Chapter 38: So the Dead Can Talk
The textbooks' description of Soldier's Peak severely underestimated its grandeur and strength. Alistair himself was struck speechless when confronted with the sheer immensity of the Grey Wardens' Fortress in the north. However, his speechlessness didn't last long and Hadrian could tell that his friend clearly wanted to say something.
"By the Maker, this place is just…just…"
"Another thing that strikes Alistair speechless – women and fortresses. What next, flying dogs?" Zevran scoffed at the soldier who was gawking at the sight of Soldiers Peak with his jaw hanging open. The Assassin was very observant of his surroundings but he failed to see the wry glances shared between the Grey Wardens and the elf was not amused at the sudden laughter that expelled from the both of them.
"And just what is so funny, Grey Wardens?"
"Ah, nothing. Just nothing, Zevran." Hadrian said in between his laughter. Wynne just gave one big sigh and Levi had wandered ahead, eager to lead his friends on into the fortress. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Hadrian and Alistair composed themselves.
As soon as they passed through the gate, everybody felt woozy and the image of the fortress waved in front of them, only to dissolve in figures clad in heavy armour with the insignia of a red boar etched on their chests. A young soldier cried out to another man, who was barking an order to the other soldiers.
"Commander, we can't get in. The Wardens have barred all entrances!"
"We gave them the chance to honour themselves by fighting us in open battle. Now, they seek to lock themselves away like the cowards that they really are!"
"But, my Lord, the Fortress has enough supplies to last for a year!"
"All the more reason to hit them hard and now. They'll pay for rebelling against the King."
"Yes, milord."
The blonde soldier saluted by placing a hand on his chest and then headed off to the left, shouting out for a new weapon and shield. The illusion wavered again and the group found themselves facing the snowy slopes of the inner keep, only this time there were no soldiers walking about. A slight chill crept up Hadrian's spine and he wasn't the only one to feel so spooked.
The man in front of him wheezed a couple of times before looking at him, with wide eyes.
"Did you see that? I felt, it felt as if it was real. Maybe I'm just dreaming."
Not trusting his voice to hitch, Hadrian just nodded to agree with the guide. They cautiously made their way into the inner keep, weapons at the ready. It wasn't long for enemies to show up but when they did, everybody was horrified, even Zevran, an assassin long used to seeing dead people. After some time spent in dispatching their foes, the group walked up the long stairs and finally entered the infamous fortress.
-o0o-
The inside of the Keep was in an unkempt condition, as if somebody forgot to clean up the mess after the battle. Books were strewn all over the place and the furniture pieces were sprawled across the rooms, generally in broken pieces. The group encountered more than their share of the undead and ghostly visions of the past. However, what was more disturbing was the confrontation with Sophia Dryden herself.
Hadrian couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the Warden Commander standing in front of a picture. Sadly, the hope of finding answers to Levi's questions as well as to what exactly happened here was dashed when the figure turned around and laid its dark eyes on the group. Sophia's face was decaying in some places, but her body was kept wholesome in a way and Hadrian had a sickening feeling of why.
"This one would speak with you, Grey Wardens." It spoke but with the voices of many.
"Sophia Dryden?" Hadrian asked of it, she, or whatever it is now.
The corpse smiled in recognition, but it lacked the warmth and friendliness.
"Yes, we are," it replied and the figure slowly walked towards them. Alistair immediately brought out his sword and shield in response to a possible threat but Hadrian stayed his hand.
"Let her speak," Hadrian commanded his friend calmly, although inside he either wanted to cut off her head or run away from this haunted place. There was a dry laugh and the sounds made him want to see his breakfast again.
"It appears that the Grey Wardens have not lost their leadership, despite of what transpired here."
"Great-Grandmother?" Levi asked, his eyes held in disbelief at that this monster couldn't possibly be his famous ancestor.
"Sophia's essence is no longer here. However, her memories stay and tantalize me of the world out there, outside of this damnable fortress. If you want answers, Levi Dryden, release me."
Hadrian was sick and tired of these games, of being offered a deal that clearly had a catch to it. Levi wanted answers but the Cousland had a feeling his guide did not want them to be answered in this way. Additionally, if unleashed in this world, the demon could wreak untold havoc and it would be his fault. His fault, again. Just like it was his fault to abandon his parents in his home. He regarded the demon again and denied her request, which resulted in anger and ensued another fight.
-o0o-
"I'm sorry, Levi," Hadrian said as he pulled his sword out of Sophia's body. It slid sickeningly off the blade, the black bits of flesh still hanging unto the edges of it. Hadrian grimaced and, after ensuring that his companions were nowhere close to him, whipped the weapon to the side.
"I would appreciate it if you desist in cleaning your weapons that way," Morrigan grumbled, the flesh having narrowly missed her cheek.
"It didn't hit you," Hadrian said blandly and he put the sword back into its scabbard.
"Maker, I…I can't believe this," the blonde Dryden shook his head ruefully, still in shock at the gruesome sight of his long dead Grandmother.
