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The Phoenix and the Griffin
Chapter 24: Warden's Keep
They may as well have been in another world, a world of wondrous terrors, yet still a world of wonders. Robb remembered the days he would look out of the window of his room, at Winterfell and the villages beyond. Everything within that space was home for him, he could go to the wall, to the borders and he would still be home. He and his family were of the North, descended from the first men, and a Stark had always been at Winterfell. His father warned him about going North, and his mother, as he imagined mothers did never wanted him to go anywhere. He found it strange how his thoughts drifted to his mother at that moment.
After the ruins and their introduction to Daylen and his party, they were fortunate enough to track down Theron's clan. The Sabrae clan nearly shot them onsite, until Daylen and Alistair identified themselves as Grey Wardens. Despite being human, the elves had a respect for both and allowed them to pass. When Daylen told the keeper, a woman as old yet clearly stronger than Septa Mordane, about Jon's circumstance, she immediately offered her help. Seeing Jon in her care reminded Robb of his mother and one of the few times she showed anything that wasn't contempt for him. She thought Robb didn't remember, but he did.
A fever spread through the castle and Jon was one of its victims. His skin burned to the touch, yet he shivered, and any energy he had drained. Robb's mother sat with Jon for days, treating him with Maestar Luwin, even more than father who continued his duties as lord. She even prayed and Robb found himself doing the same thing. And he wondered what she prayed for, the end of Jon's suffering, the end of his life, or for him to live? She tried to teach him to be suspicious of Jon, to hate him, yet Robb never could. The Starks were a pack, they needed one another, that especially applied in this new world. Still, Robb was thankful for the kindness, the kindness of Marethari whom prolonged the blight's affect on Jon. He was grateful to Daylen and Wynn for calming Bran and showing the boy how to control his magic. Though he knew that Daylen and Wynn debated with one another.
"He is not of Thedas, no form of agreement has been reached with Westeros and the Chantry, we cannot have Brann imprisoned by the templars," Daylen said.
"His magic is dangerous, he needs to learn control and we cannot have a child amongst our party, the law is also clear Daylen," explained Wynn.
Robb had to keep Theon from laughing, but he did agree with him, the old woman sounded like a mother scolding her child.
"Brann is the son of the warden of the North, who himself is the best friend of the King of Westeros, I will not be the cause of bad blood between our nations," was the final argument Daylen gave.
So Brann travelled with them, and Leliana looked after him, telling him and the ladies stories. They could not afford to go to civilisation, Daylen allowed for no delays. Morrigan had better practice in elven treatments than Wynn, so it was Wynn who stayed to keep Brann safe. Brann had further distraction given to him by Bodhan Feddic, the dwarf merchant. He was no imp or monster as Robb was sure many lord of Westeros would have had their children believe. The man was kind to Brann, respectful to the ladies and gave them the shelter of his wagon. He even gave them clothes they could wear, and the delight of his company. His son Sandal was simple but formed a bond with Brann, the two always laughed when with one another. At times Daylen's hound Alpha would let Brann sleep on top of him. Before Alpha had always been close to Daylen, but as if following some kind of unspoken command he took to the Westerosi children to offer the comfort a dog could. Of all the companions Alistair was the one Robb spoke with the most, though Alistair still offered his company more to Jon. Again there was something unspoken between them, some kind of understanding Robb was sure he couldn't fathom.
"Please let me accompany you, please," Robb said to Daylen as they drew closer to the mountains.
"You are the heir to Winterfell, there is no telling what we will find in there, this isn't a training yard or a cave, there are deadlier things on this continent than giant spiders believe me," the Warden explained.
"But he's my brother, I wasn't able to fight with him before, I need to do something to help my family," Robb said.
"You will remain outside of the castle, you will not come inside," Daylen spoke much like how Robb heard his father speak to his men, just another sign that he was a natural born leader.
Zevran, Oghren, the monster statue Shale and the dark skinned giant known as Sten, they were all so different yet Daylen had their loyalty. He composed the plan, to help the Stark and Dryden families with one journey. Levi Dryden was the descendent of a Warden Commander in Ferelden, through her they were also related to the Theirin kings of Ferelden. As they journey through the mountain path, Levi recounted his story to Robb and Theon. Sophia Dryden was an Arlessa at the time her cousin Arland ascended to the throne in 7:5 storm. Arland was not a moral man, and when Sophia contested her claim, he had her imprisoned. It was only because of the great support she had in the Bannorn that Arland didn't execute her. Instead he exiled her to the Grey Wardens, yet that was in itself a mistake. Sophia rose through the ranks of the wardens, restoring their relevancy and fame, when she became Warden Commander she led the Wardens from Soldier's peak. The fortress that later became the site of the final battle in a rebellion.
