Several weeks passed, and we found ourselves in the Frostback Mountains, on our way to visit the dwarves in Orzammar.
"Are you sure you're up for it?" It was a question that I was tired of hearing.
I forced a smile, "Ask that again, I dare you."
Zevran laughed, "She believes she is well enough to threaten you, Warden."
Alistair shot him a glare, quickly returning his attention to me and raising his hands, "All right, all right. I had to ask. We're worried about you, is all. Just don't push yourself too hard, too soon, okay?"
"I'm fine, Ali. Please. I'm not going to die from this." I stroked the bandages, hating how it chafed when I moved my head even the slightest.
His eyes tightened, but he dropped it.
"Besides, how cool is it going to be? The scars will look scary when I'm older." I made my voice gruff, holding in the wince, "'Hey, kid. You wanna know how I got these scars?'"
The men shook their heads at me, the warrior exasperated.
"You should have-"
"It was an ambush, Warden." There was a hard edge to the assassin's tone. It wasn't the first time they had argued over what had happened, and it probably wasn't going to be the last. I was mildly surprised it hadn't come to blows. Yet.
The thing that bothered me the most, though, was that we would have to go back to the Wilds to deal with Flemeth. I'd been hoping we could do it on the way to Orzammar, but no. Fate had had other plans.
"Boys, calm down." Wynne placed a hand on each of their shoulders, instantly diffusing the situation.
As we walked, I withdrew inward. That vision, the one about the castle burning, was bothering me. Who were they, and why had I seen it? It had been the past, that much I knew. It hadn't happened too long ago, though. The smoke from the fire could still be smelled by passersby, there wasn't a doubt in my mind.
And all of a sudden, something wasn't right. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. I tripped over my own feet, earning the attention of everyone, including standoffish Sten. He was the closest to me, now that I'd fallen behind with my thoughts. He was the one to catch me when I went down.
I couldn't hear anything, but I watched his mouth, even as my eyes closed. "... eyes are silver."
...
I woke up choking, my lungs searching for the oxygen that wasn't there. Smoke filled the room and created a dark haze. I could barely see myself when I looked down. Screams sounded all around me. Where was I?
I snapped wide awake when I realized I could only be one place; the burning castle. But if it was already on fire, I was too late.
"No!" I shouted, pounding my fist against the stone floor. The foundation shook, and the room shifted. I braced myself with both hands on the ground until everything had settled.
Silence met my ears. I opened my eyes, seeing the room was clear. Cautiously, I stood and peered around the room I was in. It appeared to be a closet of some kind, filled with all sorts of fancy... clutter, for lack of a better term. Not questioning what had happened, I eased from the room. Walked slowly down the corridors, following where my feet led me. Straight to a door. That was when the first cry rang out.
Without a second thought, I ran in to the room in front of me.
The man, who was in the process of getting out of bed, looked at me in surprise. I quietly shut the door behind me. The mabari I'd failed to notice stopped growling and sniffed me. Nodded like I was okay, and his work was done.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
I held up a hand, pressing an ear to the door, "The castle's been breached."
Squaring his shoulders, he went to a trunk and pulled out leathers and a bow, "We must warn my family, before they are caught unawares."
I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, someone who didn't question what I was doing or why a child was braving danger.
"I assume by how your dressed, you can handle yourself in a fight?" he slung a quiver full of arrows over his shoulder.
I nodded and pulled my blades free, then pointed outside, "They're just outside the door, now."
"Open the door."
I moved to stand behind it and flung it open, to the shock of the would-be attackers. They hadn't taken three steps toward the room, before they fell. An arrow in each of their heads. I blinked several times. The guy was fast.
He waved for me to follow him as he stepped over the bodies, reaching down to free his arrows. A young woman was already knee deep in a fight with men outfitted in full armor. I threw my daggers and took two of them out, while she used the distraction to bash one with her shield and slash another's arm. Disarmed, the man lashed out with his boot and kicked her in the gut. I jumped on his back and twisted his neck. All the armor in the world couldn't have protected him from that. She and the archer ended the battle by simultaneously attacking the last man. She ran him through, and an arrow pierced the back of his neck.
"You're alive." The woman threw her arms around the archer's neck.
"Thanks to this girl, I am. They would have caught me still in bed."
She turned to me and pulled me in to a hug, as well.
"Thank you." Her voice shook, "Brother, they killed Oren and Oriana."
"No! What... Who are these people?" The man bent and looked over one of the fallen.
A door opened off to the side, and an older woman rushed in to the hallway, "Thank the Maker you're both alright!
What's going on? I heard screams, and there was pounding on my door."
"Where's Father?" he knocked an arrow, getting ready for another onslaught.
"Mother, I'm so sorry." his sister ran over to the older woman and grasped her shoulders, "Oren and Oriana are dead. I didn't get to them in time."
"What?" their mother broke the young woman's hold and sprinted to the room across from the man's.
I could see a small hand lying on the ground. I swallowed hard.
