Author's Note: Thanks to all of you reviewing and following. Much appreciated!

Chapter 25 - A Village Under Siege

A middle-aged man in a simple, although well-tailored, nobleman's dress greeted them inside the Chantry. "It's... Tomas, yes? And who are these people with you? They're obviously not simple travelers."

"No, my lord," Tomas answered, bowing slightly to the other man. "They just arrived, and I thought you would want to see them."

"Well done, Tomas. Greetings, friends. My name is Teagan, Bann of Rainesfere, brother to the arl." He inclined his head, and Serena bobbed a curtsy to him in return.

Alistair cleared his throat. "I... remember you, Bann Teagan, though the last time we met I was a lot younger... and covered in mud."

"Covered in mud? ...Alistair? It is you, isn't it? You're alive!" The bann moved forward quickly, wrapping Alistair in a hug. "This is wonderful news!"

"Ah, yes, still alive..." Alistair's voice was tight as the older man squeezed him. "Though... not for long if Teyrn Loghain has anything to say about it."

"Indeed... Loghain would have us believe all Grey Wardens died along with my nephew, amongst other things."

"So you don't believe Loghain's lies?" Serena asked hopefully.

"What, that he pulled his men in order to save them? That Cailan risked everything in the name of glory?" The bann snorted in frustration. "Hardly. While Loghain calls the Grey Wardens traitors, murderers of the king, I don't believe it. It is an act of a desperate man."

Teagan turned, focusing on Serena for the first time. "So... you are a Grey Warden, as well? Is it possible we've met? You seem very familiar."

"You may have known my father, Teyrn Cousland," Serena replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Ah, yes, that's it exactly... You were just a young girl when last I saw you. A pleasure to meet you indeed, though I wish it were under better circumstances... You're here to see my brother, I assume?" The bann shifted awkwardly, a frown creasing his handsome features. "Unfortunately, that might be a problem. Eamon is gravely ill. No one has heard from the castle in days. No guards patrol the walls, and no one has responded to my shouts."

"We heard about... things... that were rising up at night," Alistair said uncertainly.

"Yes, the attacks started a few nights ago. Evil... monsters... surged from the castle. We drove them back, but many perished during the assault. Some people call them... the walking dead. Decomposing corpses returning to life with a hunger for human flesh..."

Serena felt her jaw drop. She had been expecting Blighted animals, or even worse, villagers gone mad with the taint, but not... corpses. Real walking corpses. She turned to see her look of astonishment reflected on Leliana's face as well. Even Morrigan appeared taken aback by the turn of events.

"They hit again the next night," Teagan continued. "Each night they come, with greater numbers." He sighed, shaking his head sadly. "With Cailan dead and Loghain starting a civil war over the throne, no one responds to my urgent calls for help."

"I have a feeling tonight's assault will be the worst yet. Alistair, I hate to ask, but I desperately need the help of you and your friends."

"It... isn't just up to me," Alistair answered. "Though the Grey Wardens don't stand much chance against Loghain without Arl Eamon..."

"Of course we'll help," Serena added bracingly. "Anyway we can."

"Thank you! Thank you, this... means more to me than you can guess," said the bann, some of the gloom lifting from his countenance.

"Wonderful," Morrigan muttered. "Are you quite sure there aren't any kittens that need rescuing? I saw a few trees were still intact outside… Perhaps we might check them, as well?"

"Morrigan, you knew this wasn't going to be easy when you signed up." Serena crossed her arms over her chest, trying her best shrewish imitation on the witch. "If you'd like to go back to your mother's hut and just wait for the darkspawn to swallow you both up, be my guest. Assuming Flemeth doesn't kick your bottom right back here to help us again."

"I… er... very well," the witch relented. She steeled her shoulders, shaking off Serena's remarks and flashed her a mocking smile. "We shall help the poor villagers with their corpse problem."

"Thank you. I knew you'd see it my way eventually." Serena turned back to the bann, her smile tinged with victory.

"Tomas, tell Murdock what transpired here, if you please. Then return to your post."

"Yes, my lord," Tomas replied with a bow. He nodded to Serena and the others briefly, then headed out the Chantry's double doors.

