Chapter 61: The Reluctant Leader (Daylen)
After all the dead defenders were buried and the undead were incinerated, all the villagers gathered for a ceremony in honor of the Grey Wardens. All the Wardens, except Kallian, as well as Morrigan, Sten, Liam, Harrith with Matthias in chains, Shale, Perth with the knights and the revered mother, stood in the center of the square.
- Let us honor the memory of those who gave their lives defending our village, - the reverend mother. - Dwyn of Orzammar, you were an outsider to us, but you still agreed to fight evil and sacrificed yourself. We shall remember you. Berwick, we didn't know much about you, but you fought instead of running. We shall remember you.
As the revered mother called out the names of the rest of the dead villagers, Daylen remembered the events of that night. The mages and archers at the bay were surrounded. The undead did not even kill the militia on their own, but grabbed them by the limbs and drowned them in water. Soon only the mages and Berwick were left alive. They retreated towards the Chantry, and Morrigan offered to trip the elf so they could have more time to turn into bees and escape. The undead were already close to the Morrigan. Daylen remembered how easily he agreed with the witch and pushed the poor elfinto the crowd of the undead. Uncle Malcolm would not have approved, but they had no choice. At least that's what Daylen tried to think.
- And Ser Jory, a Grey Warden from our village, a caring husband and father, - the revered mother continued. - You were the best of us.
- That's right, - Daylen said. - He was one of the most experienced warriors in the order. And he thought a lot about his family. When we got out of Ostagar, he said that he had to return home urgently, to find out how Helena and the child were doing. Jory was an example for us. And we will miss him. Helena, step forward!
The widow with the baby in her arms took a step forward.
- How did you name your daughter?
- Mhairi, - Helena replied.
- I understand. Another bearer of this name was a valiant Grey Warden. When the Blight is over, our order will do everything they can to keep you two out of trouble.
- There's another important question, - said Harrith. - Matthias, son of Wilhelm, you hid your magical gift, violating the law of the Chantry. Magic exists to serve man and never rule over him
- Please, Ser Harrith, spare me! - Matthias said. - My daughter will not survive without me!
- Perhaps we should intervene, - Neria whispered.
- Don't worry, everything will be fine, - Daylen told her.
- Nevertheless, Matthias, - Harrith continued. - Without your help, many of us would be dead. I don't know about all of you, but I think Matthias is not a mage.
- Matthias is not a mage, - Liam supported him.
- Matthias is not a mage, - said the blacksmith Owen.
- Matthias is not a mage, - the revered mother repeated.
Each of the villagers said this phrase, agreeing to keep the mage's secret. The templar, to the cheering of the crowd, unfastened the chains, and Matthias ran to his daughter and hugged her.
- Thank you all! Thank you! - Matthias said.
The crowd began to disperse.
- Wardens, meet in an hour at the mill. We need to discuss further actions, - said Perth, leaving with the rest of the knights.
Morrigan and Daylen left the square entered an abandoned village store.
- What did you want to talk about? - the witch asked.
- About Berwick. We shouldn't have left him there.
- Had you not left him there, I would have died, and you know it. So who is more important to you? Some treacherous elf? Or me?
- Of course you are more important. It's just... couldn't we save him?
- You can't save everyone. If you want to become strong, you must know this, and you must never hesitate in choosing. But we don't have time for arguing.
The witch began to take off her gloves and unfasten her armor.
- What are you doing? Why? - the mage asked, pretending not to understand.
- You saved my life. For this I, as a polite witch, must thank you.
- I love that kind of gratitude, - Daylen said and kissed her passionately.
Half an hour later, the mage and the witch were lying on the floor. They were not even embarrassed by the lack of a bed and tons of dust in the shop.
- Now I see that the stories are true, there are no equals in strength to the Grey Wardens, - Morrigan said.
- Is it true? Are there such stories? - Daylen asked.
- There are. One question remains unanswered: is the strength of the loins born of the Blight, or is it simply that the Grey Wardens are healthy by nature? I think it's both.
- And what will happen to us now?
- It depends on you. Do you want to repeat or not? You decide. It's simple, don't you think?
- What if I want something more serious? Is there a chance for me to be in your heart?
- How stupid you are! Your triviality has ruined the perfect moment.
The witch got to her feet and began to dress. Daylen did the same. When they got dressed, they went out to the bay and saw Neria, Liam and Sten standing near the boat.
- Neria? Where are you going?
- I'm sorry I didn't tell you, - the elf replied. - I was running all over the village, I wanted to find you, but you were nowhere to be found. There can be only one reason for so many undead, and you know it.
