22-Warden Expedition: Soldier's Peak

Mari couldn't believe her eyes. Soldier's Peak was enormous! The front was narrow, but as she looked down the curving side wall, it stretched away farther than she could completely make out. Hidden away all those centuries. Levi's effort to map out the tunnels enabled finding the old fort … along with the sort-of-switchback pathway conducive to wagons. The Drydens had put up helpful arrows and signs recently, so everyone could find their way. She supposed Solas would just fly over and drop down inside the wall … walking in quite easily. What an ability flight would be … along with the disguise of a bird. The thought made Mari look up into the trees by the entrance.

"I think Solas wouldn't just sit in the trees and watch us without hailing us," Anton said from behind her. The tired people nearby all laughed. It was good to hear laughter. The trip from the Vigil had been fairly quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts.

"So, Solas is that guy who flew in and shapeshifted to an elf to tell you about the Architect asshole?" Varric asked Mari quietly.

"Yes," Mari replied. Then, she proceeded to tell him all about Solas and all the good things he'd been doing to help the Wardens. It took that long to winch the newly-strengthened sturdy metal portcullis up, open the metal reinforced gate and secure everything. Following that, the wagons and people were sorted out in the large front quadrangle.

"You guys really have some great help, huh," Varric said.

"The best Varric," Mari said with a grin on her face. "Help like you."

"Awww …" He had his own grin going as he turned to head up the entry stairs.

A passage to the large new stables and barns ran along the back eastern wall. Mari took Rosy to a nice, warm stall. "Me name's Winsel, Warden. We'll take good care o' her. Doncha worry none," Winsel told Mari.

As Mari gave Rosy the last apple in her pack, she said, "Rosy's had a long ride to get here, Winsel. Thank you for taking care of her." Then, she smiled and nodded farewell at the young man's big grin.

Alistair caught up to her at the door to the stables. "The cook is beside herself at the delivery in the wagons."

"Oh! That reminds me," Mari said as she reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a sack. "I need to give Callie these sunflower seeds." When Alistair looked confused, she pulled out a smaller bag and handed him one of the roasted seeds and took one herself. She put the seed in her mouth so that the front teeth could bite down on the seam and split the seed shell. She took the shell out of her mouth and showed him the smaller tasty seed on her tongue … which she quickly chewed and swallowed. "These are already soaked in salt water and roasted. Dealing with the seed may take …"

Alistair popped the seed in his mouth, crunched around a bit and spit the shell into hand, dropping it into a nearby bush. "Like that?" he asked with a grin. "Yum! Those are good! More." After a few more, he expanded, "Mother would roast pumpkin seeds like this, but these shells are a little thinner and crispier, I think."

"I'm glad you like them! Andi is already planning to plant some in our roof garden when the actual stairs get built. Growing stuff and climbing a ladder with baskets of vegetables is dangerous." Mari munched on a few more seeds. "Let's see if we can help Callie."

Several Wardens joined in and all the wagons were unloaded in good time. Per Callie's orders, the crates and sacks were lined up along the hallway outside the kitchen. She shooed everyone out of her kitchen so she and her helpers could sort it all out. Mari mentioned the sunflower seeds to her, but Callie already knew about them from a letter from Andi. She was very excited to be able to plant some and use the seeds in her ration bars!

The interior showed its age much more than the exterior, surprisingly. The plastered stone wall coatings were crumbling. Patch jobs had been attempted over the centuries, but it seemed that the demons weren't into home repair and remodel. The Drydens had made a terrific start in cleaning it all out, but there was a lot of work that would still need doing … starting with some furniture, rugs and wall-hangings. It momentarily made Mari sad. The condo she bought before that fateful day had just been renovated. Her new couch and office desk had been delivered the day before her life entirely changed.

After the newcomers got settled in bunkrooms, Anton called Mari and Alistair into the Commander's office. She'd been told about the horrific battle in the room with a demon wearing Sophia Dryden's armor and body. Anton put his hands on his hips and looked around. "I assure you it did not look nearly this good the last time we were through here."