"Now, there's much to do before night falls. I'm thankful you all got here when you did, as we'll at least have a few hours to prepare. I've put two men in charge of the defense outside. Murdock, the village mayor, is just outside the chantry. Ser Perth, one of Eamon's knights, is just up the cliff at the windmill, watching the castle. You may discuss with them the preparations for the coming battle."

"Thank you, my lord. I shall check in with you once everything appears to be in order." Serena curtsied again, and waved to her fellows to follow her out of the Chantry.

Serena took a deep breath. "All right, so this is..."

"Pointless," Sten said. "We should be fighting the Blight, not helping humans run and hide from other dead humans."

"...A setback. But thank you for putting it so succinctly, Sten." Serena frowned at the large qunari, the nervous knot in her stomach turning into irritation. "Regardless, I think we should split up into two groups, we'll get things done much quicker that way. Leliana, if you would, go with Morrigan to speak with Ser Perth, and Alistair, Sten and I will speak with this Murdock fellow, and then we'll meet up back here."

Morrigan rolled her eyes but followed Leliana up the wooden causeway that led to the windmill, disappearing beyond a waterfall that flowed back down into the lake. Nearby, a stocky bearded man was barking orders to a trio of militiamen.

"I want those barricades patched and ready in an hour! Everyone will be back in the Chantry by sundown, and we'll need every able-bodied man in the village out here helping to defend this place! Knock on people's doors if you have to, I want them out here!"

Serena tapped the burly man on the shoulder. "Ah, hello, err… ser?"

"Yeah? Oh, you're the Grey Warden, are you?" The man turned, sizing Serena up. "I didn't think they made women Grey Wardens."

"They made an exception for me, since I'm so big and brawny." Serena said sarcastically, sticking out a slender hand to him. She could hear Alistair snort next to her. "I'm Serena, this is Alistair, and Sten. Alistair is another Grey Warden. Bann Teagan sent us to check in with you on the preparations for your... nightly visitors."

"Yes... well, name's Murdock, mayor of what's left of the village- providing we aren't all killed and hauled off to the castle tonight."

"Ah, more friendly sorts," Alistair murmured. "Oh, how I do love this job."

"I think a little bit of faith goes a long way, ser," Serena said patiently.

"I... hope you're right. I've been trying to hold us together, but it isn't easy." The large man sighed, and Serena could see the burden of this nightly siege had weighed heavily on him. "We need what little armor and weapons we got repaired, and quickly, or half of us will be fighting without either."

"Owen's the only blacksmith in town who can do it," Murdock continued. "But the stubborn fool refuses to even talk! If we're to be ready for tonight, we'll need that crotchety bastard's help. There's also some men holed up in that house back there on the lake, refusing to help the militia. Normally, I'm a man who'll let bygones be bygones, but people are dying, and they're all able to help. If you could, err... persuade them... to come out and fight, I'd be right grateful."

"Of course, we'll uh... see what we can do." Serena nodded to the man, then headed towards the small house Murdock had indicated along the wooden ramps. She knocked politely on the door to no answer. Knocking again, much louder this time, resulted in the same. Serena put an ear to the door, listening hard.

"I can hear... shuffling. Someone is definitely inside." Serena grinned at the other two men. "Hello? Could you open your door, please?"

"Would you like me to open the door for you?" Sten offered. Without waiting for an answer, he pounded a giant fist on the door, pushing it off its hinges.

"Ah, wow." Serena peered into the now open house, waving to the three men inside. "Hello!"

"Wonderful. Intruders." A dark haired dwarf eyed her wearily, two human bodyguards standing on either side of him. His voice was gruff and sarcastic. "I hope you've a good reason for breaking and entering into my home."

"Of course! We thought..." Serena glanced around for an excuse. "We thought you were injured. You weren't answering your door, after all. Sten here thought perhaps you'd needed assistance."

The dwarf crossed his massive forearms over his chest. "Yeah? Well, as you can see, we don't."

"Well, I was wondering if you might be interested in helping out the militia." Serena batted her eyelashes at the trio. "I see you all are rather well-armed, and they could certainly use the help."

