Pursing her lips Eloen nodded slightly, Rendon had just finished informing her of Vaughan's refusal to continue Jayden's interrogation. It was an unexpected outcome, given the young Arl enjoyed causing pain; he reminded her of the Templars and at times it was all she could do not to let him see her fear. "I may need to use magic to cause physical pain if his will is still strong, it will lessen the resistance of his mind. Then I can retrieve the memories you require and adjust his most recent to have him believe this torture was at the behest of Fergus Cousland and that you were his saviour."

"Excellent. You must ensure he believes the Cousland's instigators in the threat on his life. I trust you to ensure he is not permanently damaged by your efforts; he must be functional in both mind and body or this will have been for nothing."

"I know my craft, my Lord. Perhaps Vaughan's work should be attended to before I begin. I would not like to have to deal with … complications. I am no healer."

Nodding, Rendon signalled to Thane. "Clean William up, tend to his wounds and bring him to the private cell."

"As you wish."

Eloen caught the guard's arm ignoring his shudder and handed him a strip of cloth. "Bind his eyes, not too tightly, make it comfortable." At his nod she turned and headed to the concealed lower level and her own chamber within, Rendon following her.

xXx

Clean and the smell of elfroot strong in his nostrils, Jayden felt a surge of alarm as he was blindfolded. Chained at the wrists and ankles he was half walked; half carried to another room. Disoriented and nauseous with pain, Jayden was still aware they had gone down a level. He realised he was being taken into another room and struggled with what little strength he had, it was futile but he couldn't allow this to happen passively, regardless he was pushed down into a chair, the chains removed, but new metal restraints enclosed his wrists and ankles.

Stepping back, Thane waited to be dismissed. He glanced at the young elven woman; he would never admit it but she terrified him. Today she was wearing a dress of crimson, it accented her lithe figure, but no man had ever attempted to accost her, nor would they for she gave off an air that seemed more toxic than any poison.

"You are dismissed." Rendon stated. "You may return to your duties on the upper floor."

With a short bow Thane almost fled the room. Those who were brought to this chamber were never the same again, some he had killed himself for mercy's sake and he was not a merciful man. With a shudder he strode quickly away, glad the screams from these rooms could not be heard.

Rendon settled into a seat. "You may begin."

Swallowing uneasily, Jayden tried hard to mask the pain, his anxiety increasing with having his sight temporarily removed. There was a floral scent, before he flinched as soft fingers drifted over his shoulder, moving slowly down his chest. He did not know of any female torturers, trembling as he realised who it must be, but with fear there came a glimmer of hope.

"I don't want to hurt you." Eloen whispered, pressing her lips to his ear. "All you have to do is give the Regent what he wants and this will all be over." She glanced at Rendon as Jayden remained silent. At his nod she turned back. "Very well, if you chose the path of pain, so be it."

Jayden shivered as he felt her fingertips drifting over his forehead, before a feeling of ice began invading his body and then something worse. The air seemed too heavy to breathe, as though he was sucking sludge into his lungs. He tried to move, tried to fight the sensation but he was immobile. His body became rigid at the intrusion of blood magic, his eyes squeezed shut as Eloen attempted to penetrate his memories.

Curiosity made Rendon remain; he had seen her use this magic before, but he had never seen such resistance. 'So, it is true, the boy does have resistance to blood magic, which means Loghain likely will too. We may have to use the collar after all.' Never taking his eyes from Jayden, Rendon watched as the magic took its toll, his face draining of colour, his body tense and sweat soaked with pain. "So unnecessary." Realising she was getting nowhere Rendon stood and cleared his throat, signalling for Eloen to join him as she stopped the spell, the pair leaving the room. "I never imagined the boy had such strength of will."

"I have only just begun; I will get the information you seek."

"Let us hope so, your current spell seems rather lacking."

"It has never failed me before, but it may be aided by motivating him with pain by other magical means."

"Do as you will, he will believe Fergus caused whatever pain he is in, but remember no permanent damage. If you cross that line with him, your usefulness to me will have come to an end."

"I understand, my Lord." Returning to the room Eloen rolled back her shoulders, perhaps she could try something other than pain now the Regent was no longer present. She gently rested her hand on Jayden's shoulder. "I spoke truly Champion, I have no desire to hurt you, but the Regent has need of you. The wardens and Cousland's cannot really be worth all of this pain."

"I will not betray them."