Arctavi walked in carrying a sheaf of what looked like blueprints. He looked around and pointed to a corner of the room. "These are old plans of this place that were stored in Weisshaupt. It shows that there should be a large storeroom there. In fact, it shows many hallways in the lower levels that must have been closed up for some reason."

"Maybe this one is a hidden room?" Mari asked as she walked over and started looking for any unusual features. "There's a barely visible seam here," she said as she ran her finger down the wall about three feet from the corner Arctavi pointed to. She looked around more. "Now, we just need to see if there's a trigger somewhere to open it. Anything on the plans?"

Anton had joined Arctavi at the Commander's desk. They were looking at the plans with a large magnifying glass. "Here!" Anton said. He looked up and pointed to a bookcase to the left of the seam. "What do you think, Arctavi? Any idea what kind of trigger to look for?"

Arctavi walked over and ran the magnifying glass over the seam and along the wall behind the bookcase down to the floor.

Alistair tried to move the bookcase but it didn't budge. "They've attached it to the wall for some reason."

Mari was looking over the books in the bookcase and noticed one that was just a little bit different. It couldn't be that easy, could it? she thought to herself as she first tried to tilt the book forward … wouldn't tilt … so she pulled it straight out an inch or so.

The door clicked and creaked open to an enormous three-level storeroom of many rows of armor stands, weapon racks, tabards, potion racks … and chests.

The normally taciturn Arctavi grinned at Mari. "Good job!"

"I put a similar latch in a story I wrote … a long time ago." She smiled at him. "Maybe that's the whole reason I was guided here? To open the door?" She looked around and started laughing. "I'm kidding."

Most of the chests were filled with gold coins, called sovereigns in Ferelden. The Ferelden Grey Wardens were rich! Anton had everyone move the chests to the very back of the storeroom and put crates with putrid-smelling contents in front of them. Everyone there was sworn to secrecy until Anton could contact Duncan.

Fortunately, anything metal was still in pretty good shape. The leather bits would need to be replaced. A rack of potions was filled with bottles of dust or disgusting looking liquids. Sadly, that odor of decay spilled out into the office.

"Wonder if there's a spell to get rid of the stink," Alistair said with a cough. He turned to the weapons and armor. "This stuff has to be magical," Alistair said. "Or, it would be in much worse shape. Too bad Andwn is with Riordan. He could tell us what it's all good for."

"No need," a voice said from the doorway. "I can do that."

"Anders!" Mari said. She had only met him briefly, but remembered what he looked like. He had one of those smiles that no one could ever forget.

Levi Dryden stepped in. "We have visitors." He indicated that the Circle folk in the hallway should step inside. "Knight-Commander Greagoir can introduce them."

Greagoir stepped inside. "We got an urgent message that Ferelden is in a Blight, so it became time to … honor our promises. We were just going to stop here for the evening, but it looks like the Wardens have started to move in. I learned the way when I was here earlier to make sure the demons were gone. The guard at the base made sure we didn't get lost, anyway." He motioned to a female in robes. "This is Lehan Amell." He pointed to a man in Templar armor. "This is Ser Cullen. All three have volunteered to join the Grey Wardens." He sighed. "There may be others, but we must first ascertain we have enough mages to properly train the apprentices."

"Before you ask," Anders said. "Bethany was torn, but decided she was needed more by the children and the Kinloch Hospital." He turned to Lehan. "Bethany and Lehan discovered that they are related. Bethany's mother was an Amell."

"With Anders leaving, we'll be putting Bethany in charge of the hospital." Greagoir smiled. "It is quite popular with most of the people from the surrounding farm-holds. So far, those who do not like the idea have just decided not to use it, as Schmidt surmised."

Again, the name "Schmidt" pulled Mari's thoughts to her old friend.

"Bethany also said she was going to speak with her brothers during their next visit and see if she can convince them to become Wardens. But, she's worried about her mother being all alone," Greagoir added.

"My wife heads up the immense task of feeding the Grey Warden compound in Denerim, Knight-Commander," Anton said. "If Mistress Hawke is interested, I'm certain Andi could find a place for her there."