"Yeah, I bet those idiots could use our help. Doesn't mean we're gonna, though." The dwarf turned, his sword sheath glinting in the light from a lantern. Serena felt Sten shift beside her, his eyes following the man's sword. "What has this damned town ever done for me?"

"Are you a coward?" Sten asked loudly. "A true warrior would never back down from a battle, regardless of what glory came to him because of it."

"Right, and uh, well, you know that saying "one good turn deserves another"? I'm sure they'd be willing to uh, do you a good turn after this, right?" Serena tried reading the dwarf's expression, but he had the same frown as before. Well, at least Sten hadn't outright insulted him... much. "And I could easily put in a good word for you with Bann Teagan or the arl?"

"Hmm. You might just be able to pull that off." The dwarf motioned to his two bodyguards. "Fine, I'll throw in with the militia. For now. But you better be out there when the sun goes down. I'm not fighting for a lost cause, you hear me?"

"Of course." Serena curtsied politely. Sometimes she wished her mother hadn't instilled such manners in her… most of these people certainly did not deserve it. "We'll be right there on the front lines, you can count on it."

"Oh yes, battling walking corpses is one of our specialties," Alistair said, rolling his eyes.

"But boss, I don't think we ought to be leaving the house…" one of his bodyguards began. "Those things are—"

"Who pays your wages?" the dwarf barked, interrupting the scared bodyguard. "I do, and I say we're going out there. Now shut your mouths and get your things ready. You saw those damn things. They'll bite right through your armor if you let them." The dwarf turned back to Serena and the others. "You lot need something else? I got things to do."

"Oh, no, that's it." Serena waved awkwardly to the trip of men, backing out of the door. "I think everyone is collecting in the chantry yard in an hour before sundown."

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see you then." He twiddled his fingers at her. "Bye now!"

Serena sighed as the door slammed behind them. Okay, one task down, one to go. She headed over to the blacksmith's door and knocked quickly. A crash sounded against the wooden door and Serena jumped back, tripping into Alistair. "What the—"

"Go away, curse you!" A muffled voice shouted from inside. "Leave me in peace! You've already taken everything out of my stores! There's nothing left!"

"Color me suspicious, but I rather think the blacksmith's drunk," Alistair said, helping Serena back up. "Perhaps that's why he won't repair the armor? Can't see straight?"

"Ah, is this Owen, the blacksmith?" Serena called. "I need to speak with you, dear ser."

"Oh? Who is that? What do you want? I've been through enough..."

"Enough bottles of gin, I reckon," Alistair muttered.

Serena smirked, trying to hold back her laugh. "I'd, ah, prefer not to speak through a door... Can I come in?"

"Hmm… all right, all right..." There was a sound of multiple locks being unlatched, and then the door swung open. "All that I ask is that you don't make any trouble."

"Sten, maybe it would be best if you... stayed out here for now."

"Yes, I would prefer this. That man is a waste, and I think the dwarf should be watched when he comes out." The qunari stepped away from the door, crossing his arms over his chest. "I will be over there should you need me."

As Serena and Alistair moved inside, a stocky blonde man with a beard slumped down at a table. His eyes were blurry and unfocused, as if he'd been alternating between crying and drinking for quite a long while.

"So I let you in. You wanted to talk; now we're talking." Owen narrowed his eyes at Serena. "Mind telling me who you are?"

"I'm Serena," she said politely. Now inside, the place smelled like a brewery. Empty bottles were strewn about the floors and tables in a haphazard way, as if the man had long ago stopped caring what his smithy looked like. "We're helping Bann Teagan."

Owen laughed harshly. "Well, ain't that noble of you. Care to join me, as I get besotted then? Or is there something in particular you wanted?"

"Why have you locked yourself in the smithy?" Serena asked.

"My... my girl, Valena, is one of the arlessa's maids, and she's trapped up there in the castle." Owen wiped at his sooty face and sniffed loudly, his despondency was like a blanket around him. "Murdock won't send anyone for her." He turned suddenly, slamming a fist down on the table. "She's been my life since my wife passed on two years ago. Now she's dead, or soon to be!"