"Not even for a world we both desire." She smiled and leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Our goals are aligned Champion, mine and yours. I know you wish freedom and inclusion for mages. That is what I want and I can help you achieve it."

"By torturing people? By stealing their free will and imposing your own?"

"My way ensures compliance and minimal bloodshed. People are brought up to fear blood magic, to see it as evil, but it is not."

"That might be true, however you have abused this magic, but you don't have to keep abusing it."

"You speak of abuse, the real abuse is mages terrified into running from what would make them powerful, what would free them from their prisons. We could work together, you and I, change this world for the better."

"Eloen, you don't have to do this." Jayden stated cautiously, steeling himself for the risk he was taking now Rendon was not in the room.

Hesitating, Eloen frowned. "How do you know that name?"

Trying to moisten his parched throat Jayden forced a calming breath. "I know Jowan." He realised he was holding his breath as the silence continued. "He is with the Wardens; he wants to help you escape the Arl." He felt the material over his eyes loosen and blinked focusing on the woman staring at him, undisguised hate in her eyes.

"Jowan is dead. Tortured and murdered on the orders of Arl Eamon!"

"No, he's alive."

"Liar!" Eloen snarled. "He is dead, there is no bringing back the dead. This is just some ploy so you can escape!"

"I swear Jowan is alive, I can take you to him. How would I know about him, that the two of you are together if he had not told me?"

"Silence." She snarled, glancing to her right, Jowan watching her with sadness in his eyes. She paled, ever since she forced Erlina to kill Anora, Jowan had remained with her, his disappointment tormenting her, Anders however had left and not returned. Anger and fear burned within her and she turned on Jayden. "You know nothing about me."

"We met once before." Jayden whispered, having no idea how to get through to her, wondering what she had been looking at. "I was a child; I gave you clothing and food for you and your friend." He shrank back as her eyes darkened.

"You told the Templars didn't you, that's how they found us."

Jayden paled, seeing madness in her eyes. "I never told anyone about you being mages, or where you were; just like I promised."

"Liar! You told them and we were taken back. We suffered in the dark." She leaned close to his ear. "I heard my friend screaming. It was so dark I couldn't see my own hand, but I heard every scream, every cry for them to stop and when it was finally silent, I knew they were coming to me. I promise you now, you are going to pay for everything we suffered."

Jayden trembled as he felt increasing heat from her hand before he bit his lip in pain; the sensation of flames racing through his veins.

"I have discovered the level at which the human body can tolerate this magic." She gave an almost wistful smile. "It is extremely painful; I have been told."

Biting his lip hard to prevent the scream escaping him, Jayden's body arched as the magic seemed to scorch him yet left no visible trace.

Sighing, Eloen allowed her fingertips to travel across sensitised flesh; her eyes darkened slightly and she smiled, watching as his body arched beneath her touch, choked gasps and strangled screams finally ripping from his lips. "This will be fun, for me at least."

Struggling to breathe through the pain, jaw clenching, his body arched as magic coursed through his veins, igniting like fire in old wounds, convulsing violently before the magic eased. "Please stop this." He gasped, gulping at the air in strangled breaths. "I never betrayed you!"

"Liar!" Eloen screeched, forcing herself to calm and lower her voice, leaning close to his ear. "I won't kill you, but I am going to take great pleasure in taking your mind and making it mine and trust me it will hurt."

xXx

Jayden tried to make sense of what was happening to him, he had woken from a fitful sleep, feeling exhausted, the pain of his body echoing into his dreams. Eloen only asked him about the whereabouts of the Wardens, Cousland's and Caladrius and his people if Rendon was there, which had only been twice for short periods, the Regent clearly not having the stomach for his torture. The rest of the time she remained silent, enjoying causing him as much pain as she could without permanently damaging or killing him. He felt the tingle of the lightning in her hand before her fingers dug painfully into his chest. His screams flooded his ears until his throat ached and he began to cough violently, tasting blood in his mouth. His eyes closed as his body spasmed, ragged breaths gasping in air that seemed to burn him.

A short time later, Eloen paced the room infuriated, the Arl was demanding results and nothing she did had induced him to talk, no matter how much pain he suffered. She wanted to make him pay, but her revenge had to be balanced with her own survival and if she didn't get information from him soon, she might very well find herself on the other side of the torture. She glanced at him, if physical pain would not break him, perhaps a different form of pain would. Where Vaughan had failed, she would triumph, she had no choice. She hesitated and then lowered her lips to his ear. "I am afraid your guardsman did not survive; I believe he went into shock from his injuries. Such a shame, it could have been avoided if you had simply told the Regent what he wanted."