"She mentioned something about a tower," Alistair pointed out, hoping to refocus the group. Hadrian nodded in agreement and they all piled out of the room, hoping that the corpse of Sophia Dryden would be the last frightening revelation of this cursed place.
Unfortunately, it was at the Tower, that there was something perhaps devious than Sophia herself. Hadrian had expected to see Avernus' body reborn, just like the other dead Wardens they fought on the previous floors. He even expected to see his dead corpse standing and talking to them, as if nothing happened.
What the Cousland did not expect was to be informed of his family's history.
"My family rebelled against the King?" Hadrian asked, stunned to hear that his family, every the royalists, betrayed the Ferelden monarchy.
Avernus' eyes narrowed at the question and then realization dawned on that aged face, the wrinkles slightly smoothing out.
"Ah yes," the mage said, "I can feel your heritage inside you, boy. Yes, the Couslands were our most fervent supporters; sadly, the head of their teryn on the table and the execution of almost the entire household discouraged any further support. Arland was quite ruthless."
"Just tell us how to close the veil," Hadrian growled in response. He didn't want to be reminded of his family's deaths, especially by a monstrous Grey Warden who sacrificed his own comrades for magical research.
"The circles need to be unraveled and I will need your help. All I ask is to prolong your sentence of me until afterwards."
It wasn't a plea or a beg. The centuries' old mage had accepted the consequences of his actions and that justice may be meted out to him, whether it be now or later. How ironic it would be if their strongest supporters' descendent had carried out that execution!
"Until then, we are allies," Hadrian promised, allowing the mage to lead them this time, from the tower and to the second floor of the Keep.
-o0o-
Alistair's eyes widened in fear when he saw the Desire Demon grab Hadrian and threw him clear across the room. His friend's body crashed against the wall with a sickening thud and Hadrian slid limply to the side, leaving a horrific red streak on the wall behind him. Hastily bringing up his shield to guard against a flailing rage demon, the Templar brought down his sword and cut off the demon's head. He rushed towards his friend, who was lying on the ground in a growing pool of his own blood and unaware of another demon approaching him as well.
Alistair's heart ached when he realized that the demon was much closer to Hadrian than he was and that he would never be able to reach him in time. Images flashed through his mind. His brother Cailan, Duncan, all the men who died in Ostagar. Even the Grey Wardens that were with Alistair prior to this whole accursed mess were prompting him to save one of the last Wardens in Ferelden. Before he could reach him, the Desire Demon cast a paralysis spell on him but he merely shrugged it off with his shield. The spell bounced back off his shield and hit her, allowing Morrigan to entomb the demon in an icy prison. A terrifying shriek echoed throughout the whole fortress and the Desire Demon shattered into tiny pieces. Muttering underneath her breath about flying remnants of their enemies, Morrigan managed to cast a force field spell on all of them to prevent the pieces from piercing their own bodies. Avernus himself helped out and boosted her powers with his own, much to her chagrin.
It was Zevran who came to the downed man's rescue and Alistair raged at how easily the Assassin dispatched the demon. No! He's mine to protect! Mine! Through a red haze, he saw the elf kneel at the Cousland's side, his hands touching his intended.
Zevran, as if he knew exactly what Alistair was thinking about, turned his sharp gaze to the person sitting across from him. However, now was not that time to be arguing with each other. Alistair had to smile when Wynne shoved Zevran away from Hadrian, hastily casting a healing spell on the wounded man.
"Alistair, give me one of those lyrium potions, now." Morrigan barked to the Templar all the while focusing on what injuries she could heal. A cold vial was roughly placed in her hand and she drank its contents. With her mana restored, she could finally heal the worse set of injuries and that was the cracked skull with a punctured lung. Come on, young man! You've been through much worse than this! The mage could sense his struggle for life and something else too. A fear for someone. But who? She didn't want to delve into her friend's personal thoughts and just concentrated on anchoring him to this side of life.
Hadrian coughed up blood and started to moan. His limbs began to thrash around and his struggle soon strengthened, nearly knocking off the dark-haired mage from his side
"Hold him, Alistair!"
Alistair had to hold him down and that was when the other man's eyes opened.
-o0o-
He was back in the castle again, sleeping in his warm bed when his dog, Regus, started to growl. Scuffling noises could be heard outside his door and there was something that greatly disturbed him, the screams of agony and fright. The man grabbed his sword that always laid beside his bed, ignoring the other person's soft groans at being awakened so rudely. He cautiously opened the door and found himself facing the hideous visage of the Archdemon himself.
The quiet setting of his bedroom changed violently to that of a tower, with the din of the battlefield echoing in the background. Suddenly, Hadrian found himself donned in bright golden armour and surrounded by his allies as they try to fight the Archdemon. He was wondering what set them off so badly, what could cause them to screw their faces in concentration and desperate determination. There were only two besides him, not the usual three. Wynne and Morrigan were both casting cold spells on the dragon, working against the dragon's familiar element of fire. Where was the other one, the one who had been at his side for so long?