"I don't care what happens to me, or the village, or anyone," he said, slumping down in a heap.

Serena exchanged glances with Alistair. "Well, what if we could go in and rescue her?"

"It'd do me a world of good to think maybe someone like you lot could go in and find her... provided any of us live through the night."

Alistair groaned. "I'm really enjoying this go-getter attitude everyone has around here. It used to be such a nice little fishing village…"

"Well, we'll... do our best, Owen," Serena said loudly, hoping the man hadn't heard Alistair's comment.

"No… That's... that's just not good enough. Murdock said the same damned thing and I didn't believe him, either." Owen staggered forward quickly, grabbing Serena by the neck just above her armor and shaking her. "I... want a promise! Promise me that you'll look for her! That you'll... bring her back to me if you can."

"P-please..." Serena pried the drunken man's hand from her throat and coughed. "I... promise. I promise you, I'll find her." Alistair put an arm around her, pushing himself between the drunken man and Serena.

"Yeah, I'll... I'll accept that. It's something to hope for, at least." Owen blinked at the pair of Grey Wardens like he didn't realize he'd just almost choked one of them. "I suppose there's no point in me sitting around, is there? Time to re-light the forge... get the smithy going, hey?" He mumbled something incoherent as he wandered over to the large fireplace. "Murdock'll be pleased..."

"T-thank you," Serena said, rubbing her neck. The blacksmith simply nodded and murmured some more, ignoring the both of them as he picked up a large hammer and started beating a shield into shape.

"Uh, right, so, we'll just be going now," Alistair said, steering Serena out of the smith shop. As soon as they were out, he turned her around, staring at her. "Are you okay?"

"...Did I… did I just thank him for nearly choking me?" She couldn't stop rubbing the spot where his hands had grabbed her.

"Ah, yes, I believe you did." Alistair pulled her hand from her neck, inspecting it carefully. "I think you're okay. It's uh, pretty red, but there's only a little bit of bruising, at least. Maker's breath, though! I thought his smell was bad... who knew he was a violent drunk?"

"I'm just glad he didn't have that hammer on him..." Serena looked around, searching for Sten. "Now, tell me, how does one lose a nearly 8 foot tall qunari?"

"Good question," Alistair said, although he was still staring at Serena's neck.

"It's not that bad, is it?" she asked, rubbing her neck gently. "You keep, uh, staring."

"Sorry, it's just..." Alistair pulled out his handkerchief and handed it to her. "Maybe you should wear this as a scarf, for a bit. I don't want the others to be alarmed." Serena frowned, but took the fabric from him and tied it around her neck, tucking the end into the front of her armor.

"I'll just say my armor was chaffing my neck if they ask." Serena looked around. "Do you think they have a merchant around here? I could use a new set of armor, anyway, I never patched the breastplate."

They wandered around the small series of houses near the docks. Most of the houses appeared abandoned, and when they reached a small shop that said "General Store" in big letters, they found it locked. Serena pulled two pins from her hair and set about the lock, motioning for Alistair to block her from view of the nearby ramp leading back to the center of town.

"Two seconds," she murmured, as the lock clicked. "Here we go." Serena popped the door open and slid inside, closing it quickly behind Alistair. She turned on one of the small lanterns by the door and the room lit up dimly with yellow light. She turned to see Alistair standing close, looking down at her and smiling.

"Has anyone ever told you... how amazing you are?" he said quietly.

"Ah, no, well..." She bit her lip, unsure whether she should goad him or not. "Just you, I suppose." Serena leaned into him, her better judgment telling her he's a prince and she should be doing the exact opposite. "I figure I have to have some moments where I'm not fumbling around in my underwear, right?"

"Actually, I was just thinking how this moment could be significantly improved if you were in your underwear..." Serena smacked him, but he pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. "Better this time?"

Serena wrapped her arms around his neck. "You know, I can't really say... I should probably have more to judge it on..." She pulled him back down and kissed him again. "Hmm, nope. Ten year old Alistair was still better."

Alistair grinned, running his hands up her back. "Well, I certainly prefer eighteen year old you..." He rested his head in her hair, kissing her head lightly. "You always smell so good... How do you manage that, by the way?"