Grief compounding grief, Jayden felt as though he was suffocating. Gawain had been a constant in his childhood, a protective figure and then the man who had first taught him how to protect himself. He had never imagined being the reason for Gawain's death, even though the soldier had sworn to protect him with his life. He held his emotions tight within himself, no matter what they did to him he would never tell them anything, or Gawain's death would weigh heavier on his soul than it already did.

Scowling at his lack of reaction Eloen once more lowered her lips to his ear. "The only reason Delilah loves you is because I made it so. In Vigil's Keep we spent a great deal of time together and she told me much. I got rid of the man she did love and grafted those feelings she had for him onto you. What she believes she feels for you is a reconstructed version of her love for him. You will live a lie for the rest of your life and never know it. Perhaps I will lay a seed of doubt, after all you being happy is the last thing, I want." She smiled at his look of horror.

"How could he allow such magic to be performed on his own daughter?"

Eloen hesitated, his response a surprise to her. "Why, to make her Queen." She laughed at his confusion. "The King is dead, so now is the Queen. That leaves a gap in power. It would not have been too difficult to persuade the nobles to put the Hero of RiverDane's son on the throne, but now you are Andraste's Champion, a very useful title in such games of succession. You will serve at my Lord's pleasure." She bent closer. "You will give access to nobility, the Chantry, even the Divine herself. In time I will come to control them all."

Jayden paled feeling his stomach tighten and bile fill his mouth. "It won't work. The people will never accept me as King."

"We do not need the people to accept you, only a few key nobles, but that will come later my little puppet." She scowled as it was clearly not having the effect she needed, she would have to reveal a truth even he could not cope with. "The Queen thought herself such a great player of the 'Game'. In the end she was a fool. She and her handmaidens wore amulets to ward off blood magic, fools weren't protected from other magic and she never knew until the end the amulets she trusted were nothing more than trinkets. Poor Erlina, so dedicated to keeping Anora alive and safe, it was so easy to make her put her dagger into the Queen's heart and then throw herself from the window. Your father is drowning in his grief and the fool believes this all an Orlesian plot."

Jayden felt an unexpected swell of relief that Erlina had not betrayed them, before guilt struck him and then fury tore through him that this heinous betrayal was once more of Arl Howe's making.

Standing straight Eloen stared into his eyes. "In the end, your sister's arrogance killed them both." She stilled suddenly; his fury playing out in the tension of his body as his rage exploded.

"I'll kill you all!" Jayden roared, his neck arched back, the cords of his throat prominent as he sought his freedom, blood slipping down his wrists and legs from where skin and metal met in his struggle, ignoring the pain.

Eloen watched in fascination as he fought himself into exhaustion before she tried once more to infiltrate his mind, raging as access continued to be denied. She hurried out of the room afraid she would lose control of herself and kill him by accident.

xXx

Leaning back in his chair, Rendon sighed softly. Eloen had finished relaying her progress, or lack thereof and he was struggling to control his agitation. It had never taken her more than a few hours to gain access to a mind before, only minutes in some cases. "I do not see any point in wasting any more time, he clearly has the resistance rumoured and your magic is not strong enough to infiltrate it. Let us see if Danarius spoke truly."

Eloen carefully removed the collar from the box under Rendon's watchful eye. "Perhaps my Lord this might go quicker if you were not present."

"And why is that?"

"His anger is strong and it keeps him motivated to fight and he is very angry with you."

Rendon snorted, but nodded. "Very well, I shall expect a report this evening and I warn you there better be progress."

xXx

Hissing in pain as large hands grabbed his head, Jayden felt cold metal fasten around his throat. A moment later it was as though ice was being poured into him, his limbs weak and leaden. He met Eloen's eyes seeing triumph in her expression. Whatever the collar was he could feel it working to bring down the barriers protecting his mind. Once she had access, he would become her puppet, Rendon's puppet and he would rather die than betray his friends and his country, yet giving up was not in his nature.

"There is no point in fighting. This metal is forged with runes that drain strength both of physical and will. In a short while you will tell me everything I want to know."

"Why are you doing this?" Jayden gasped, when the guard who had held his head left.