"That may not be a bad idea," Greagoir said. "If it could delay Duncan coming to conscript more mages, even better."

Anton chuckled. "No guarantees on that front, but more sturdy warriors are never a bad thing. Bryant has been Maker-sent against darkspawn mages. Andwn has been working himself to death as only one of too few mages in our current cadre. Anders and Lehan are most welcome. As is, Ser Cullen."

"Warden Bryant was definitely Maker-sent in the battle with The Architect," Alistair said.

Alistair was kept from saying more when both Cullen and Greagoir said, "The Architect?!"

"Yes, we destroyed him and his improved darkspawn at Vigil's Keep on our way here. Riordan and the Weisshaupt Wardens knew of the Architect's perverse use of Wardens as laboratory subjects," Anton explained. "I take it you knew of the Architect. Anyway, it was the first big battle of the Fifth Blight. It was a good start even though we still lost good Wardens as well as promising recruits who had just valiantly stepped up earlier that evening."

"The Architect was not one of the better chapters in our Circle," Greagoir said. He looked to Mari. "With all our training and harsh rules, even a First Enchanter can be corrupted." After a moment or two of reflection, he added, "But, that is over and done now. Thank the Maker." He smiled at Anton. "And, thank the Maker that the Grey Wardens were nearby even if they likely drew the Architect out."

"I wasn't here for that episode with your Orlesian First Enchanter, but I've heard the stories. I'm glad, as well, Knight-Commander," Anton said as he was helping Anders lay out the swords and armor. "Mari, stay up here and take down how each item is enchanted. We'll need to reorganize this storeroom."

"Got it." Mari pulled over fresh parchment and quills with an ink well. She moved a small table up to the row of weapons that looked fairly new. "Do they look so well-preserved because of the enchantments?"

"Yes," Lehan replied. "Usually, we create enchanted metal that gets worked into the blade or body of the weapon through a magical blacksmithing process. Once that's done, either dwarves or Tranquil can work lyrium runes into it based on the desire of the wielders." Lehan sort of surprised Mari. Her accent was the same as Mari's … as if she had come from Earth's America. She was originally from Kirkwall. Varric spoke without an accent, too, and he was also from Kirkwall. She was tall, a good 4 or 5 inches taller than Mari. Long red hair was pulled back into a ponytail fastened at her neck and she wore a typical robe that most mages wore. Hers was a dull green … made her look a little like Christmas.

"Lehan, take those bows and daggers and identify the enchantments on each. Let Mari know so she can catalogue them. I'll take the shields and longer swords," Anders said. "We'll save the armor for last."

"I'll just be gone a few minutes," Anton said. "I need to send a messenger bird to Duncan to let him know the good news." He put his hands on his hips and thought a moment. "We might even be able to hold a Joining ceremony right here when Riordan gets back."

"I'll go with you, Anton," Arctavi said.

Mari turned to Anders and asked, "How much of a mana drain will this do to you? Should I see if we have extra lyrium potions or ask Callie to bring up some snacks?"

Anders and Lehan laughed. Anders said, "Snacks are always good!"

"I'll go take care of the snacks," Alistair said with a grin as he backed out the door.

Greagoir just shook his head. "Cullen, come help me bring up the chests of extra lyrium … gift from the Ferelden Circle."

Mari was stunned for a second. She recently found out how valuable lyrium was and how difficult it was to produce. "Wow, that's very generous. Thank you."

Cullen guffawed. "Don't thank us yet. Identifying the enchantments on all these things will probably use it all up."

"How long do we have?" Lehan asked. She reached into her pack and pulled out several long sticks which she lit with the tiniest bit of flame. "This should help overcome the odor until we can move all those old potions and degraded ingredients out, but that will likely come last."

Mari grinned. "What are those?" she asked while thinking, They have incense here!

"They come from the bark of a fragrant evergreen tree around the Circle. We make a paste from the bark and glob it around a metal spike and let it dry over a couple weeks. A small flame will allow it to burn slowly for quite some time. I have plenty of the paste," Lehan explained with a smile. "I also saw some of the trees around here, too."

