Chapter 23

As they neared the soldiers, Emma saw Murdock stagger back from a blow. She lashed out with a fireball, knocking the animated corpse back on its bony ass. The dry rotting flesh curled up as the flames ate at the desiccated body. She enhanced everyone's weapons with the flame spell and sent an inferno to rain down balls of fire over the corpses coming from the docks. The people of Redcliffe fought ferociously to save their village and as the first rays of dawn lit the sky it became clear that no more undead would attack. The fight was over.

Bann Teagan and the Revered Mother stood at the top of the stone steps in front of the Chantry looking out over the villagers who had gathered below. There were some emotional reunions as soldiers were hugged by their loved ones, their faces alight with joy at finding them still alive. As the people settled down, the Bann spoke. "Dawn arrives my friends, and all of us remain. We are victorious!" A loud cheer went up from the crowd, triumphant and happy.

Bann Teagan swept a hand towards Aedan and his group. "And it is these good folk we have to thank for our lives today. Without their heroism, surely we would have all perished." Teagan turned to face Aedan. "I bow to you. The Maker smiled on us when he sent you here in our darkest hour. Allow me to offer you this; the helm of Ser Ferris the Red, my great-uncle and hero of Ferelden. He would approve of passing it to one so worthy."

Aedan bowed his head in acknowledgement of the honour bestowed on him and accepted the helmet. The Revered Mother offered up a prayer in gratitude for their lives, then the Bann turned back to the crowd, his words rang clearly in the quiet of the early morning. When he had finished his speech the crowd dispersed, their hearts full of hope as they went about their usual business.

It had been a long day and an even longer night, but through the exhaustion, Emma felt an overwhelming pride in herself and those she travelled with. Each of them had given one hundred per cent of themselves, which in turn had given the militia the courage they needed to get through one more night of horror.

Bann Teagan looked over to Aedan. "Now, we've no time to waste. Meet me at the mill. We can talk further there."
Emma bit back a groan, she was bloody knackered. It was all very well in the game rushing off here, there and everywhere, but in reality, it was absolutely exhausting. "Does he realise we travelled here yesterday, sorted out his defence during the day, and fought a shit load of zombies during the night? We're Grey Wardens, not Superman."
She saw Zevran's eyebrow lifting. "Don't ask. I'm too tired to answer."
He held up his hands in a placating manner. "I will hold my question until later, but I do want to know about this super man, he sounds fascinating."
She chuckled as she noticed the interested gleam in the Antivan's eyes. "You're incorrigible, Zev."
He gave a little bow. "But of course, my dear Grey Warden."

As they walked towards the windmill, Aedan took her hand. "Are you going to be all right?"
She squeezed his fingers. "I'll be fine, I just get a bit ratty when I'm tired."
"Ah, is that what you call it?" His tone was amused as he stroked his thumb over the back of her hand in a soothing manner. She gave him a lopsided smile and they walked the rest of the way in a comfortable silence. As Bann Teagan came into view, Aedan pressed a kiss to her hand before grudgingly letting go. She smiled, still feeling the pleasant tingling sensation caused by the pressure of his lips against her skin. Suddenly, she didn't feel quite so tired any more; she straightened her back and walked with a vigorous stride towards the windmill, ready to face the nightmare of Redcliffe Castle.

Emma looked across the chasm separating them from the castle; it looked so peaceful sitting high above the village, but she knew differently. Her attention was drawn back to the conversation when Teagan exclaimed, "Maker's Breath!" Everyone turned in the direction he was pointing, but Emma closed her eyes as a pained expression flitted across her face. She knew who had caused the stir: Isolde! The woman had a voice that could cause a person's ears to bleed from ten yards away. In addition, she was rude, snobbish, and just generally annoying.

"Teagan! Thank the Maker that you yet live." The Arlessa ran down the hill, with a soldier following close behind. Emma gritted her teeth and hoped that she could get through this without slapping the woman. At Isolde's request for Teagan to return with her to the castle, Aedan cut in. "We'll need more of an explanation than that."
She turned and stared at Aedan like he was nothing more than an annoying bug. "What? Who is this man, Teagan?"

And there was that urge to smack her, hard!