"You think any of my kind have a choice? I do it because the alternative is the Templars, but even if it weren't I would still be here, because while Rendon has his own agenda, so do I. I did not lie, through him and you I will make a better world for mages. It is too late for those I love, but I will make the world they ached for and dreamed of, even if I have to burn this one down to do it."

"Blood magic isn't the way." He sucked in a sharp breath as her fingertips pressed to his temples, the collar cold and heavy around his neck, his limbs feeling so weak he could barely move.

Eloen bent low to his ear. "Let me show you why I am doing this, what your betrayal caused."

Jayden gritted his teeth at the burning sensation at his temples, his heart pounding so fast it was painful. He screamed as she forced her way in, she couldn't get control, but she had enough to cause damage. The pain receded, it was there, but more a dull throb on the periphery of his perception. He opened his eyes, but he was in total darkness, for a moment he feared she had blinded him, trying to move and finding himself unable to do so. He heard laboured breathing, his own and yet not. Jayden forced himself to calm the panic surging through him, she had breached his mind and he could only wait to see what she intended. He quickly realised the sensation was one he had experienced before as he had seen through the Alpha, but this was a memory he was sure of it, one of her memories. He felt her body tense as he heard the sound of boots on stone, the clank of metal as keys bounced off armour. He heard the footsteps stop outside and felt her body shrink against the wall. He felt her heart pound as a key was inserted in a lock and turned, a whimper leaving her lips, but it was the door on the opposite side of the corridor that had been opened. He felt her nails claw at the stone, tears slip down her cheeks and then he heard whimpering, a voice begging someone to leave him alone and a cruel laugh. Jayden felt the world shift, horror and pain making him want to scream, yell, do anything to help, but he had no voice here.

"Anders." Eloen whispered, curling against the wall, tears streaming down her cheeks.

He had known the truth before she said the name, had recognised his voice. He tried to break free from the memory, but she was in control and he had no idea how to escape. A terrified scream made him stop. He was aware of Eloen's painful sobs, but there was no hiding from what was happening. He heard Anders sobbed begging and then the screams that seemed to have no end. His heart lurched when they suddenly stopped. Part of him knew Anders had survived what had happened in that cell, yet here, in Eloen's memory he felt the terror that he might not have survived. He heard soft laughter, the door bang shut and locked and then the footsteps came to the door of the room they were in. His heart lurched as hers did as the key turned and the door opened. He blinked at the light of a torch, unable to see the face of the Templar, eyes blinking and watering at the sudden brightness. He felt her fury, pain and terror as the armoured man stepped into the cell and closed the door. Jayden was jerked fiercely from the memory hearing her laboured breath just barely over his own. His eyes were burning with tears that had snaked down his cheeks, his body aching with tension and he felt pain in his hands where his nails had dug into the palms and drawn blood.

Eloen took a step back shuddering at the memory before forcing herself to look at him, startled at his response to it. She hadn't imagined it would have affected him as much as it had, given how he had let the guardsman be tortured. She leaned closer. "Now do you understand?" She hissed, her voice shaking. "I would sacrifice any of your people to free mine from that."

He heard her leave, the locking of his own cell door making him shudder. Tears continued to fall for some time afterwards making him want to curl into a ball, but the restraints prevented his movement. He shivered, his body cold, but more from shock than the temperature. "I'm so sorry Anders." He whispered. "I'm so sorry."

It felt as though hours had passed and still the pounding in his skull was relentless, Jayden concentrated on the deep breathing exercises he had learnt from the Templars which helped to keep his emotions and pain under control. He started shaking again as the memory of Anders torture flashed in his mind, but he forced it back a little more easily this time. He couldn't change the past and for now at least his focus had to be on his own situation. He had no doubt Rendon would inform Warin of his capture and interrogation if he had not already, which meant Fergus and the others would believe he would at some point tell Rendon everything. He assumed they would have changed their plans, part of which would be to keep Ellowyn away from Rendon. Her turning against him at the Landsmeet had been at the heart of their plan, the element of surprise which they would believe they no longer had. It fell to him then to throw Rendon off balance. If he could convince them he was enthralled he could be at Howe's side during the Landsmeet and if the Maker was on his side, the truth potion hidden in his coat would still be there and he could administer it. It meant fooling everyone, but he reasoned he had been doing that for years. 'You will pay for all you have done; I swear it.' But first of all, they had to believe him broken and convincing the Regent of that, given he had been trained by Warin would be no easy feat.