King Arland reminded Robb of what his father had said of Mad King Aerys. He made enemies with every decision, wiped out a family, and executed respected nobility for idle talk. Rebellion of course was inevitable and both the wardens and Bannorn rallied to the charismatic Sophia. The story made Robb smile, thinking that Arya would like Sophia, that perhaps the Fereldens had more in common with the Dornish than they did the other regions of Westeros, accepting a woman as ruler. But the rebellion ended, the Wardens were disgraced and the Drydens made pariahs. Civil war though continued and Arland eventually died, his family eventually losing their rule to the Orlesian empire.
The Tully boy listened intently to Levi's story and the history of Ferelden, perhaps with more interest than Robb and Theon did. He was a craven, and still cried at night over his brother, yet he had intellect and manners. The North may value strength, but Robb valued compassion as his father did, a man was worthy until he proved otherwise. So far Daylen Amell had proven his worthiness, or at least Robb was happy that he was taking time to save his brother. Jon let out a cough as they reached the castle, his skin still pale.
"We're nearly there Jon, nearly there," Robb encouraged him.
Since they were travelling with his group, Daylen had offered them some of the equipment they had to spare. The studded leather armour they gave to Theon and Jon stunk, Theon complained but Jon was grateful for the protection. Jon and Theon were both given a long sword and a bow. Alistair gave Robb some heavy chainmail and one of the shields he wasn't using. It had Redcliffe heraldry on it, and when Robb made it clear that he wasn't comfortable with an axe, Daylen gave him the long sword he often carried. It left Daylen with that curved blade at his waist, but Robb had never seen him use it.
"Give him some more of the medicine Marethari left us," Theon said.
"No save it for when he collapses," Daylen said.
There was a haste in his voice that came off as harsh, but it was a tone Robb was familiar with from his father. They came to an opening in the mountain and finally found what they had been looking for, the Warden's keep. Levi's eyes lit up in awe, tears nearly forming as he stepped closer to the ruin. Though indeed it was a ruin, Robb could see the evidence that it was once a mighty fortress. But he could also see the evidence of the great battle that had destroyed Levi's family, walls of the castle had crumbled away, there were holes from where rocks had crashed through it. Then there was the general aura in the air, Robb shivered and not from the cold in the air. The very space around the fortress felt wrong and Robb could see he wasn't the only one, Theon too was more afraid and Jon braved a few steps to Daylen's side.
When the group truly walked through the gates and entered the grounds in front of the fortress, something incredible happened. The Westerosi gasped, feeling as if the air was pulled from their lungs. They couldn't move as everything went grey, the castle reformed into a complete version of itself and in front of it were numerous troops. Ferelden soldiers dragging each other away, some missing limbs, others had arrows sticking out of their armour. A man in heavy plate armour was helping a few of his troops, a look of frustration across his face.
"Fall back, fall back already," he said.
"Taking the peak will not be easy m'lord," one of his lieutenants said.
"I gave the wardens one chance to die with honour, instead they hole up like cowards. We follow the king's advice then, starve them out," the commander said.
"But the peak has months of supplies."
"Then we wait, when they are too weak to lift their weapons, we will send them to their final judgement!"
They returned to where they once were, sharing Levi's sense of shock.
"What was that? I felt a bit woozy there," he said.
"You saw it too?" Theon asked.
"We all did," Daylen muttered.
"Thank the gods we're not mad, what was that?" Robb asked.
"The veil is thin here," Daylen said.
"The veil?" even Levi seemed confused by the warden's statement.
"That's what separates us from the demons," Daylen elaborated.
"Then thank Andraste you've come warden, after you," Levi motioned for them to keep going.
They did and as they walked through the snow yet another thing happened that astonished the Westerosi. Some kind of energy seemed to swirl around the old bones and armour imbedded in the snow. There was a clicking, and then a snarling sound and slowly those old bones rose from the ground.
"Seven hells," Theon whispered, gripping the handle of his sword.