"If we get time, write down the procedure and we can make more," Mari said. Then, she pursed her lips. "And, I really have no idea how long we have to do this. I do know that Senior Warden Riordan, who's commanding this expedition to Orzammar, is out checking on Drake's Fall, an abandoned holding. The Architect was trying to retreat in that direction before we stopped it and destroyed the monster and his dwarf vessel." More quietly, she added, "We lost five Wardens and eight non-Wardens to them."

Anders walked over and held Mari's arms. "I know they won't be the last, but we're here to help keep all the Wardens as healthy as we can."

"You can count on us, Warden," Lehan said.

All she could say without tearing up was a grateful, "Thank you so much."

The rest of the day was spent taking a magical item, casting a spell on it and finding out what enchantments it had on it. Greagoir and Cullen brought up three large chests of lyrium potions. Cullen stayed and helped with the cataloguing. In addition to the overall inventory, they cut some of the parchment into small tags. They put the enchantment information on the tags and tied them to the weapon or armor.

Greagoir went downstairs to see what he could do to help. Anton had Greagoir, Gorim and Alistair go through a library of sorts close to the kitchen. He was afraid the things left in the library weren't much more than dust and he was correct. There were a few historical pages that must have had a magical preservation spell on them. Those would be a gold-mine later when someone could get around to reading them.

The next day, the enchantment cataloguing continued while Greagoir and Alistair went to tackle the old Warden blood Mage tower. The documents left there — after Andwn had quickly gone through them when they had to execute the old blood mage — had mostly all been preserved … although, everyone wished the more horrendous journals had turned to dust, lost forever. Arctavi, however, demanded that everything be kept. Mari suspected he would be the one to read all that stuff. Poor man.

They found the Peak's Joining Chamber that rivaled Denerim's chamber in its size and presence.

By the eighth day, Anton was making plans to go see what was keeping Riordan. Just as he was about to call a meeting and give out assignments for a rescue mission, Riordan and the people with him came limping through the door. One person was being carried on a litter.

Everyone ran out to see them. "Andwn!" Mari yelled as she bolted down the stairs … for he was the one on the litter.

Riordan asked everyone to step to the side so they could put Andwn on a bed. The elf mage's face was pale and drawn. "We need to send to the Circle for a healer immediately!" Riordan said.

"Not necessary," Greagoir said. "We have two of the Circle's best healers with us." He turned to Anton. "Is there a room we can put Andwn into?"

That snapped Anton out of his gaze on the injured mage. "Yes, of course. Follow me."

"Thank the Maker you're here, Greagoir," Riordan said. "We've been using poultices and potions to keep him barely alive."As they followed Anton into the small dormitory next to the entry hall, Riordan explained, "We found a speaking darkspawn broodmother at the bottom of Drake's Fall. Marienna said she'd fought a non-speaking one once a long time ago. However, this broodmother was insane … because 'the Father took away the song'. The Father being the Architect. It graciously thanked us for killing the Father … before it attacked us." They carefully held the litter at bed height while several others eased Andwn onto the bed. "Apparently, some of the Architect's enlightened darkspawn were not grateful for the change."

Anders and Lehan made their way to the bed while everyone else stayed out of the room in order to give the mages all the space they needed … and to be ready to get anything they needed.

Anders passed a scan spell over Andwn. "He's been poisoned."

Dugan limped over to a crate and sat down. "That broodmother oozed slime out of her bottom to defend against melee and then, she spit poison at anyone in range unlucky to be caught by one of her tentacles."

"You okay?" Gorim asked his friend.

"Yeah, the monster tripped me up with one of her tentacles but didn't get a grab on me," Dugan explained.

"By the Stone," Gorim said under his breath.

Makis joined Dugan on another crate. "Did you know about those things, Dugan?"

"The Wardens told the Shaperate that genlocks come from dwarves, hurlocks from humans, shrieks from elves and ogres from Qunari. The phrase 'come from' gives the impression of some kind of mother or physical transformation. That was just a guess until now. Stone save us."

"There were also some new darkspawn that looked like … bugs, I guess," Marienna said from the doorway. "But, they sensed as darkspawn. They just spewed out of mounds like ants."