- Blood magic...
- Alistair said so too. We decided that I would swim across Lake Calenhad and get to the Circle. Mages and templars will help us.
- Good idea. Are you sure the three of you can handle it?
- Shale is too heavy for the boat, Kallian said she had some business here, and Alistair... it's complicated. In addition, he has been to the castle and knows the area, so he would be more useful here.
- Why do you need Liam? He has a brother here.
- Brhadan is fine, except that he sprained his leg, - Liam replied. - And I have to help Neria.
- Understood, then take care of yourself, alright? If you are absent for too long, I will go to the tower after you.
Daylen hugged his friend and said goodbye to the Qunari and the recruit. After that, he and Morrigan came to the mill, where Alistair, Kallian, Shale, Perth and an unfamiliar fair-haired girl had already been waiting for them.
- Where have you been, Kallian? - Daylen asked the elf.
- I promised that I would visit one beautiful lady. And I keep my word.
- Wardens, this is Valena, the blacksmith's daughter, - Perth introduced the stranger. - She was a servant in the castle.
- Please, tell us what is happening in the castle, - Daylen asked.
- There are dead people everywhere! – said the girl. - Arl Eamon and Bann Teagan never regained consciousness. I escaped using a secret passage.
- Will you show us where this passage is?
- Y-yes, of course!
- Maker's breath! - Alistair exclaimed.
Everyone noticed a woman in a white dress running from the side of the bridge and praying with an Orlesian accent.
- Arlessa! - Perth shouted. - You are alive! What happened?
- There's no time to explain! I must return with one of you! Who is your leader?
Everyone glanced at each other, but Daylen took a step forward.
- Our leader died in battle. Now I'm in charge.
- Whoever you are, you must come with me. Alone.
- Lady Isolde, do you remember me? - Alistair asked.
- Alistair? Why are you here?
- They are the Grey Wardens, milady, - Perth said. - Without them, all of us would be dead.
- Excuse me. I was impolite, but... when things like this happen around...
- We didn't know what exactly is going on in the castle, - Kallian interfereed. - We need explanations!
- The monstrous evil has settled in the castle. The dead prey on the living. The mage who is to blame for everything is caught, but nothing ended.
Isolde turned to Daylen.
- Ser, you seem like a good person, maybe you can reason with Connor?
- Who is Connor? - the mage asked.
- My son. He is acting strangely. He doesn't want to leave the castle.
- Why does it seem to me that the shem lady didn't tell us everything? - Kallian asked.
- This accusation is too bold!
- Too bold for an elf?
- I'm sorry. I did not mean it. My son, husband and brother-in-law are being held hostage by some unfathomable evil! What more do you want from me?
- And what is this evil?
- I don't know. It was summoned by the mage. One way or another, Eamon, Teagan, Connor and I are still alive and we can be saved. But others are not so lucky. When the evil killed everyone in the castle, it started attacking the village! It released me to negotiate, and it needs your leader. I… swore on Connor's life that only one person would come with me.
- I told you I'd go with you, milady, - Daylen said. - Give us time, we must discuss strategy.
- Praise the Maker! Thank you, kind ser...
- Daylen.
- Thank you, Ser Daylen! I'll be waiting by the bridge.
Isolde stepped aside.
- Looks like a trap, - Morrigan said.
- I know. Whatever it is, I can't do it alone. Alistair, you will go with Kallian, Shale and Morrigan through the secret passage. This evil will concentrate on me, and it will be easier for you to pass. Ser Perth, half an hour after I leave, assemble with the knights at the gates of the castle.
- This is a good plan, - said Perth and left to gather the knights.
- Good luck, my friends, - Daylen said to the others.
Before he could turn towards the bridge, Morrigan quickly approached and kissed him. Alistair and Kallian looked at each other in surprise.
- It's for luck, - said the witch. - Come back alive. I'll be bored without you.
Daylen thought it was cute, but he had to go. Soon he caught up with Isolde. They crossed the bridge together. As soon as they got into the courtyard of the castle, they saw a blond-haired boy surrounded by a few guards and the undead.
- Here is our guest, - the boy said in an ominous voice.
- Connor, right? - Daylen asked. - I sense great power in you. Too great for a mage of your age. Demon!
- Yeah, you got me, mage, - Connor replied. - Let's make you more obedient.
The boy waved his hands. Daylen didn't notice how he began to walk to the castle behind Connor and his guards. He couldn't control his body or his tongue, but at least the demon didn't make him an abomination. He can only hope that his actions have distracted the possessed boy from his friends.