Chapter 65: Loyalty (Aedan)
- You should have told me right away that you were a Grey Warden! – Cristof shouted to the kneeling twins.
- What can I say? If you had known that Loghain was hunting me, you would have charged too much, - Aedan answered. - So I decided to save money.
He only now realized the mistake he had made trusting Cristof. He should have leaft Cristof to die on the Wounded Coast back then.
- Well, what's your plan then? – Aedan asked his old friend. - Do you think Howe won't know that you took part in the battle? He will find out. And he won't like it very much.
- Now we will kill you and your sister and tell your mother that Lowan killed you, - Cristof said. - We will receive the gold from Lady Eleanor and return the boy to his father in Amaranthine. And Howe will pay us too. Double profit!
- I saved your life, remember? Is it really worth nothing?
- Of course not, - the mercenary answered, raising the axe over Aedan's head. - You will die quickly and first, and you will not see what we will do to your sister. Consider this my mercy.
A crossbow shot rang out. Aedan turned to Cristof and saw the mercenary with a crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest turn towards Soris and fall to his knees.
- Knife-ear... bastard... - Cristof muttered, falling to the floor next to Lowan's corpse.
Walter and two other mercenaries took out their swords and surrounded Soris.
- For this you will have a long and painful death! - Walter shouted.
Sereda and Gorim burst into the room. The female dwarf immediately killed the mercenary standing closest to the door, and her lover grappled with Walter and another warrior.
- Don't kill Soris! He's on our side! – Elissa shouted.
- We know! - Gorim answered.
The brother and the sister raised their weapons and entered into battle. After Walter's henchman fell from Sereda's sword, Walter found himself surrounded.
- Wait! – Aedan stopped his friends. – Walter is Cristof's second-in-command. We will still need him.
- What are you talking about, brother? – Elissa said, putting a sword to the mercenary's throat. - They wanted to kill us and bring the boy back to Howe!
- Most of the White Falcons are outside. They will start a riot if they see that everyone who went into the bedroom is dead. And they will kill all of us, even your Daveth! Do you think I haven't noticed the way you two look at each other?
Elissa put her sword away, turned away and bent over Nan's corpse.
- Do what you want, - she said in an irritated tone.
- Walter, do you want to become the boss of the White Falcons and get out of here alive? – Aedan asked.
- Y-yes, my lord, - the mercenary answered timidly.
- Then this is what you will do. Go back to your people, tell them that Lowan killed Cristof and these two. Each survivor will receive seventeen sovereigns. And not a coin for any of the dead, this is my final decision. Take the gold and leave. If you don't like my conditions, then you will die.
- Thank you, my lord.
Walter bowed and ran out of the room.
- Can I go with you? – Soris asked. - I've never liked Christophe, that's why I helped you. Besides, you know where my cousin is.
- Of course, - Sereda answered. - You're a good guy, you just happened to be in a bad company. Kallian will be glad to see you again.
Aedan approached Thomas, who was silently watching all the events.
- Your name is Thomas, right? - he asked. - I knew your brother, Nathaniel. My name is Aedan.
- You won't kill me, will you? – the teenager asked directly.
- If you don't do anything stupid, then no. You are our hostage, but we will treat you with respect.
- We lost Nan because of him! – Elissa shouted, approaching her brother. - She didn't deserve to die like this!
- Yes, and I will mourn her just like you. But it's not his fault. Nan will be given a proper burial.
Over the next few hours, the surviving servants and volunteers began removing corpses and clearing the castle. The twins, Daveth, Soris, the dwarves, Leliana, Zevran, Eleanor and Roderick lined up at the main gate. First they escorted the surviving volunteers from the Waking Sea bannorn, then Walter and the eighteen surviving White Falcons took their reward and left the castle.
- Before we continue, I need to say something, - Sereda began after the gates closed.
The dwarf turned to Gorim.
- Do you remember our conversation in Denerim, Gorim? That here, on the surface, we can be whoever we want? I've thought about this for a long time. Now I am a Grey Warden, and you are still with me. Our life is full of dangers. It's quite possible that you and I would have been dead if Cristof had taken more people with him. So, Gorim. We are here, we've been together for six years, the danger has passed, and the Teyrna and the Chantry sister are with us.
- Former Chantry sister, - Leliana corrected.
- It doesn't matter. Gorim, will you marry me?
The dwarf didn't think long and smiled broadly.
- You know my answer, Sereda. Yes.
The dwarves kissed in front of everyone. Daveth and Elissa smiled as they held hands. Leliana shed a tear.
- I hope this wedding goes better than mine, - Soris commented.
- What happened at your wedding? An orgy and an outbreak of plague? – Zevran asked.
- Something much worse.
An hour later, the main hall of the castle was cleaned as much as possible. The twins, their companions and the surviving warriors and servants of the castle sat on the benches, while Eleanor and Leliana stood in the center. The bride and the groom approached them together.
- We have gathered to honor the sacrament of marriage, to unite these two dwarves in the eyes of the Maker, - Leliana said.
The dwarves bowed before the sister and Teyrna and pronounced their vows, which had to be changed since neither Sereda nor Gorim believed in the Maker.
- I swear in front of everyone present and my ancestors to love this woman the rest of my days, - Gorim said.
- I swear in front of everyone present and my ancestors to love this man the rest of my days, - Sereda continued.
- Stand up, Ser Gorim Saelac and Lady Sereda Saelac. - Eleanor said, waving her hands. - From now on you are husband and wife.
They had only one hour to celebrate - the newlywed dwarf insisted that the Wardens and their companions must go to Redcliffe. After the celebration had ended and everyone had paid their respects to Nan and the others who had died in Highever, the Wardens and their companions gathered at the main gate. Eleanor saw them off.
- Roderick, you stay here. Keep mom and Thomas safe, - Elissa said.
- But you need me! You can't make it without me! – Roderick argued.
- There are many of us. And there are almost no people here. Mom and our hostage need protection. If you still want to become a Grey Warden, then we will take you into our order after the Blight.
- I agree with my sister, - Aedan said. - Howe may try to retake Highever. We must return to the rest of the Grey Wardens, but these people need a warrior to protect them.
- As you say, - Roderick replied. - I will organize the defense of the castle.
- Take care of each other, - Eleanor told her children. - I will pray for you.
The twins hugged their mother and left the castle at the end of the line.
- I'm sorry this happened to Nan, - Aedan told his sister. - She had raised us both.
- I had to make a difficult choice, - Elissa answered. - Nan's sacrifice will not be in vain if Howe is punished. This is what I want to ask. Will you be ready to return to the castle after the Blight?
- First we need to survive the Blight, then discuss such issues. Why did you ask?
- It's just... it was hard for me there. I saw that night in my mind, all these corpses, my dying father. I don't know if I can go back there.
- Think about mom and Oren. They will need help.
- And I will need time.
- Are we far from this Redcliffe? – Sereda asked everyone.
- If you go along the Imperial Highway, then no, - Leliana answered. - Let's go!
Everyone followed Leliana along the road leading to the Imperial Highway.