"Magic," she said, popping up on her toes and kissing him lightly on the nose. "It's the only spell I have, I'm afraid. Smelling good." Serena disengaged herself from him and looked about the room. "Now, if I were, say, a snappy new set of armor... where would I hide myself?"

Alistair pulled open a barrel and looked inside. "Ugh, not in here. What is this? Oil?" Serena looked over her shoulder at him. "There are barrels of it..."

"It's probably for lanterns or... wait." Serena turned around, her lips pursed in thought. "We could light it on fire."

"And burn ourselves up? Why in Andraste's name would we want to do that?"

Serena shook her head. "No, we could... throw it on those corpses or whatever they are. Dead people burn, right?"

Alistair considered this, a small grin forming on his face. "They'd burn quite well, I would imagine, though I don't know many dead people." He continued searching through the baskets and pulled out a leather vest. "Oh, here! How about this? We could sort of lace it up the sides or the front, and make it a bit like those... tight things... women wear... under their shirts?"

"Corsets?" Serena came over and tested the vest. "Yes, I could work with this." She grinned at Alistair. "Those tight things women wear under their shirts. You really have lived in a monastery for awhile, haven't you?"

Alistair laughed. "Only half my life, Serena. But alas, I was not cut out for a life of religious contemplation, it would seem." He leaned towards her, grinning broadly. "Too many risqué thoughts."

"You know... Chantry scholars have written some really, er, interesting literature over the years," said Serena, searching through another dusty box. "They're banned, of course. But apparently you wouldn't have been the only brother with a more... salacious way of thinking."

"Believe me, I know. I spent years and years studying in the chantry. It gave me a lot of time to read."

Serena laughed, pulling some more pieces of armor out of a crate. "I can only imagine what goes through your head on occasion, my prince." She held up an enormous breastplate. "Do you think this would fit Sten? The man is downright impossible to shop for." Serena pulled out a few more pieces. "There are some other parts in here... it's not the best, but I think we could sort of muddle together something appropriate it for him. He certainly can't fight in those clothes."

"Well, there's a... pretty decent sword here," Alistair said, pulling a huge great sword out. "Not really my style of fighting, but he could definitely wield this beast. Have you seen his arms? HUGE!"

"Oh, have you seen Morrigan looking at his arms?" Serena giggled, gathering up the armor and putting it in an empty sack. "I don't think I've ever seen her blush or anything, but she sure finds Sten interesting. What was it she called him the other day? Magnificent?"

"Ha! The mean old witch has a soft spot for qunari men, huh?"

"I think she's attracted to power," Serena said lightly, heaving the sack near the door. "Maybe I'll just bring Sten back and have him change here..."

Alistair watched her for a long moment. "And what about you?"

"Oh, I'll still probably wear this for the battle, actually." Serena picked at the gash in her armor with a finger. "It's not too bad off, is it? I could probably just stick something under here to fill it out..."

"I meant… what are you attracted to? Power?" Alistair's voice was quiet. Serena couldn't really read his expression as he stood, his face just outside the rim of light from the lantern. She imagined he had probably planned it that way.

"I... hadn't really thought about it, I suppose," she answered steadily. She could feel her lips still tingling from their earlier kiss, along with the heat that she always felt just being near him as another Grey Warden. "Maybe someone... steadfast, I think. Dependable, you know? It wouldn't hurt if they were good-looking, either. Maybe blonde." Serena paused, putting a hand softly on Alistair's chest. "I seem to have an affinity for blondes as of late."

Alistair leaned in, resting his forehead against hers. "Really? Anyone I should I be… jealous of?"

"Maybe... there is this one boy..." Serena smiled up at him, trailing a finger along the rim of his armor seductively. "But alas, I think it's hopeless. I'm almost positive he doesn't like me as more than a… companion."

"What… makes you think that?" Alistair asked slowly, watching her move away from him and head toward the door.

Serena quirked an eyebrow at him, her hand poised on the doorknob to leave. "He told me just wants to be friends." She smirked at him and slipped quickly out the door, leaving Alistair alone in the storeroom to contemplate his earlier use of words.