xXx

Jayden shuddered as he felt the shadows close around him, the torch light dimming until it finally extinguished and he was plunged into darkness. His heart began to pound as he thought he heard a scream, his body tensing. He shuddered as a dim light caught his attention, realising he was in a different cell, chains around his wrists and ankles, in a body that was not his own. More memories she was forcing him to witness and with each one he felt his helplessness choke him. He realised he was not alone in the cell, Anders was slumped against the wall opposite, his body beaten. He tried to reach out to him, realising Eloen had done the same, but the chains had prevented her from reaching him. She jerked around as the door opened, two Templars entering the room. He felt her urge to scream as his own as they moved over to Anders, but her throat was raw and too dry and Eloen could make no noise given her own injuries. He watched helplessly as they took it in turns to beat him again. The memory shifted to different cells, different Templars, but always the same brutality. He shuddered violently, he had no means to stop it, dragged along in this snapshot show of horror.

Eloen kept pushing memories onto him until he was sobbing so painfully, she thought he might have trouble breathing. She was almost about to stop, her own grief almost preventing her from keeping the connection, when she found a doorway into one of his memories. A memory that could not be true given he still had his hands and yet it was as strong as any memory she had ever felt in another. The terror associated with it was real and that was all she needed. She smirked slightly, gently reaching out her magic and ensnaring the memory, bringing it under her control. She felt his body shudder, trembling at the excitement she felt at the terror rising within him, wanting him to hurt, wanting him to be afraid. She stopped the memory after one of his fingers had been taken. "Tell me what the Regent wants to know or you will experience it again."

A choked sob left his lips, but he remained silent.

Eloen turned as the door opened and Rendon appeared. "My Lord?"

"I came to see how things were progressing." He looked at Jayden paling slightly at his clear distress.

"I have accessed a memory."

"Only one?"

"The traumatic nature of it should ensure I will gain full access. It is only a matter of time."

"I see." Rendon moved to Jayden gently resting his hand on his arm. "Please, there is no need for this. Do you think the Cousland's would go through this for you? Do you think any of the wardens would? Please see sense."

Jayden met his gaze despite the exhaustion and rawness of his mind and body that begged him for sleep, for some moments away from this torture. "I should have been there to protect her." He croaked. "This is my punishment; it is what I deserve."

"Damn it boy, Anora's death is not yours to take on. You have no need to punish yourself."

Jayden slowly closed his eyes and turned his head away.

"Do what you must." He muttered to Eloen, hurriedly leaving.

xXx

Pacing in agitation, Cailan glanced at Fergus who was watching his sister and Edward, the pair rarely leaving each other's side. He moved over to him. "I believe your sister is safe with him."

"I believe that too." He glanced at Cailan. "I suspect if they survive what is to come, they will marry."

"Has Ellowyn suggested a match between them?"

"No. In fact I think she is trying to deny the very obvious feelings they have for each other."

"Why? She is not betrothed and neither is he. They would be a good match."

"I think with the death of our parents, with everything that has happened …" He sighed. "I think she carries a heavy burden of guilt and grief that she will not release herself from. Edward is a good man and I believe they would be happy together. I certainly would not stand in the way if marriage was desired by them. I just want her to be happy. Maker if that is possible for any of us." Realising his gaze had drifted in the direction of Denerim he sighed. "I cannot make myself accept that Anora is gone. It was months before I finally began to accept, I would never see Nate again."

"I dreaded coming back to Denerim, to Anora and now I would give anything for her to be there, even if all we did was argue." Feeling the ache of tears beginning to build Cailan cleared his throat. "Forgive me Fergus, I need a moment alone."

"I … I am sorry I did not mean …"

"You have no reason to be sorry." Cailan stated, his voice rough with grief, patting his arm before he headed off a small way into the trees to compose himself.

Sighing deeply, Fergus shook his head in irritation of himself, noting Eamon moving after the King, brushing off Teagan's attempt to stop him. Leaning against a tree he forced a weak smile as Darrien approached. "How are you feeling?"

"I was about to ask you the same, I know you were close to the Queen."

"We have lost so many, but Anora was one of my oldest friends. Together with Nate we thought we could take on the world and one by one, this world has destroyed us."

"You are still here."

"Yes, and I do not mean to sound ungrateful, my wife, my son, my siblings survived, but …" He sighed. "You understand the grief and guilt I carry, though I wish you did not."