Riordan sat next to Dugan. He looked tired and worried. "Arctavi, do you have any information on broodmothers with you?"

"Yes. Downstairs," he replied as he sat on the floor. He looked to be considering his next words very carefully. Then, as he pulled out a small leather pouch, he added, "I also brought this. You can communicate directly with the First Warden. It's all I have left from my family after they disowned me for joining the Grey Wardens. So, I just haven't mentioned it to anyone but the First Warden. Anton used it to let Duncan know about our new recruits. It was charged up by Andwn before they broke off from us to go to Drake's Fall. You only have a short time before it's used up, so keep any messages brief and to the point."

Makis and Mari looked at each other. Mari said to herself, "Like a battery." She didn't say more because they needed to make the sending quickly.

They found out that the Landsmeet concluded. Duncan, Del and Loghain were on their way to Ostagar with Wardens, Ferelden soldiers and volunteer soldiers from the holdings. Duncan approved the Joining for Alistair and Gorim as soon as Andwn was back on his feet. Anders, Lehan and Cullen would need to complete their first darkspawn battle before they could be Joined. Some traditions were sacrosanct to Duncan.

"Lehan, I'll pull out the poison. You heal his body as I pull it out," Anders said. He looked around. "Do we have some sort of pan or large jar we don't need to keep?"

From out in the other room, Callie replied, "I know just the thing. Be right back!" In minutes, she ran into the room with a large pot. "We burned the stew horribly one night a while ago. No way to clean it. It was in the discard box."

"Perfect!" Anders replied. "Now, I'm going to pull out as much of the poison as I can. It will look like a cloud over his body. Carefully … very carefully … put the pot under the cloud and I'll release it into the pot. Once I've gotten out as much as I can, we'll need to take that pot out and start a fire in it. No need to neutralize it first. We just need to get rid of it. I'll put a very small amount into a vial to study for the future. Maybe we can come up with a poison neutralizing potion for broodmothers."

Lehan carefully held the pot under the cloud of poison forming over Andwn. "A Deep Roads healing kit is what we need to figure out."

"Sounds like our new recruits are already thinking like Wardens." Riordan stood. "Cullen and Greagoir, please stay in here and see to anything the healers need. Let us know and we'll do our best to locate it. The rest of us need to leave them to their healing."

"Get some of those extra lyrium potions down here, just in case," Lehan asked.

Cullen walked out. "I'll get one of the crates. Be right back."

Everyone reluctantly shuffled out the door. Before the healers got started, Mari stepped up to Andwn and whispered in his ear, "You must heal. We need you. You are the most important of all of us."

She stepped back. Anders and Lehan were smiling at her as she walked out the door and closed it.

Alistair and Varric were standing nearby waiting for her. Alistair had a worried look on his face. "I wonder what other horrors await us with this Blight," he said to her.

"Let's go see if Riordan and Anton are talking about it," Mari said as she took Alistair's hand and headed to the Commander's office. "Varric, you really need to think about going with us when we take on any future darkspawn."

The dwarf squeezed her arm and said, "Don't worry, Princess. I'll be careful."

As they climbed the stairs past the kitchen and the decrepit library, Alistair asked with a grin, "So, how long has he been calling you 'Princess'?"

She sighed. "Since he caught us on the ramparts night before last. I can't think of a better nickname, at the moment. Or … how about just my last name … Park?" She stopped at the top of the second small flight of stairs and grinned at both of them. Then, she looked in the Commander's Office when they heard Riordan exclaim, "Maker's Mercy!" from inside the secret room.

Alistair held out his hand and Varric dropped a coin into it. Alistair explained, "I wagered that Riordan wouldn't blaspheme. We agreed that calling on the Maker for mercy isn't blasphemy."

"You Wardens aren't natural," Varric groused. "Any normal person would have strung together a litany of blasphemies when he saw all that stuff."

Mari walked in to see a huge grin on Arctavi's face. She'd seen that often while they'd been in Soldier's Peak … before, not so much. He was putting away his sending stone when they walked in. He looked up and said, "Haska's found an old inventory of the weapons and armor said to be stored here. Some of the swords are legendary Warden weapons."

