudgingly went, sitting on Perth's foot and glaring at me, which I felt physically like a punch to the gut, there's certainly something more to mabari than the average dog. Oh, is that a plan in my head? I knew that the revenant would use a type of magic grab, nothing but a very hard gate to splatter against. But could he if I didn't let him see me. I moved to Perth and quickly laid out my plan, he nodded yeah begrudgingly but he and his men pressed out of sight, their backs against the stone walls leaving me alone peering around at the skeletons I could place. I would need to be fast; I whispered a prayer to Falon'din and wiggled my fingers. I even blew on my nails, not sure why but I'd seen them do it in movies. I spun out, the first arrow drawn and set to string. My vision seemed to tunnel and zero in on the first. The arrow punctured through its chest and as it imploded the next was in the air. But two was enough and I spun behind the wall, heart hammering at the escape from the gaze of the demon. A few to go.

Is it wrong that as we walk through the massive doors of the castle and towards the Demon Spawn and a seriously fucked up Teagan, I have 'Thrift Shop' in my head? It's like I have my pimp walk on. Super entirely inappropriate. I tried to emulate the others as soon as I realised I was an nth away from singing out the lyrics, but my conscious effort bled out as my eyes fell upon the definitely not-Connor. It stood with small hands on his hips, imperiously surveying his mind fucked uncle. My gait instantly changed to one of weariness. Each foot placed carefully, my hand hovering over my dagger. I absolutely forbade any drawing of the weapon, but it felt the epitome of stupid to go relatively unarmed in this place. In Her place. I say this even as I remember that around me are a veritable horde of armed men. Literally. Covered in plate armour, faces in deep frowns. I didn't want to let the Demon out of my vision, it seemed stupid to do so, not sure why. I think it's like some kind of predator thing. But I used my peripheral vision to check on those around me. On my left Leiliana shifted slightly, it could have been a flinch, perhaps she could feel too the malice that simply laced the air. Morrigan was behind me, bringing up the rear but I swear I could hear her ears prick up as we saw it. Perth, by the way I love him - suave as accent, chivalrous and a dab hand with a sword and he called me my lady *blush*, gripped his shield harder, disgust in the line of his lips as he saw what was happening to his Bann. Dinna blame him really, the Desire demon was making him look like a douche. An aside though, it's a bit weird but he can fill out a suit of armour, if you know what I mean.

His eyes were black pits. Even as I thought it I knew it was cliché, but there was nothing else to describe it. It was more a feeling, rather than an overt difference in the boy. But just looking at him I knew that there was no way that I would ever be able to think he was anything other than a demon. But I know he must have fooled Isolde to some extent, maybe others. I quickly looked at those next to me, Morrigan was like me, though I was definitely not showing near the same interest that was in her eyes, Leiliana looked shocked and pitiful. I couldn't see Finn's face, but Alistair could see that Connor was no longer his cousin but something more. A vicious grin lifted the boy's lip, never an expression I would have ever thought to see on a young lad's face, no wait ever want to see. Even when he answered Finn's questions, each time disseminating them and having a dig at the Cousland and Alistair who stood at his side, his voice was like nails down a chalkboard. Everything screamed unnatural. Fuck, I wished that I had managed to talk to Jowan, they hadn't said that they had even found him alone what they had done to him, as close mouthed as they had been erupting from the cellar. I knew it was going to be my turn soon, and it was with surprising coolness and calmness that I met un-Connor's eyes as he made a quip about my ears. Cock.

"…cut their ears off and fed them to the dogs, they were gnawing for days."

As I met those eyes I felt a whisper from Maharial the one who used to be, she had seen such before in the mirror, imagined in the eyes of my Tamlen. This was nothing new, scary, terrifying even, but known. And Desire and their dirty manipulation was the last thing that was going to fool to me right now. I also knew her shit, his? Real form. Scaly piece of shit.

"Who are you?"

"Someone who is going to enjoy ripping you from the boy."

It garnered a laugh from the demon. But I realised, I suddenly had power. It knew I was different, alien to what it knew. Whatever it knew. I took a step forward, no idea where my courage came from, but I needed to fool it. Get it to leave so we would have time to regroup. Anything to gain time, and Finn wasn't saying the right things to make it go.

"What are you?"

I smiled, a scary smile. Small, barely there. But it was in my eyes. Not fear, not what was circulating in my veins totally replacing blood, but that there was more to know. I was an unknown. Not human, despite being an elf…oh apparently unable to be manipulated. Apparently not like the others. For the first time since I had 'landed' in the Wilds I felt powerful. I had options, value. Not just a bullet sponge, oops, arrow sponge.

"Ma emma harel."

It flinched. Perhaps only I saw it. Then I did something I don't think it was ready for. I ignored it and looked at Isolde. Taking in the tears that racked down her cheeks, lips swollen even as she bit at them in worry. Finally she saw me looking at her, pleading in her eyes, even moving to stretch her hands to me in supplication. To me.

"So, he is the demon you spoke of."

"No! Maker no, he is my son."

No dear, it is so obvious he is not. Isolde could see those words in my gaze and she fell to her knees, hands grasping at her stomach and chest as if to keep in her breaking heart. Then I remembered what the only 'cure' was for a possession. Death. Even if it was of an innocent. And as I looked back to the Demon, it wasn't. It was Connor. As if the demon had fallen away. Now it was a frail, tired and terrified child. Purple bruises from no sleep, sagging as if the strings that had held it up had been severed.