"Captain William once told me my mother would not want me to feel guilty, he too knows the loss of his mother and the guilt we feel. He is right of course and somehow him saying it seemed to make it more true for me. He … he has a way about him, I can explain it no better. I only mention it because I do not believe your mother would want you to feel guilt either."

"No, she would not, but for now it is what I feel." He felt Darrien's hand on his shoulder and the squeeze of comfort. "Still, we must make the best of the situation we find ourselves in. I have a favour if you will indulge me."

"Of course."

"I would have you by my side in the Landsmeet. I will have guards of course nearby, but I would feel safer with you near me."

Flushing slightly Darrien nodded. "I would be honoured."

xXx

Clearing his throat to get Cailan's attention, Eamon felt a flare of irritation when he did not turn.

"I was hoping for a moment alone, uncle."

"There are things that need to be discussed and repeatedly putting me off does not help you."

"Not now uncle, please."

"Maker's sake Cailan, you were barely speaking to the woman in the end." He took a step back as Cailan turned, a look in his eyes he had seen in his father on the rare occasions he was furious.

"Whatever you may think, Eamon, whatever our problems, we did love each other. Things would not have been easy if she was alive, Maker knows there would have been difficult decisions ahead, but I would rather face that than her body on the pyre! Do not for one moment dare to belittle what she meant to me."

"I only meant to say …"

"Enough! Leave me be, I will not discuss this right now."

Hesitating for only a moment, Eamon turned and walked away.

Shivering, Cailan allowed the tears to finally fall. "We made such a mess of things, Anora." Turning as he heard footsteps; he met Teagan's cautious gaze.

"I am sorry to disturb you, but the Wardens have been sighted."

Nodding Cailan brushed his hands over his face. "We had better go and meet them then." Moments later, he strode forward and clasped Rathnal's arm. "Commander, it is good to see you again. I would like to get moving as soon as possible."

"Of course."

"Ellowyn said she contacted you about protection from blood magic. Is there anything you can suggest?"

"Indeed, if you would follow me, I believe Serris is already talking to Lady Ellowyn."

Ellowyn glanced at her brother as he approached, Cailan, Teagan and Eamon with him and took the amulet offered by Serris. It was a disc of metal with differing but no less intricate runes on each side. It was made from star metal and she nipped at her lip feeling the metal pulse against her palm. She handed it to Edward who unclasped the chain and fastened it around her neck. It rested just above the necklace she had received from the spirit of her mother that she always wore.

There had been three amulets kept in a hidden chamber Avernus had helped them locate along with other items that should she survive this, Serris was hoping she could look at more closely. She gave the remaining two to the King, who handed one to Fergus, and the second to Eamon after a discreet gesture from Teagan at his hesitation of who to give it to. "Would it not be prudent to keep one yourself, your Majesty?"

"I have this ring; with luck it will suffice and Maker willing I will not be in a situation where blood magic may be used upon me."

"That is of course your choice, your Majesty. We cannot know the full extent of the mage's abilities, but at the very least these amulets should alert you if blood magic is being performed against you and give you the opportunity to extricate yourself from whatever situation you are in. I recommend once in Denerim you ensure you are never alone, as nobility you will be targets and given there are only three amulets, it would be sensible to pair up. Once this is done, we request the amulets are returned to us."

"Of course." Cailan stated. "We thank you for your generosity."

"I only wish we had more."

Edward glanced at the amulet Ellowyn now wore, determined the mage would never get a chance to hurt her again. He felt eyes on him and turned, meeting Fergus's gaze. He returned the slight nod, he hoped one day Ellowyn would open herself up to the possibility of a life with him, but in the meantime, he would be by her side and whatever set its sights on harming her, darkspawn, blood mage, Archdemon or damned nobles would have to go through him first.

xXx

Jayden shuddered as he was dragged from the cell, too weak to fight because of the collar, yet the guards still kept a tight hold of him until he was restrained in the chair. He knew what would come next, the same questions, then the memory created by the Archdemon. He would again feel the terror of a seven-year-old, yet this time with the awareness of his adult self, unlike the Archdemon she could not rob him of that, the physical pain as his fingers were taken one by one and then his hands from the wrists. Then it would stop and there would be more questions. A part of him wanted the memory to continue, to reach the point where he could feel again that surge of magical energy that had filled his body and re-made his hands, but it never came, only the pain and terror of a child.