Sixteen, no twenty four warriors, Robb was horrified by what he saw, dead men, bone warriors in Ferelden and Grey warden armour rose and began a laboured march towards them. Some fell apart before they could lift their swords, others were able to slam their weapons into their shields, as if repeating some kind of remnant of their old battle rituals. They let out an inhuman wail as the empty sockets of their eyes glowed. The warriors of Thedas were already rushing forward by the time the Westerosi drew their blades.
Daylen threw his hands back, tracing fire behind him. Jon widened his eyes as fire suddenly surrounded the blade of his sword. Likewise fire surrounded Theon's, Robb's, Zevran's and Alistair's weapons. Morrigan aimed her staff at one of the bone warriors, releasing cold air from it. Suddenly, a glacier formed inside the skeleton, breaking it apart from the chest. Daylen swung his flaming axe through two skeleton warriors, leaving himself open to a third one. As the warrior swung its sword at Daylen though, Zevran jumped and slammed his heels into the skeletons chest, throwing it back. He ducked, avoiding a skeleton's great sword. Grabbing the bone, he applied pressure and snapped the warrior's arm.
Whatever life was in some of the skeletons was suddenly drained when Morrigan cast a dark cloud over them. She followed with a tap of her staff on the ground, a moment passed before several ice spikes pierced the skeletons. Alistair ran with his sword raised, then he dragged it across the floor and with three swings crumbled three skeletons apart. He spread his arms apart, releasing some kind of white flash that made the skeletons that tried to attack him recoil. Daylen threw his axe to the ground, electricity crackling across his hand. Thrusting the electricity forward, it surged through one of the skeletons, causing it to explode. But then the lightning chained, passing to another and then another.
"Incredible," Robb whispered, gasping when the flames across his sword died down.
Zevran crushed a skull with his boot and sheathed his sword. He nodded to Daylen, indicating their infected companion. Though Jon had strength, he was still a danger to them, a liability in battle. Yet still Jon was eager, walking to Daylen's side as he analysed the stairs. Daylen however raised his arm, stopping Jon's advance.
"Like I said, I won't risk the son of Eddard Stark," the mage said.
"I'm to be a warden aren't I…so I should…fight," Jon weakly coughed.
"You might have to fight, we're about to disturb a monster's cave, and as you have seen these monster were already dead," Daylen said.
"When the veil is thin, demonic spirits can possess the dead," Alistair elaborated.
"These enemies may come out of the castle when we disturb them; it'll be interesting to see if you run for your lives little boys," Morrigan said.
Though she had aided Marethari in treating Jon, Robb found her to be the most unpleasant of Daylen's companions. Yet there was an allure to her, Theon was obviously attracted and even Jon tended to stare at her. She was without a doubt a beautiful woman, but Robb couldn't shake away the feeling that she was dangerous.
"You three wait here, we'll go on ahead with Levi," Daylen said, nodding to Levi who smiled.
"Thank you again for this Daylen, and rest assured boys if my aunt left any notes on how to perform the joining we'll find them," the man said.
Daylen hefted his axe, resting it on his shoulder as he, Alistair, Zevran and Morrigan began their advance into the castle. They walked up the stairs, watching the scattered bones for any activity.
"Are you sure this is the way?" Alistair asked.
"It is," Daylen said.
Alistair lowered his head and thought back to when they first discussed going to Warden's keep.
"We need a base in case things don't work out in Denerim, in case we can't win the Banns of Ferelden over," Daylen said.
"Yes but you realise the chances of us discovering articles that could allow us to perform our own joining is remote at best, impossible at the worst?" Alistair asked.
"I know, and if we can't find information there then I'll use the Fade to try and witness a joining," Daylen said.
"It seems like a good plan, but a dangerous one if you intend to go that place again," Alistair said.
"The void," Daylen muttered.
"Yes, that awful place, at least from how you described it, but there's something else too…going there nearly killed you and we had to watch, wondering if you would be possessed, and you were briefly, you might not get so lucky again. The last thing I want is to see you get possessed," Alistair explained.
Daylen clapped Alistair on the shoulder, putting a smile on his face.
"It is kind of lonely isn't it, not having another warden with us? Besides, maybe Jon could be the start of our order reaching into Westeros," Daylen said.
"Don't do that, change the subject Day," Alistair shook his head.
"If I do get possessed, you'll do your duty, right Templar?"