"Mother?"

It was weak, but it was the truth. Isolde was still for a barely a second before she had folded Connor into her arms. He relaxed into them like he had finally found safe haven. And it was this. This. This I had known with my mother. That simple release and utter security that comes with being within your mother's arms. I wouldn't have that again. I would not have protection that only a mother can give. Fury blazed in me, tripling as I saw the demon take him again. He pushed Isolde away so hard she sprawled to the ground, but still she reached for him. I leant forward letting my anger at what the demon was taking from them both, and yeah what I had lost, just utterly coat my words. Fuck him fearing me.

"I am going to kill you."

Isolde's absolute sobs were the only sounds in the room. All breath was held, and surprisingly there was no flash and crackle of sparks as the Demon and I just looked at each other. And then, there it was. All limbs and with some unknown emotion, it ran. Somehow I had managed to drive it away, thankfully. But yeah, the whole let my minions cover my escape thing. Finn's shout was hoarse but undeniable in its order,

"Do not kill Teagan."

Like that would ever happen. But he was pulling no punches, well sword swipes that for being enthralled by a Demon had not dulled his skill. I side stepped, ducked and yanked an arrow from my quiver all at the same time. For all trying to save Teagan I wasn't sure as to the orders regarding the other guards who were also trying to kill us. Until I saw Perth strike one first in the stomach with the edge of his shield before smashing his hand, inside his fingers still clasping a very hard sword hilt, into their nose. Which of course smeared the afore mentioned body part over the rest of his face. But also had the effect of thundering him into unconsciousness. I decided to take his cue, though as I ducked a swipe from Teagan again whether I could do it. I slid away from Teagan, letting Alistair try to look after that box of nah ah, still with the arrow held in my hand, not enough room to sidle away from the melee around me let alone find a target in a rolling maul that wasn't on my side. Darting my head from side to side I tried to find an in. In the game they didn't go for Isolde. No such qualms now I see. She had huddled into the hearth stones of the fire, trying to make herself smaller, though clinging to hot bricks didn't seem like a good idea. Guards that had crossbows, not being so indiscriminate as to whom they fired at, found her a much better target and dropped their ranged weapons to yank stained blades from sheaths.

"Leiliana, help me."

I yelled, even as I leapt over a downed guard and tried to take the stairs in one leap without fucking it up and meeting the fire face first. I skidded on old blood not quite hardened but congealed enough for a slide that actually helped me get between the cowering Isolde and a falling sword. Good place to be then. Leiliana is fast, but not even she was that good. But it turns out I had a bit of breathing room. I fell back onto Isolde, pushing her down somewhat under my elvish weight, letting me have an awesome view of a guard in the process of smiting me. But where Teagan had his smarts, these guys had less, or the Guerrins were in shit if their guards were this dumb all the time. He was in a good position to hit me, but he'd let the falling sword get too close to the fire and the tip dug into the bricks lining the hearth. I took the time to roll and push Isolde out of the way. It wasn't Leiliana who came. It was Wolf. He just literally barrelled into the guard sending him flying into the back wall. Not sure if his brains smacked out at the strike into the stone, but I'd heard the crack of ribs breaking even under the armour he wore. I'll admit I was unsteady as I tried to gain my feet, and even tried to rally my head back into the fight, but it was over. Perth and his knights were standing over the bodies of the guards, some alive, but I couldn't believe they had all been put down without the death of a few. More added to the demon's tally.

I didn't care if it was mean spirited that I didn't help Isolde find her feet. I was just at the point of not giving a shit and my brain was still pouring adrenaline into my blood. My heart rate was entirely too fast, like it was gonna explode out my mouth or something. I settled for hitching a hip on the hearth, ignoring the heat and the flames just trying to slow down my breathing and heart rate, for whatever good that would do me. I was able to pat Wolf on the head as he trolloped over to me and tried to climb into my lap even as I was standing. He settled for sitting on my feet and drooling on my leg. I guessed he'd deserved it.

"My lady?"

I looked towards Isolde but the hand wasn't extended to her, I twisted my head back and saw the gauntleted hand offered to me. I followed the stained bronze plate back to the face looking at me with…you know I'm not too sure. I took it though, not sure why I wasn't a tear stained puddle on the ground, manhandled there by an elf. Then I knew where I had seen that expression before. Opening my eyes to look at the audience of a recital. I had impressed. Perth nodded at me; I guess the title had been a question.

"Oh, uhm. Good. I'm okay, but it's Maharial. Is Teagan alright?"

I dropped his hand, just utterly denying the blush to flare. Damn chivalry and my genetic dispossession to be turned on a little by it! The Bann was lying prone, but still seemed to be breathing which was positive. There was though significant swelling over his, well most of his face. Probably courtesy of a shield moving at speed. Morrigan leant against a wall, arms crossed over the very ample bosom. Seems no one thought to ask her to check him out.

"Morrigan, could you see to Teagan and check on the other guards?"

That eyebrow quirk that I was coming to know so well arched. I tried to riposte with a smile slash grimace. Did the trick, but I think it could come back on me later, like a lime milkshake. I think it was terribly obvious to everyone that she was an apostate at this late stage in the game, but nothing was said as the blue healing light welled and Teagan's eyes flickered. I don't think anyone was gonna call the Chantry.

Ma emma harel - You should fear me.

Courtesy of DragonAge wikia for the elven translation.