They continued walking, with Cole holding on to Alex's hand for comfort, but soon enough Varic spoke, "I've never met the Divine. You think it was really her?"

Alex sighed, "I don't know, Varric. Justinia was unarmed and unprepared when she came through here. She couldn't have defended herself against the demons. Whether she's a kind spirit or a demon fighting against a rival, I don't know."

Blackwall shifted his sword, "And the Nightmare? From what she said, I don't look forward to meeting it."

Cole shivered slightly against her hand, and she tightened her grip a little to comfort him, "It's nothing like me." He said, "I make people forget to help them. It eats their fears. I… I.. I don't know if I could do that, but I don't. I don't want to. That's not me."

"Don't worry, Kid. We know you're not like that." Varric said, patting the boy's arm, "It just sounds like it preys on fear. Stealing people's memories. That's low, even for a demon. Memories make us what we are. A monster that takes them away? I don't want to think about that."

Alistair huffed out a breath as he shifted his shield, "But after it did to the Wardens, it's going to learn to fear for itself."

They continued walking, fighting another group of demons, but as they entered another area, a loud voice spoke, echoing through the din, "Ah, we have a visitor."

Alex halted in her steps, "You guys are hearing that, right?"

All of her companions nodded solemnly, and the voice continued, "Some foolish little girl comes to steal the fear I kindly lifted from her shoulders. You should have thanked me and left your fear where it lay, forgotten. You think the pain will make you stronger? What fool killed your mind with such drivel? The only one who grows stronger from your fears is me. But you are a guest here in my home, so by all means, let me return what you have forgotten."

"I expected worse." Blackwall muttered out, after the demon, which Alex assumed was the Nightmare, finished his goading.

"Well, it could get worse any moment now, Blackwall. She said, but she realized that her hand that held Cole was beginning to tighten too much. She shook her arm to relax herself, and Cole gave her a slight squeeze. "Pity." Blackwall snorted as they walked again.

They continued on, down into a stair, but Alex blinked and stood still when she heard something skittering around the walls. She looked up involuntarily, only to see a pair of what looked like antennas moving. Her breath stilled in her chest for a moment as what looked like a group of insects started heading towards her, and she shivered.

"Watch out! I don't know what those are, but they're coming our way!" Varric yelled out as he pulled out Bianca, and her other companions drew out their blades. But Alex remained where she stood, letting go of Cole as he charged and grabbing her staff, and she casted a barrier for them.

The men battled the creatures while Alex stood some distance from them, casting fire spells. And when it was over, Alistair headed over to Alex, still slightly shivering from the encounter. "Are you alright, Alex?"

"So.. sorry." She stammered out, looking at him, and Cole went back to his place beside her, grabbing her hand to comfort her. "Did… you all see the same thing? What those demons looked like?"

Varric looked worriedly at her, "I don't know. It looked like spiders to me." Hawke and Alistair nodded in agreement, while Blackwall looked confused at her, "Why? What did they look like to you, Inquisitor?"

"Uhm…" She said, flushing in embarrassment, "They looked like giant… cockroaches."

Hawke and Varric looked at each other, before they started chuckling along with Alistair. But Cole tugged at her hand, "It looked like what they really are to me. Demons… dead, decaying, deteriorating… you don't have to be afraid. I'll keep you safe. If you grow afraid, the Fear demon will grow stronger. The Fear shifts, molds, forms into what we are afraid of. You don't have to be afraid."

Alistair stopped his chuckling and put a hand around her shoulder as they started moving again, "The boy is right, Alex. Come on, calm down and don't worry. We'll kill these… roaches for you. Even if we have to smack them dead with Blackwall's boots."

The other Warden chuckled deeply, "Well, my feet are bigger than yours, Ser Alistair. And you know what they say about men with big feet."

Alistair laughed a little, "That you wear big boots?"

Alex grinned uneasily at them, but she sighed, "Right. As if you don't know what that innuendo means. I'll make sure to ask Solona about exactly how big your feet are."

They chuckled as they continued along, glad that Alex was relaxed again, but soon the Nightmare spoke again, "Perhaps I should be afraid, facing the most powerful members of the Inquisition." And the voice laughed eerily. "Like Blackwall. Ah, there's nothing like a Grey Warden. And you are nothing like a Grey Warden."

She heard Blackwall growl out, "I'll show you a Warden's strength, beast."

"It's taunting us. Keep on the alert." Alex said as Cole held on to her, and they continued walking.

"Are you afraid, Cole? I can help you forget. Just like you help other people. We're so very much alike, you and I." The demon said again, and both Alex and Cole muttered out "no". She looked over in shock at the boy, and he gave her a smile, knowing that she knew and believed that he wasn't like the Nightmare.

"Once again, Hawke is in danger because of you, Varric. You found the red lyrium. You brought Hawke here…" The demon continued its assault again, and Hawke patted Varric's shoulder in comfort, "Just keep talkin', Smiley." He muttered out, cocking Bianca and causing the demon to laugh again.

"Did you think you mattered, Hawke?" The demon spoke again, and Alex looked over at Hawke to see her roll her eyes, "Did you think anything you ever did mattered? You couldn't even save your city. How can you expect to strike down a god? You're a failure, and your family died knowing it."

Hawke growled as she held on her staff tightly, "I'm going to enjoy killing this thing."

"We're almost there, cousin, don't worry. You'll get your chance." Alex said.

"Did the King's bastard think he could prove himself? It's far too late for that." The demon spoke again, and Alistair huffed out a breath, "Oh great. My turn is it?"

"Your whole life, you've left everything to more capable hands. The Archdemon, the throne of Ferelden… who will you hide behind now?"

Alistair laughed a little sarcastically, "Is that all it's got? I've heard worse than that from Morrigan."

His answer came out unexpectedly that Alex laughed out loud, causing him to smirk at her. "Oooh… major burn there for the demon, brother-in-law." She said laughing, but she silenced a bit as she fell a step beside him, so that her companions walked before her, "So… is it true though? Are you really King Maric Theirin's bastard? Solona signed her letter to me with 'Amell-Theirin'."

Alistair looked down at her, "I am. But… your sister decided to let Queen Anora rule during the Landsmeet."

"Why?" Alex said, "If you had been king, Solona could've have been a queen by now."

"And when did you see a Mage Queen in any kingdom, Alex?" Alistair said, "If I had been king, no one in any kingdom would accept a mage as their king's wife. They would have chased her with pitchforks. And besides, it would mean that I would be separated from her. I could keep her as a mistress, of course, but she wouldn't allow that." He shrugged, "So… Queen Anora allowed me to keep my name, as long as I do not try to claim the throne for me or my heirs, which is… probably for the best, anyway."

Alex blinked in shock at him, "So… you've never had children?"

Alistair shifted uncomfortably, "I have… a son. But not with Solona." He looked down at her, "I'm sorry, I wish I could tell you more. But it's not my place to gossip. My son's mother requested that I don't… speak about her to anyone else."

Alex bit her lip, mainly because she wanted to know more, but she just nodded. "I… understand."

Alistair continued to look down at her before sighing, "I know… you probably didn't expect that from me… being married to your sister. But I love her. Every single inch of her. And I would not have done… all of what I did if not for her sake. So please, don't think me a villain for being able to have a child with another woman."

She shook her head, "No, I would never think like that of you, brother-in-law."

He smiled slightly and patted her head, "Thank you. Now come on. We have to find the Divine."