The lack of any emotion or regret in Daylen's voice disturbed Alistair. He simply nodded his head, drawing his sword as they got inside the castle. Immediately they felt that eerie atmosphere and pressure from when they entered the grounds get worse. Around them shimmered ghostly images of soldiers in old Warden armour. Two ghosts shined the brightest, a dark haired woman in armour and a mage.
"The men's morale is low, my spells are of no use in this matter commander," the mage said.
"There is more to leading men than sorcery Avernus, I will remind them that they are Wardens," the woman turned and walked to the centre of the room, as if facing others behind Daylen and his group.
"Men I won't lie to you, the situation is grim. Our forces outnumbered, our bellies empty and our hearts are sagging. But we are Wardens, Darkspawn flee when they hear our horns, Archdemons die when they taste our blades. So are we to bend knee to a mere human despot? No! I for one will never give up. I for one will never surrender just to dance on Arland's gallows. So I propose here and now where generations of our brethren stood vigil against Darkspawn and evil…that we send a message to that fat bastard, in this sacred place, proud men, strong men stood defiant. And would rather die than submit to tyranny!"
The uproar and cheers of men echoed through the halls, and lingered still whilst the ghosts faded.
"So brave, even when starving and my great-great-grandmother stood with them," Levi said the pride clear in his voice.
"I knew Arland was a poor king, but to have attacked even the wardens," Daylen muttered.
"Everyone knows they were banished, but to murder them like that, King Arland must have been a monster," Levi frowned at the memory of the long gone and unpopular king.
"I suppose this is the reason Wardens try to stay out of politics now," Daylen said.
"There are others, I could tell you about them some time," Alistair said.
"Lead on my friend," Levi said.
They walked through some of the corridors of the castle, briefly checking the kitchens and break room. There Levi cowered as the group faced off against an Arcane Horror. It had been carrying out rituals in the kitchen, embodying the loss of hope the wardens faced as they starved. Daylen began with an arcane shield around Levi, protecting him from the rage demons that the Horror summoned. Morrigan chained a lightning bolt through two of the rage demons, whilst Alistair crumbled two of the corpses the Horror resurrected with his shield. Zevran was able to throw his knife through the Horror's head, ending its rituals and enactment of the Warden despair.
This despair briefly took Daylen when they reached the library. A demon known as the Archivist had reduced much of the books to ashes whilst he ranted about the Keep's history in this part of Ferelden. It kept saying the keep would have reigned for ten more decades if Sophia did not dishonour the Wardens as she did. The words confused Levi, but Daylen focused on the fight. When Alistair swept his sword through the demon, Daylen knelt by the pile of books. He picked one up, but it fell apart in his hand.
"Damn it," he whispered.
"Oh my, it seems hope for little Jon is thin," Morrigan said.
"You don't like our Westerosi friends?" Zevran asked.
"A nation that has long forgotten magic and wonders, it sounds like an incredibly boring place, this was to be expected, even Ferelden soldiers feel fear but even they would die fighting giant spiders, rats and Darkspawn," Morrigan explained.
"You're saying that Westeros is lesser because it lacks magic?" Levi asked.
"It had magic once, the children of the forest, the dragons of the Targaryens whom themselves hailed from Old Valyria, the only human society that claim close to matching the ancient elves," the daughter of Flemeth explained.
"But it still lost," Daylen said and Zevran smirked at the dismissing tone Daylen took.
He found another book on the floor, some of the words in it could be made out but it was still black from the flames. Another vision overcame the group, the broken wood laid out around the floor turned into spiked barricades and tired soldiers sat in the library.
"The door won't hold Archivist," one of the soldiers said to a mage.
"Almost done, the truth must be told," he said.
"What does it matter, we're dead."
"Our grand rebellion, so close, and to die here a stillbirth."
"We never should have done it, Wardens aren't supposed to oppose kings and princes."
"Should we stand idly by while…"
The sudden crash of a door made the group stand on edge, their weapons at the ready. They were still in the library, and no one else was there with them.
"Another one," Levi muttered about the vision. "What's this about a rebellion?"
"I always thought that Wardens didn't interfere in politics, but maybe that's false, maybe they are okay with wardens becoming kings," Daylen explained.
"Arland was unpopular," Alistair said.
"Exactly, Sophia must have had her reasons, the Wardens are heroes, some injustices just can't be ignored," Levi said.
"Maybe," Daylen muttered.