"NOO!" came the howl of pain, "They'll pay for what they've done!"
"Mother, have you seen Father?" the man pressed.
"No, I haven't. He stayed up with Arl Howe."
"Howe is the traitor." he motioned to the bodies, "They're wearing his heraldry."
"That bastard. We have to reach your father, before it's too late."
She took off down the corridor, throwing open doors and surprising more soldiers. We dispatched them easily, but I called a time out before they could continue through the building.
"We need a plan. You can't just throw yourself at the enemy willy nilly." I channeled Alistair, hoping these people would listen to me.
"What do you suggest we do, let them have our home?" the young woman was defensive, and it was understandable, but that didn't mean I had to put up with it.
"No. You," I pointed at the man, "snipe them from afar. Draw them to us. The wreckage of the castle will slow them down, cause them to have to funnel a few at a time. Easy pickings. The ones that escape your arrows will have to deal with us."
"I'll help." The old woman knocked an arrow on her own bow. I hadn't even thought she'd been carrying any weapons. How had I missed that? It was huge, almost as tall as she was.
"We'll keep you safe." I motioned to myself and the warrior. Everyone nodded, seeming appeased that the idea was a good one. That it would work.
We moved through the halls, eliminating everyone in our way. The mabari hound kept behind us, staying out of the fray unless we were being pushed back. Then, he launched himself at the nearest soldier and ripped their throat out. It would give the men pause, just long enough for us to act. Eventually, we made it to the Great Hall, where the majority of the castle's guard were holed up. They were bracing the main doors to the building. The fight that included mages and over two dozen soldiers. After they all were all dead, a heated argument where the young woman, Elissa, didn't want to leave one of the guards, Ser Gilmore, broke out. Her brother, Aedan, would have physically forced her to go with us, had Gilmore not grabbed and kissed her passionately. He shoved her through the door and barred it behind us all. She pounded on the door, tears streaming down her face, but it was no use. No one was going to open it.
With a defeated air about her, she pulled her sword free and readied herself. We hadn't gotten far, when more soldiers poured in to the hallway from several rooms. The archers made sure none of them even came close to reaching us.
Finally in the kitchens, the Couslands ushered me in to the pantry, where we found him. The older man lay in a pool of his own blood.
"There you three are." His voice was weak, as was his body. He slumped forward and barely managed to catch himself.
"Bryce!" Teryna Cousland rushed to his side, dropping to her knees and pulling his head on to her lap.
"I was wondering when you would get here." Teryn Cousland continued.
"Maker's blood, what's happening? You're bleeding!"
"Howe's men... found me first. Almost... did me in... right there."
"Why is Howe doing this?" Elissa moaned.
"He can't... get away with this. The king will..." he cried out in pain, clutching his stomach. The source of the bleeding.
"Bryce, we must get you out of here." His wife urged.
"I... I won't survive the standing, I think."
"That's not true! You'll be fine!" the warrior crouched by her parents.
Aedan remained quiet, like me.
"Ah, my darling girl, if only will could make it so."
"Once Howe's men break through the gate, they will find us. We must go!" The women nodded to each other.
"Someone... must reach Fergus, tell him what has happened."
"And take vengeance." I could practically see Elissa's heart turning dark. This was the moment she would remember forever, the thing that would keep her alive until it was over. Until Howe was dead. I hoped she met this man before I did.
"Yes... vengeance."
"Bryce, no! The servant's passage is right here. We can flee together, find you healing magic."
"The castle is surrounded. I cannot make it."
The door opened and in walked-
"I'm afraid the Teryn is correct. Howe's men have no yet discovered this exit, but they surround the castle. Getting past will be difficult."
"You are Duncan, the Grey Warden?" the Teryna looked at him with hope in her eyes. Both of the women did.
"Yes, your ladyship." he seemed hesitant, "The Teryn and I tried to reach you sooner."
"My children and this young lady helped me get here, Maker be praised." She gestured to us.
A knowing gleam in his eye, he bowed his head to me, "Anastasia."
"Duncan."
He searched my face for something, and my eyes darted to the brother and sister. I nodded slightly. He turned back to the Teryna.
"I am not surprised."
"Are you going to help us, Duncan?" the daughter's face was shadowed; she already knew the answer, but still couldn't stop herself from asking.
"Whatever is to be done, but be done quick. They are coming." Footsteps pounded along the hall outside the room. Growing closer.
"Duncan, I beg you. Take my wife and children to safety."
"I will, your lordship, but I fear I must ask something in return."
"Anything!"
"What is happening here, pales in comparison to the evil now loose in this world. I came to your castle seeking a recruit. The darkspawn threat demands that I leave with one."
"I... I understand."
The siblings shared a look, Aedan finally breaking his silence, "What about Ser Gilmore? You said you were here for him."
"Truthfully, you were always my first choice. The both of you." Duncan's eyes fell on the Teryn, "I will take your children and the Teryna to safety. Then, one or both of your children will join the Wardens."