A hoarse shout caught his attention and he turned towards the source of the sound only to see the Archdemon attack Alistair. Almost instinctively, the Wolf of Highever dashed to the dragon and hopped onto its head, narrowly missing a deadly tail swipe. The Archdemon opened its mouth and crushed Alistair's body, not caring that Hadrian was hacking away at the neck. There was a sudden shriek of agony and the Warden couldn't tell if it was him screaming, or Alistair or the Archdemon itself. Apparently, the Archdemon had let go of its victim who fell, lying still underneath the dragon's chest. Just as the Archdemon reared its head back to throw off its attacker, the Warden jumped down, grabbed Alistair and threw him to Wynne, taking the Archdemon's poisoned breath in his stead. It burned his skin and seared his mind like a spear driving itself. He could feel the Archdemon's screams in his head and could hear his allies calling out for him. Before he could do anything, there was unending darkness and a familiar voice crying out to him…
"Hadrian!"
The young Cousland bolted out of his dreams and noticed that he was in bed, with sweat-drenched sheets cloaked around his body. Someone had taken the time to bandage his chest and lower torso. Unfortunately, blood was bleeding through and Hadrian groaned at the fresh wave of pain pulsing through his chest. He could hear footsteps running towards him and the flaps of the tent were opened, causing the sunlight to burst through the dark space.
"Hadrian!"
The man's eyes, previously closed due to the sun's glare, cautiously opened. There standing in the doorway, was Alistair. Thank the Maker! Hadrian thought as he quickly made a sweep over his friend, glad to see no visible injuries on him.
"Where-?" His voice came out in a weak croak and his upper limbs trembled in the effort of holding himself up.
"Lie back down," Alistair ordered his friend. "We defeated the demons at Soldier's Peak, which is where we are still at. Levi's family is already here and they helped us set camp, although I'm freezing my bloody arse out here."
"The Peak? Levi?"
"Do you remember what happened? Morrigan, our only healer, said that your memory might be shaky after that collision with the wall."
"The Desire demon? Sophia?"
"All gone and before you ask, everyone is here and accounted for. Even your mutt, Regus."
"Geez, you…took the words…right out of my mouth…"
Hadrian's vision was getting rather hazy and Alistair could see that his friend was struggling to stay conscious, to make sure himself that everybody was ok. He laid his friend down and patted him on the shoulder.
"You should sleep. I'll be here."
Hadrian's eyes fluttered a couple of times before finally closing and the man relaxed into much needed rest. It was at this moment that Zevran had come in and the elf stared quizzically at the scene before him.
"Is our lovely Grey Warden better, Alistair? I heard him screaming your name."
"Yeah, well, it's not what it looks like, elf."
"Humph. I was merely stating the obvious and am not insinuating anything, Alistair."
"We are not going to fight over his head. We need Wynne first of all as he's bleeding again."
"Again? Of course, I will get her-"
"There's no need. I am already here," a soft voice interrupted him and the elder mage stepped in the tiny space of the makeshift tent. She stepped down to Hadrian and placed her hands on him, willing the flesh to knit itself together again and for the bleeding to stop.
"Whatever this young man was dreaming of, it must have been intense enough for him to pull on his stitches. Someone should stay with him and ensure he doesn't move around too much. I would cast a paralysis spell on him, but I have little mana left and no lyrium potions either."
"I'll stay," the two chorused together and they glared at each other when they realized that neither wanted to budge. The sight caused the Mage to sigh heavily. This is getting nowhere between those two!
"Alistair, you stay with him. He appears to be more comfortable with you rather than Zevran."
"What? That's not true!" The Dalish Elf protested vehemently, anger flashing in his brown eyes. Wynne regarded him coolly.
"Young man, if you haven't forgotten, it was you who poisoned this man who had saved your life. I may am an old woman, but I am not gullible enough to leave an assassin with Hadrian."
"Fine, have it your way," Zevran left the tent in a huff, leaving a weary Mage and a worried Templar. He should have been happy that the Assassin departed from their view, but the worry of his friend's condition overshadowed it.
"Alistair, keep him safe and warm. I need to rest after today's events."
Alistair nodded and he watched Wynn leave the tent. Then his eyes traveled back to the supine body and saw his friend shiver slightly. It was rather cold outside and Wynne did tell him to keep him warm. She didn't say how however. The templar shed his armor and sidled beside his friend. Gently bringing Hadrian over to his side so that body warmth could be shared, he laid on the blanket that was magically infused with a warmth balm. Hadrian mumbled incoherently and he moved closer to Alistair, his soft breaths brushing the chest hairs. Hadrian, I...I almost lost you. You gotta stop doing this, you don't have to do this by yourself.
As if in response, the young man stirred in his arms, his eyes just barely opened and unfocused.
"...Alistair..."
"Sssh. This is just...just another way to share body heat."
"It's ok...I...like it this way..."
Before Alistair could say anything, the man's eyes shut closed and soft breathing could be heard. The elder grey Warden merely held his friend closer and wondered what tomorrow might bring.
-TBC-