"That should be helpful!" Mari said.

"Bet none of 'em creates a griffon," Varric said.

"Funny you should mention that," Riordan said as he walked out with a pair of matched daggers with obvious runes imbedded near the hilts. "Haska also told us that there was a diary he found while tearing apart the library and vaults at Weisshaupt. It was wedged in a pretty good hiding place. It was written by Garahel's sister. He's reading it all the way through, but he started at the end. No idea why."

"That's the way to read diaries, Senior Warden," Arctavi said. "The beginnings are usually mundane things, middles are gossipy things, but the end … just before the writer stops making entries and hides the thing … usually tells of the best secrets."

"Nothing in anything you said so far tells about griffons," Alistair said with a boyish grin on his face.

"The diary says that she hid some untainted griffon eggs with a preservation spell on them," Riordan said.

"Un-tainted?!" both Varric and Alistair said at the same time.

"Yeah, they're bringing the diary with them. Hopefully, I can read through it before they move on," Arctavi explained. "Duncan's sending Ardoc and a couple other Denerim Wardens up to Weisshaupt to look into it. He's stopping here first to drop off some stuff Haska found about Soldier's Peak. Haska's still going through stuff in Denerim. We brought a lot of stuff with us."

"I'm assuming some of us will be gone by then?" Mari asked.

"Maybe, depends on Andwn. You, me, Anton, Alistair, Dugan, Makis and Gorim … and Andwn, we hope … will be heading to Highever and then Orzammar as soon as Andwn's able to travel," Riordan said. He looked at Varric. "Duncan told me that it's up to you if you want to go to Orzammar, Varric."

Varric put on his thinking face, folded his arms and looked at Riordan. "Actually, I'd like to go with Ardoc to check on these griffon eggs, if that's possible."

"That's up to Ardoc," Riordan said. "However, you need to know that Ardoc pushes his traveling companions when he's in charge. He's made it to Weisshaupt in just over a month from Denerim."

Arctavi shook his head. "Ardoc holds the speed record for travel between Denerim and Weisshaupt. Heh, no one wants to travel with him!"

Mari looked pensive for a moment. "I wonder …"

"What?" Alistair asked.

"That Eluvian I came through? Solas explained it went to a part of the Fade called The Crossroads. It was the place I fell into just before I found the other Eluvians that went to other places and the one where I saw Duncan, Andwn, Anton, Dugan and Makis in the Deep Roads and ended up here. I wonder if there's one close to Weisshaupt." She turned to Arctavi. "Is your sending stone depleted?"

He took it out and the glow was decidedly dull. "Almost."

"Solas might know of an Eluvian. Have Duncan and Del left Denerim?" she asked.

"I think so." Arctavi shrugged. "It's a quick question." He moved his hand over the stone and waited.

Soon, Del said, "Yes?"

"Can we get Solas to come to Soldier's Peak?" Arctavi asked. "I don't have much power left."

"He's already on his way with Ardoc," Del said. "What …" And, the stone's glow winked out.

Arctavi put the depleted stone in it's leather case. "I'll contact him and explain after a mage is able to charge it again."

Anders walked up to the doorway and leaned against the frame. "Lehan's sitting with Andwn right now. I don't think either of us would be up for that until tomorrow." He looked at Anton. "Is there a bunk for me to sleep on and not be disturbed for a few hours?"

"Right. Follow me. There are some general barracks this way," Anton said. Then, he led Anders … as well as Greagoir and Cullen who walked up at that moment … away down the short stairs.

Mari turned to Arctavi. "Do you know what that sending stone is made from?"

He shrugged. "It looks like some kind of opaque, shiny crystal-like thing. There are a lot of stones like this in the old Arlathan forests. To be honest, my ancestors likely found it and stole it from the elves."

"That would be more definite than likely," Solas said as he walked up to the doorway. Then, he smiled and added, "What are we talking about?"

Arctavi got his stone out. He smiled at Solas and handed him the stone. "We were just wondering when you would get here. We have things to ask you. The stone's charge is depleted."