"You of all people Daylen," Alistair shook his head.
"A man gets his hand cut off because he stole, but he only stole things because it was the only way he could afford food to eat, but despite that people who say they fight for justice demand that he should have his hand cut off…so they insure that his family will continue to starve and worse, live as pariahs," Daylen explained and Levi nodded his head in understanding.
"I understand what justice should be, that it's impossible for justice not to leave some kind of victim in its path because the ideal of what justice is, is consequence…consequence for the things people do. But the reality of justice is rarely, if ever unanimous," Daylen continued.
He turned the page and rubbed his head.
"I let him go Alistair, I let Jowan go…even though what he did resulted in the Arl…in Connor…in all those people…" his hands shook as he stood up.
"Morrigan, Zevran, take Levi ahead, give us a moment," Alistair said.
Levi and Zevran both nodded in understanding, whilst Morrigan rolled her eyes. When they left the room, Daylen leant against the book case, growling in frustration when it crumbled at the contact.
"Are you all right?" Alistair asked.
"So many people are dead, so many people are gone…I leave the circle to fight the darkspawn, only to find that now I have to fight the hero of this nation…I go back the circle only to see people who I was friends with ripping one another apart, whilst Templars they spent years with were willing to cut them down like they were nothing. So much backstabbing in Orzammar, Branka fed so many of her people to the Brood mother, I killed the woman Oghren loved…"
"And led him to another woman he loved," Alistair smiled.
"Harrowmont was an honourable man, but too set in the old ways, ways that created everything that was wrong with Orzammar…or at least what I perceived as Orzammar, could I have been ignorant? Could I have misjudged all of it, could I be wrong about Bhelen? How many members of Harrowmont's family did I put to the sword because…because I interfered with dwarven politics?"
He turned to Alistair, revealing how bloodshot his eyes were.
"For as horrible as Redcliffe was I thought things would have been simpler, I thought...and then Jowan, I let him go Alistair, in spite of everything he did I forgave him, I should have taken Sten or Morrigans advice," he explained.
"Daylen what is it you want?" Alistair asked.
"A clear path, a clear enemy, I want simplicity, but I can't stop thinking of every possible point of view and now I've promised to save the son of a Westerosi lord…I've promised to stand against my own Grandfather if he crosses the line of my fucking morality," Daylen said, kicking the dust on the ground in frustration.
Alistair remained silent for a moment before shaking his head.
"Sten and Morrigan aren't wise you know, I mean it's true they may have been shaped by their lives and a lot of what they say might turn out to be correct, but being correct and right aren't the same. They're just cynical, which isn't wisdom Daylen, it's just a form of giving up. Their comments can be smart one part of the time, and just mean another part of it," he chuckled as he patted Daylen's shoulder. "But it's easy to think of the worst and to accept it, what you do Daylen is so much harder, you do more than just believe things can be better…you actively try to make them better, that's so rare in people I've met. Even if it seems impossible you don't stop, and I know I've probably taken you for granted, seen that great part of you too much, but I respect you a lot Daylen, so do a lot of others."
"All I can do is try not to let people down," Daylen said.
"And you will, but I know our faith in you will be rewarded, because you know what's right and you understand others do as well…and you also understand that it takes more than that to have the right to make the kind of choices you do," Alistair explained.
"I'm sorry," Daylen said.
"Hey, I know you probably would have preferred venting to Leliana, she would have given you a shoulder to cry on, or at lot more," Alistair chuckled.
"Says the one of us who hasn't…licked a lamp post in winter," Daylen dryly retorted.
Alistair laughed, and then stopped when he realised Daylen's dig was at him. He playfully punched Daylen's shoulder, the mage smirking as they walked onwards. They walked up a creaking set of wooden stairs, some of the steps had already broken off, requiring them to tip toe slightly. Once they reached the top they saw they were at a type of dining hall, the tables over turned and weaponry indicating this had been where a type of final stand had taken place. The pair joined Levi and their other companions in looking at a set of circles and a purple mist that resided over a doorway. In an instant another flash ran through them and they saw soldiers fighting whilst mages chanted.
"MAKE THEM PAY FOR EVERY INCH MEN!" Sophia yelled, parrying a soldier's strike before slashing his throat. "HOLD THE FLANK!"
"AVERNUS WE NEED YOU!" she turned to the mage leading the chant.