"So long as justice comes to Howe, I agree." He was already a broken man, and this wasn't helping matters.
"Then, I offer you a place within the Grey Wardens. Fight with us."
"I accept your offer." Both of them spoke at the same time, sealing their fates. They would join us in the fight against the Blight.
And they would both survive. Of that, I was certain.
"Howe thinks he'll use the chaos to advance himself. Make him wrong. See that justice is done. Our family always does its duty first. The darkspawn must be defeated. You must go." The Teryn's voice became a whisper, "For your own sake, and for Ferelden's."
"We will, Father." Aedan spoke, Elissa adding, "For you."
"We must leave quickly, then." Duncan stood and waited patiently.
"Bryce... are you sure?"
"Our son and daughter will not die of Howe's treachery. They will live, and make their marks on the world."
Something passed between the married couple.
Resolutely, the Teryna readied her bow, "Darlings, go with Duncan and Anastasia. You have a better chance to escape without me."
"Eleanor..."
"Hush, Bryce. I'll kill every bastard that comes in through that door to buy them time, but I won't abandon you."
"I love you both, so much." Elissa shook, her tears splashing everywhere.
"Then live, Darling. Become a Grey Warden and do what is right."
"I... I'm so sorry it's come to this, my love."
"We had a good life and did all we could. It's up to our children, now."
"Then, go, pups. Warn your brother. Know that we love you both." It was hard to hear his words. At that moment, something crashed outside. It was deafening. "You do us proud."
"They've broken through the gates. We must go. Now." Duncan grabbed Elissa's shoulder and pulled her to her feet, pushing her down the secret passage.
"Goodbye, Darlings." were the final words they would ever hear from their mother.
Aedan went next, then me, and finally Duncan.
It took hours, but finally, we were off Cousland land. The other Warden stopped me and pulled me to him.
"How have you been?" Inspecting me, he raised an eyebrow at the bandage around my neck.
Self-conscious, I stroked it, "We had a run-in with shrieks. We weren't prepared. It was an ambush in the middle of the night. There was a nightmare, both of us had it, and the only reason we're not dead right now is that crawling sensation that warns us when darkspawn are near. As it is, I almost died. Alistair hasn't let me out of his sight since. It was a few weeks ago."
He shook his head and gave me a sad look, his voice low, "How much time has passed for you?"
"It's been almost nine months."
His eyes tightened. I knew it was hard to take in.
"What have you been doing?"
"We saved the Circle Tower from demons, and the mages agreed to help us. The Dalish had a problem with a curse, but once we'd broken it, they said they'd give us aid. We're on our way to see how Orzammar is doing and what we can do there. Arl Eamon was poisoned by someone working for Loghain, so we're tentatively searching for the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Teagan said if we found them, he would make sure the Arl knew what we'd done for Redcliffe." I paused to take a breath, "There was a desire demon, and I took care of it."
"By yourself?"
I nodded, "And we recently just linked the silver eye thing to my visions. So, whatever makes them silver during those, probably has a hand in what happened the last time I saw you. For me, that was when I brought the whole lot of recruits to you." I glanced up at him, "Did you make sure they weren't in Ostagar?"
"I did. Going back to the demon- that is impressive. You dealt with a demon all on your own."
"In the Fade." I was shaking, and I couldn't stop it. The adrenaline running through me, after everything my companions and I had been through, was taking its toll on me. "The demon somehow pulled me in, or I pulled it in. Either way, when I came to, the Templars had declared me and Connor demon free, and he was sent to the Circle."
"Connor? The Arl's son?"
"Yes." I took a few deep breaths, done with my tale.
"The Urn of Sacred Ashes? I believe I read somewhere that it was in the Frostback Mountains. In a small village not on the map. Heaven? Haven."
My eyes wide, I let out a squeak, "I'll make sure we look in to it. Thank you."
"I'm sure you have to get back soon. Is there some place we should meet?"
"Teagan thinks the Arl will call a Landsmeet. I'm not sure what that means, but we'll have to go back to Denerim for it. He thinks Alistair should be crowned king."
"What does Alistair think?"
"He doesn't want to talk about it. I believe he won't even allow the thought in his head, and I don't blame him."
Duncan rubbed his chin, "If he isn't crowned, then Anora would be the queen. Maybe you could convince them to marry. Have them both rule."
I wrinkled my nose, waving my arms wildly, "Oh, no. I wouldn't let that woman rule an empty sack. She's let Loghain declare himself reagent and lets him do whatever he wants. The Grey Wardens are fugitives."
He sighed heavily, "I was afraid of that. I've seen the posters, and I've steered clear of the major cities and towns."
My fingers started to tingle, going numb. My sight blurred. "I have to go. Take care of those two, please."
We both looked at them, watching Aedan rub circles on Elissa's back as she cried in to his chest.
"I will."
"I'll get word to you, somehow, when we're ready for you."
"I will wait."
Then, I woke up.