Chapter 19

Aedan's conversation with the Sloth Demon soon ended, and then the group attacked with a ferocity that startled the creature. Emma could feel their energy, their disgust and anger at having their deepest thoughts violated. The demon had definitely fucked with the wrong people this time, and it would pay the price with its life.

The fight was hard and fast-paced; blades gleamed viciously, arrows whistled through the air to find their target with unerring accuracy, and spell after spell bombarded the demon. She caught a glimpse of Aedan changing into a golem - an impressive sight, and then the fight called her attention away. Eventually, the demon fell, their surroundings changed, and they found themselves standing in front of Niall.

The conversation with the mage was brief but sad and then everything faded once more. The feel of her body pressed against cold flagstones told her that they had left the Fade and were once more in the real world. Emma climbed gingerly to her feet, feeling a few bruises from where she'd hit the floor. She looked up to see everyone else doing the same thing.

"That is an experience I would rather not go through again," Wynne said.
"Agreed, dear lady, at least not without more wood nymphs to play with." Zevran smiled, but it was strained and didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Is everyone all right?" They all provided some form of confirmation. "Then let's finish this. I have the Litany of Adralla to break the mind control of any blood mage or abomination. It's time to take Uldred down."

With a grim determination, they fought their way through the remainder of the rooms. There were no battle shouts during the fights, no friendly banter, only a deadly silence as they took down everything that stood between them and Uldred. Aedan pushed open a door, ready for the next fight, but slowed his steps at the sight before him. Everyone moved in behind their leader, but Emma didn't need to look, she knew what she would see - Cullen, the Templar who would become such an integral part of the Dragon Age story.

She couldn't hold back the tears as she looked upon the courageous man who had been tortured beyond endurance. Most others would have broken under the horrors inflicted upon him, and yet still he mentally fought against Uldred and the blood mages. His head was bent, praying, but whether that was for his safety or the souls of his brothers was impossible to tell. Emma leaned towards the latter. He wouldn't waste his breath praying for himself. At that moment, it seemed more likely that he longed for his demise and an end to his torture.

Emma wanted to reach out and touch him, offer some comfort, but the barrier was impenetrable and would only drop once Uldred was dead. She walked closer as Cullen spoke to Aedan, noting the Templar's trembling limbs. She expected sorrow or pain to be the predominant emotion in his eyes, and perhaps when order had been restored, he would allow himself to feel such things. But, for the moment, his amber eyes burned with righteous fury. Perhaps this anger had kept him alive and saved him from becoming an abomination or from falling under the mind control of the blood mages.

He was shouting now, his feelings finally allowed an outlet. "To ensure this horror is ended... to guarantee that no abominations or blood mages live, you must kill everyone up there. You cannot tell maleficarum by sight. Just one could influence the mind of a king, of a grand cleric."
Aedan spoke kindly but firmly. "I won't make that decision until I've seen what's happening in the Harrowing chamber."
Cullen's eyes slid shut, exhaustion and hopelessness taking over, wiping away the rage. When he opened his eyes, he stared steadily at Aedan. "Maker turn his gaze on you. I hope your compassion hasn't doomed us all." With no words left to say, he dropped back to one knee and clasped his hands in front of him.

Emma knelt before him, even knowing that he would make it, she felt the need to say something. "Cullen," she spoke softly, looking into his weary eyes as he raised his head. "It's going to be all right. Whatever happens here today, remember that. Keep your faith strong and trust in your heart. You survived for a reason, so please don't let the guilt eat away at you."
He searched her eyes for a moment, then dropped his head back to his hands and continued to pray. Standing, she wiped away the tears and joined the others just as screams sounded from within the chamber.

"Don't forget the Litany of Adralla, it will help us win this battle." Wynne reminded Aedan. He nodded then pushed the door open where they were met with the horrifying sight of a mage being turned into an abomination. Uldred faced them, his lips stretched in a manic grin, his eyes bright with madness. The sound of Aedan's blades sliding from their sheaths indicated he hadn't come to talk. A flash of light filled the room, and suddenly a pride demon towered over them.

Emma had always wondered how Wynne knew when to use the Litany, and finally, the mystery was solved. Emma felt a sickening twist in the air, a brush of something dark against her own magic and she knew that she was sensing the use of blood magic. "Aedan, use the litany now." She looked to Wynne who nodded her assent. He muttered the words and a burst of energy cleared away the insidious feel of the mind control. By the end of the fight, they all looked a bit worse for wear, the events of the last few hours finally catching up to them as the adrenaline rush that had kept them going started to abate.

They helped Irving to his feet and got him downstairs. He wasn't the only one cursing all the stairs by the time they'd reached the bottom, but eventually, they stood in front of Knight-Commander Greagoir. Emma tuned out, her brain just too tired to follow the conversation with anything but a cursory ear.

Thankfully, Aedan backed up the mages and once Wynne had been granted permission to join their group, they walked towards the double wooden doors. Emma saw Cullen standing alone, his shoulders hunched and couldn't help herself; she ran over and pulled him into a hug. He let out a surprised noise, his body tensed as if ready to push her away, but she wrapped a hand around his neck and stroked her fingers through the soft hair at the nape until he finally relaxed. She heard a discreet cough to her side and saw Aedan staring at her. She quickly brushed a kiss on Cullen's cheek and whispered, "You're going to be just fine." As she drew back she saw his face was flushed and there was a small smile playing at his lips. A definite improvement and something that made her own heart feel a little lighter as she stepped outside.

She turned her head towards the light breeze blowing across the lake and breathed in deep, cleansing the stench of death from her lungs. Aedan's hand lay on her lower back as they waited for the boat to return, but she felt a tension in his touch. Emma turned towards him. "I'm sorry, Aedan. I probably shouldn't have hugged him like that; it's just that I know what he's been through and what he's going to face in the future. I just wanted to offer him some comfort."

Aedan was silent for a moment or two, and Emma began to worry that she'd gone too far. He blew out a long breath. "I know relationships are built on trust, but this is still new to both of us. So yeah, I get a little tense when I see you holding another man in your arms."
She cupped his cheek, her eyes serious. "I love you, and I would never cheat on you."
He pulled her into his arms. "Thanks. I do trust you, but I'm just... I want you all to myself."
She smiled. "I feel the same. I'm very greedy when it comes to you." She pressed a kiss to his warm lips. "I'm all yours, Aedan."
His chest rumbled with a growl and he kissed her hard.
Breathless, she grinned at him. "Maker, I do love it when you go all primal on me."
His lips pulled into a naughty smile. "Noted, love. Now, what was going on with your fade dream?"
A shiver slithered down her spine. "I don't know. It was just weird and frightening."
"Angel, frightened doesn't begin to describe your state when I found you in the dark. It had to be something to do with you, otherwise, where would the demon have got the idea for your dream?"
"I have no idea. There was someone at the door and it was dark, and..." A slither of something forgotten nudged at Emma's memory. She didn't acknowledge it but ruthlessly forced it down in the dark. Emma rubbed the back of her neck to ease the tension. "That's it. No big deal, so let's just put it behind us."

Aeden looked unconvinced, but he kissed her forehead. "You're right, love. It's been an awful day and one best forgotten."
Emma smiled yet she felt as if something inside of her had shifted.