"I'm right here, Lady Isolde. I would appreciate it if you could direct your questions to me." The Arlessa reared back in shock, obviously unaccustomed to anyone speaking to her in such a tone. Emma could have kissed Aedan for taking Isolde down a peg or two in such a smooth manner. The Arlessa was saved from thinking of a cutting reply by Alistair's intervention. The conversation ran its course and Teagan pulled them aside, handing them the ring that would get them into the secret passage.

They were all silent as they watched Teagan follow Isolde back up the hill. Zevran looked around the group. "It is strange, but I find I do not believe the words she speaks, yes?"
Leliana inclined her head. "I'm of the same mind, she has shifty eyes and is clearly hiding something."
"Of that, I have no doubt, which makes it imperative that we get inside the castle as soon as possible." As he spoke, Aedan entered the windmill and quickly found the secret trapdoor. Alistair grabbed a large iron ring and pulled the wooden panel back, making everyone wince at the grating sound of rusty hinges. A dark hole yawned before them, which was made even less appealing by the smell of dank mustiness.

"Should we draw straws?" Zevran suggested with an amused grin. Aedan snorted and leaned forward. "There's a ladder. Can one of you lovely ladies light up your staff?"
Wynne chuckled and stepped closer as the crystal on her stave glowed brightly. Aedan carefully stepped onto the first rung and disappeared into the darkness. A few moments later he let them know he'd reached the bottom. Everyone followed, and Emma brought up the rear.

She looked down the hole and a wave of vertigo made her swallow back a feeling of nausea as her head swam. She took a deep breath and reached for the first rung, taking a tight grip with both hands. Carefully, she fumbled around until her feet hit something solid. Damn it, who thought of making ladders like this? How the hell was she supposed to get her feet on the rung while trying to hold on to another rung? She wasn't a bloody contortionist!
Feeling fairly safe, she took her first step and sighed with relief when her foot found the next rung easily. As she descended, she started to feel foolish about her fear and gave a self-deprecating chuckle.

It was as she finished laughing that she heard an ominous crack and suddenly her feet were dangling in mid-air. "Oh shit! Someone get me a ladder or a rope, or even a bloody ogre to lift me off here! I don't want to die like this," she wailed.
A pair of hands grabbed her waist. "You can let go, Angel. I've got you."
She turned her head and saw Aedan standing a few feet below. "Oh, well damn it, someone could have told me."
"We had to wait for you to take a breath first," Wynne replied as she struggled to hold back her laughter.
Emma tried to look dignified as Aedan set her on her feet. "I may have panicked a little." She saw the bubbling amusement in everyone's eyes. "Oh go on, get it out of your system."

There were still a few chuckles as they reached the first door. However, they curtailed their mirth when they spotteda the numerous undead. The animated corpses were dealt with in a timely fashion and they continued on their way until they heard someone shouting for help. They rushed through the door and saw more undead crowding around a jail cell. Leliana got their attention with a few well-placed arrows and drew them away from the inhabitant of the cell. As they fought the zombies, someone called out, "Hello? Who's there? Is there anyone alive out there?"
"We're a bit busy killing things," Aedan shouted back before lopping the head off an undead corpse. As the last creature fell, they made their way to the cell and got their first look at Jowan. Emma was taken aback by how rough he looked. In the game, Jowan would comment that the guards had tortured him, but there hadn't been any evidence of that. However, that certainly wasn't the case now; his clothes were torn, his face bruised and swollen, and a trickle of blood ran from a wound at his hairline.

"Wait, you don't look like the Arlessa's guards. Are you from outside the castle?"
Aedan eyed the imprisoned man. "You must be the mage Lady Isolde mentioned." By the end of the questioning, Jowan had revealed how he'd poisoned the Arl, and that he used blood magic. As one would expect, Jowan's confession did not endear him to the companions gathered. In fact, Alistair looked ready to commit murder. Emma put a restraining hand on his arm, noting the glitter of anger in his eyes.
"We're going to need him before this day is through," she said.
He blew out a frustrated breath and stepped back, his hand leaving the hilt of his sword. It was a unanimous decision to leave Jowan in his cell while the group continued their exploration of Redcliffe Castle.