"Nelatep obresooth, sythan net bekon," Avernus flourished his hands, creating a dark hole in the floor, a hole that a rage demon rose out of.
"Andraste's blood," one of the Ferelden soldier's gasped before the demon pounced on him.
"More Avernus, whatever it takes," Sophia said.
"Kaelee ai benfotus, victus," another spell summoned a shade, which roared.
"Press them, press them now," Sophia eagerly commanded.
But the shade threw one of the mages against the wall, crushing her skull against it. Then it dragged its claws through a Warden warrior's back.
"No, I command you, fight the king's men," Avernus said.
"Fool, so much death, suffering and…oh yes, blood! The veil is torn, your soul is mine Avernus," the demon brought its face close to Avernus, who retreated in fear.
"Acolytes, retreat now, the battle is lost," he stepped back towards the stairs behind him.
"AVERNUS!" Sophia yelled.
The vision passed and the arcane energies mixed with bones on the floor.
"What was…oh no, more fighting," Levi cursed, retreating back as demons spouted out of the floor.
Daylen rushed forward with his ice magic, partially freezing an abomination behind him, before slamming his axe into its head. Zevran hit a corpse in the eye with his dagger, and then cut it to pieces with his swords. Morrigan transformed into a bear, grabbing the abomination's shoulder with her mouth and tossing it across the room like a rag doll. Alistair blocked a slash meant for Levi, dispatching the rage demon with a slash from his sword. He deflected the second greater rage demon's follow up attack, bashed it with his shield and then stabbed it. Levi regained some of his courage as the last of the demons fell, walking to Daylen's side. Even Levi, no expert to magic knew what the vision was.
"The Wardens summoned demons, and my grandmother, she knew…even commanded it," he said.
"She was fighting for her life," Daylen said.
"I believe my family was better than that, but answers might lie up ahead," Levi said.
Some corpses in the chapel had come to life, the group dispatched them, even Levi fought with a mace after finding his courage. Yet there was still the dread on his face as they approached the Warden Commanders quarters. When they walked through it, they found a dusty room, but not nearly as unkempt as the rest of the keep. Standing at the desk with her back to the group was an armoured figure.
"Step no further Warden, this one would speak with you," the figure spoke.
She had the ragged, decayed hair of a woman, but the face of a monster. Patches of her skin were aged, others were missing, revealing the bone and now grey muscle tissue underneath. Though the eyes were white, common from being blind, it was clear the monster could see. Then there was the voice, it echoed with that second whisper just as all Abominations did.
"Grandmother," Levi whispered, his eyes drawn to the grey warden symbol on her chest plate.
It was Grey warden armour, but where there was once silver and gold, the silverite had rusted into a bronze colour and the gold too had broken.
"It isn't Sophia Levi, her corpse was possessed," Daylen said.
"That or she's really let herself go," Levi quipped. "My great-great-grandmother is dead, I don't know what that thing is that's taken her body."
"Strange, why haven't any of the demon's left this castle?" Morrigan asked.
"Because they can't can they?" Daylen asked the abomination, the Dryden, whom scowled back at him.
"This one knows how to seal the veil no more demons, no more threats, this one would help you, if only you allow her to go free," it said.
"No," was Daylen's only reply before he threw his hand forward.
The fire struck the demon in the face, passing through its body. Though the flesh of the body was melting, the armour was still very dense, enduring even the heat of the fireball. Daylen drew his axe as the Dryden wildly swung out her sword. He deflected the blow and crashed the axe through her body with a yell.
"Someone has created a barrier, keeping the demons out," Daylen said.
"But only a mage could do that," Alistair said.
"Which means someone has been living in this place, we should keep checking, there's another level that isn't as degraded as the others," Daylen put his axe back on his back and made his way out of the commander's office.
"I don't suppose we could have gotten reliable answers from that thing, but by the Maker, Sophia deserved better than to be used by a demon like that," Levi explained.
"That's unfortunately what can happen to bodies sometimes, the demon must have preserved some of her strength," Daylen stated, leading the group through a door to outside the castle.
They came to a bridge where corpses had already come to life. Daylen was about to walk forward when Zevran gripped his shoulder.
"I wouldn't," he pointed to the floor.
Traps had been placed on the ground; in fact some of the corpses were caught in these traps. Walking carefully around the metallic jaws, they beheaded some of the trapped skeletons and made their way to the opposite tower. It was in generally better condition than the rest of the castle, and Daylen could have sworn he could make out a light through the tower window.