As the final restraint was fastened, he met her cold, cruel gaze and as her lips parted and she began asking questions he concentrated on Anders. On his smile, his humour and kindness. Beneath that though were scars Jayden hadn't fully comprehended. He thought he had understood where Anders fear came from, but Eloen's memories had made him realise he hadn't understood at all. He concentrated on the fact that he had a life now with the man he loved, that he had survived torture and torment and despite all he had endured he had retained himself. He vowed he would survive this if only to hug him one more time and tell him he was the bravest man he had ever known. He felt the air become thicker, his breathing laboured as that sickening magic forced its way into his mind, teasing out that one memory it could access. He held tight to him a brother's love as the blood magic swept over him, dragging him down into pain and terror.

xXx

Gabriel felt a rush of relief as Denerim came into sight, Airyl's behaviour was terrifying them and he couldn't imagine what was happening to make her react in such a way. He nodded to Tess who separated from the group and headed to the underground entrance to the city. She was the stealthiest of their current group, but they still watched anxiously. Finally, he saw her give the signal for them to join her. He sent the elves in small groups, Lawrence taking the first, Terrance the second and he and Airyl led the third, his heart pounding relentlessly until they were all at the entrance. He nodded to Rebecca who had been on watch. She returned the gesture before leading them along the passage. She had remained silent, but the tension of her body had him on edge. He paced restlessly as she left them in the passage while she unlocked a door and slipped through to get Kara, one hand on the hilt of his sword just in case. He noted his fellow soldiers doing the same.

The mercenary leader joined them a short time later, relief on her face. She sent Rebecca with the elves to a safe house she had had prepared and took the soldiers into her office.

"What is going on?" Lawrence demanded. "The pair of you are acting as though you are walking on hot coals."

"Sit down." Kara stated, waiting until they were seated. "You need to know, several nights ago the Queen was murdered."

Lawrence stared at her open mouthed. "What? How?"

"Erlina, her handmaiden stabbed her through the heart is the version we are being told."

"Sweet Maker." Tess whispered.

"All is not as it seems; she was being controlled by blood magic."

Gabriel shuddered. "Where is Will? We know something has happened to him."

Kara stared at them startled before glancing to Airyl who was pacing instead of lying down by the fire as she usually did, a low growl erupting the longer they talked.

"Airyl we can't help him until we find out what has happened." Tess soothed, gently resting her hand on the agitated wolf's back.

"William and Gawain were captured and are in Vaughan's dungeon."

Terrance's eyes widened. "How in the Void did that happen?"

Kara lowered her eyes, shame and anger burning within her. "Erik, one of my men betrayed them."

"Where is he?" Gabriel growled.

"Under guard for William to deal with once we free them."

"You have a plan then." Tess stated, swallowing hard to try and ease the tremble of her voice.

"Yes, I have a man on the inside who can get us in, but it isn't just Will and Gawain we are rescuing."

They all stared at her stunned as she explained what had happened in the Alienage.

Lawrence leaned forward. "Are you telling us they murdered the Queen to give them the excuse they needed to begin a purge of the Alienage?"

"Not just that. Arl Howe declared himself Regent given the General's state of grief. There seems to be no end to the man's ambitions."

"Is he going for the throne permanently?" Tess whispered, her eyes wide in horror.

"At this moment I wouldn't put it past him. Where are the others of your group?"

"We left them on the ship to keep an eye on the slavers and in case others came with any more of the elves. We were hoping you could send people to take over from them so they can return to Denerim."

"I will arrange it."

"So how do we get them out?" Gabriel demanded.

"As I said I have someone on the inside who has a way in for us through the sewers. There is a doorway that only opens from the inside and cannot be seen from the sewer side. We always wondered how Vaughan disposed of any bodies, well this is how. You are proficient with those sleeping darts so we use them, blood shed is only going to cause us more problems."

Gabriel shook his head. "I shouldn't have left the others on the ship; their skills would have helped. We should have just left the damn slavers to rot in their cages."

"I will get them back here as soon as possible, for now we need to concentrate on what we need to do."

"What about those in the Alienage?" Tess stated, clearing her throat at the tremble. "The moment Vaughan finds out we have rescued the prisoners he will go after them."

"True." Kara stated. "Therefore, a group will infiltrate the Alienage first to get everyone together and out. We have worked out timings, but you know as well as I how easily this could go wrong."

"Just tell us what we need to do." Lawrence stated, glancing at Airyl as she whimpered before snarling and then howling. "And you better make it quick before Airyl tears the place apart herself."

xXx

Author Note: Thank you for reading, it is always appreciated.