Solas looked at it and then, with a small incantation, he sent a steady blue-white beam toward it. "There, it is charged once again. Thank you for showing it to me." After the Tevinter Warden put it back in its pouch, Solas added, "It is indeed a stolen artifact from Arlathan. I used to have a set, but when I thought I was one elf of only a few left, I destroyed it along with many other sets … much to my regret now. Obviously, I did not destroy all of them. A trip to Arlathan Forest may be beneficial sometime. So, why did you need to speak with me?"

"Is that bluish-white beam from lightning, Solas?" Mari asked.

"Nay, it is a lyrium beam of magic," he replied. "I doubt that stone can hold a harsh form of energy like lightning."

"Ah well, too bad." She smiled at Solas. "And, probably something I should drop looking for. Is Ardoc with you?" Mari asked.

"He's a few hours behind me," Solas said. "I told him that I would fly ahead." Solas laughed. "He is a very stern travel-master and we have a long way to go. We actually took turns sleeping in the wagon on the road. He did make short, frequent stops for the horses, though. Not stopping to camp still had us faster than those who did camp. Efficient, if trying."

"We were curious if there was an alternate way to travel to Weisshaupt," Mari said. "Perhaps, an Eluvian somewhere in Ferelden that might cut some time off the trip?"

"I spoke with Ardoc about one nearby already," Solas replied. "He is reticent to leave his wagon behind. For that particular Eluvian, any crates or materials brought through would need to be water-proofed." He smiled at Mari. "As with the Eluvian on Earth, this one is at the bottom of a lake. And, no, that is not common in my experience."

"So, he'll have to buy a new wagon on the other side, regardless. I assume you'd have to take ship across the Waking Sea," Mari said. "Is there a place to store a second wagon for a return trip to Weisshaupt in the future?"

Solas looked thoughtful for a moment. As Anton walked back into the room, Solas asked him, "Do you have a recent map of the northern countries?"

Anton stepped into the storeroom and pulled out a large ledger. He turned to somewhere in the middle. "This map is the most current we have."

Solas looked at it. "I would think there would be a closer Eluvian. If Ardoc can be convinced to allow me to explore a few Eluvians, our trip may be even faster. Seeing the two mountain ranges on either side of Weisshaupt, there might be an increased chance of a hidden Eluvian there in a cave system or something like that."

"Like the one you exited in the Deep Roads, Mari," Dugan said after a few minutes.

"Take care not to go through one near Kal-Sharok in the Deep Roads," Makis explained. "They hate any dwarves but themselves … anyone, really."

"You'll need to tell the tale when we get back on the road, Makis," Mari said.

That made the dwarves laugh. "Nope, not me. Since Varric wants tae go with the group to Weisshaupt, you can probably get Dugan tae tell it."

Solas looked surprised. "Why do you want to go along?" he asked Varric.

"Because of … griffons?!" Varric replied with an incredulous lilt to his voice.

"That's right," Solas said. "They became extinct at the end of the Fourth Blight … may still be. To be honest, that's one of my reasons as well. Any way we can save such a magnificent and legendary creature should be done."

"One of your reasons?" Mari asked.

"I also wish to explore the citadel. I would not gain permission any other way," Solas explained.

"You could jus' fly in, change into a rat and no one would know you were there," Makis said.

"I could, but I prefer to do it without sneaking around." Solas took a deep breath. "Del also wants me to begin a mage training program for shapeshifting." To stall any objections to his abandoning Ferelden, he added quickly, "Warden Arisiel has already begun putting together such a program in Ferelden for Wardens. In any case, Del told me that there are already several Dalish mage Wardens there already. I've written out a list of salient points to shapeshifting and the teaching of the spell using much of what Arisiel had already established. I merely need to leave it with them to follow as they see fit."

"Thank the Stone that Del's the First Warden," Gorim mumbled.