"WARDEN!" a voice yelled from underneath the bridge.
They looked down and saw Theon, a frantic expression on his face.
"Hurry, please hurry, Jon's getting worse," he said.
"Morrigan, Zevran, you two go back, Morrigan you will do what you can to keep Jon alive, Zevran, run back to the camp and get the group to the keep, have Sten and Oghren help you with clearing out the yard if more corpses react to your presence, Alistair and I will go ahead with Levi," Daylen explained.
"Be careful up there," Zevran said before he and Morrigan ran back the way they came.
Daylen ran ahead with Alistair and Levi, up the spiral staircase of the tower. As they got closer and closer they could smell the fumes of a pot, chemicals of some kind had been mixed together. That and the place was generally cleaner. They came to a store room that was neat, tidy, and had books and notes spread across a cleaned desk. Daylen began to read through some of these notes, and as he did Alistair and Levi looked in shock at the human sized cages piled into the corner. The mage's hand lingered over a vial as he spoke, one filled with a bloody concoction.
"That isn't…"
"Darkspawn blood was used in the brewing, but the magic is different, the consistency is different from what I remember. Avernus was studying people, infecting them with the taint, finding ways to use it," Daylen explained.
"Use the taint, I know that Grey Wardens can sense darkspawn and the taint but he didn't actually intend to control them did he?" Levi asked.
"It was similar to blood magic, but unlike that when you're using a demon, the source of the magic comes from the taint, it could be used to fuel spells…enhance strength and speed, negate pain, even as an offensive weapon," Daylen continued, turning the pages.
"How many people did he experiment on?" Alistair asked.
"Not enough to achieve the results I desired," a voice spoke from the doorway.
Alistair drew his sword, looking towards a man in a blue and grey robe. He had lost all of his hair and his skin was deathly pale. The man had lost whatever fat or muscle he had in his face, his skin hadn't wrinkled with any kind of age, yet he was clearly older than anything they had met before. He had a skull like quality to his face, dark rings were around his eyes and his mouth was dry with withered teeth inside them.
"You disrupted my concentration barging in here," he said and there was something familiar about his voice. "Even now the demon's are seeking to replenish their numbers, are you to thank for this welcomed but temporary imbalance?" he asked.
"Avernus, the old warden mage," Daylen said.
"How do we know you aren't possessed?" Alistair demanded.
"Ah, met Sophia have you?" the old man chuckled. "My body is sustained from a similar source, but my mind and my volition are intact," he said.
"What about the calling, I thought Wardens had twenty or thirty years before the Taint begins to affect them."
"We generally do, but my experiments have allowed me to at least whilst in the confines of this keep ignore the affects of the calling," Avernus said.
"You are the one who created the barrier sealing the demons to this place," Daylen said.
"Astute of you, yes, I designed the barrier just as I had also unleashed the demons on this castle, I was unable to enact any kind of plan to thin the veil because of the king's siege on the keep," Avernus explained.
"Why didn't the demons just come up here and kill you?" Levi asked.
"A mixture of my research and the fact that the demon whom possessed Sophia's corpse, despite its rank in the hierarchy was incapable of organising and commanding the other demons," Avernus said.
"I saw your research, blood magic, experimentation on live subjects, draining their blood, deliberately infecting them with the Blight," Daylen glared at Avernus as he spoke.
"They were necessary, any tool, any iota of information that could defeat the fell demons was justified, as a warden you should know that," Avernus said.
"Necessary? Having to relieve yourself after an eight hour ride is necessary. But there's no excuse for summoning demons," Alistair explained.
"Charming," Avernus huffed.
"We don't have time for debate and judgement, I came here to help Levi Dryden find answers, but also because there is someone who needs the joining ritual, can you carry one out?" Daylen asked.
"You are a mage are you not, and I can sense the Taint within you, the joining is relatively simple, were you not taught how to do it?" Avernus asked.
"Let's just say that his recruitment didn't exactly go to plan," Alistair muttered.
"Very well, let me demonstrate it for you, and then we can discuss you aiding me in ridding the keep of these demons once and for all."
Next Chapter 25: What we become
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, the last part of the Warden's keep story will be next chapter, along with more of Fausten and the Targaryens and Leo in Westeros, as they explore their actions and what they may become.