A knock at the door caused Anton to look at Solas who indicated he should open it. Greagoir walked in. He was in pants and a shirt and his hair looked like he just got up. It took a few moments for him to be recognized. He leaned against the doorframe and looked around the room, stopping at Solas. "You must be Solas. Wynne told me about you and how adept you were at shapeshifting. I recognize the value of it during a Blight. I advise that all Wardens be very careful how overtly you practice the craft." He held up a messenger bird note and read it. "Be advised, Ferelden. Lord Seeker Lambert will be sending Seekers to Ferelden during the Blight to oversee the uses of necessary proscribed magic." He folded it up and put it into his pocket. "That was sent to the Circle by Revered Mother Dorothea. They just got it to me here. She's helping the conclave during the Divine's most recent illness." He looked back at Solas. "Wynne also told me you were an outstanding healer. Would you go down to look over Andwn?"

Solas looked alarmed. "What happened?"

Dugan got up and headed out the door. "Come on. I'll tell you on the way down."

After Dugan and Solas left, everyone began to go their own ways … most of them to bed. Varric said he was going to speak with Ardoc, who had just arrived, about going with the Weisshaupt group before he turned in. Mari stopped Greagoir. "I know you have your priorities."

Greagoir arched one eyebrow. Mari always wished she could do that. Phil's partner Donogan's was almost as good as Greagoir's. "And?" he asked suspiciously.

That made Mari laugh. They heard Alistair laugh just outside the door. "You already know that we cannot continue to depend solely on Andwn. Anders and Lehan and Cullen are Maker-sent and you have the Wardens' sincere gratitude. However, you are already well-aware that the Wardens need more magical assistance. I wonder. Has the Crown also sent a request?"

Greagoir sighed. "They have. The Circle will do its best to accommodate both the Wardens and the Crown…."

She finished his sentence. "But, you would have to send Templars with those going to the Crown and that doubles your requirement," Mari said. At his small smile of surprise, she continued, "I only mention this as a part of your plans, but what will you do when the faithful turn up at that thick metal door and beg for protection?"

Greagoir's small smile turned quickly into a deep frown. "We can't subject the faithful to untrained apprentices."

"Nor can you leave them to the darkspawn. That's why I thought I'd bring it up as a possible situation. You've been busy with the Warden and Crown demands … again, thank you for that. You've done more to help the faithful with the healing clinic. They've come to depend upon you. We hope to keep the Blight in the Korcari, but it doesn't mean the Archdemon won't send groups through the Deep Roads to attack the northlands."

He sat on the edge of the desk and sighed. "Do you have any ideas?"

Alistair and Anton stepped back in. "Now, you've asked for it," Alistair said.

"Mari always has ideas," Anton added. "However, I have a thought or two if I may."

"Of course," Greagoir said.

"The last time I was at the Circle, the apprentices and the training library are on the bottom floor; however, eating and meetings take place on upper floors … so, it's not a rule that the apprentices stay on the first floor all the time, right?" Anton asked.

Greagoir furrowed his brow. "I think I see where you're going here. If we can put strong enough wards on the doors to the Reliquary and the currently empty detention cells in the basement, we could move the apprentices up to a higher floor along with their library until the Blight has passed … or we run out of food and necessities." He sighed again. "I'll have to talk it over with Irving."

"If you can come up with a plan now, spread the word … and ask the faithful to bring food and necessities for themselves and to share … as well as patience," Mari added. "As Riordan mentioned recently, during a Blight not everyone need become a Warden or a fighter. Perhaps, the non-fighting faithful can house at the Circle and perform tasks assigned by a coordinator so they can also feel useful … and maybe not so scared."

Just then, Solas walked in and looked drained. Greagoir asked if he needed lyrium, to which Solas only nodded his head as he dropped into a chair. Mari went into the storeroom, got one and gave it to Solas. "We'll definitely be able to share more lyrium with the Wardens once our new request from Orzammar arrives," Greagoir said.

After drinking the potion and sitting a moment, Solas said, "That was the most virulent poison I've ever run across. Lehan told me that Anders saved a small bit to study. I've left a list of my thoughts for them to use if they wish. Ardoc wants to leave at dawn to see about the passage through the Eluvian." He looked at Anton. "Andwn should be well enough to continue on in two or three days. I'm sure you're anxious to go as soon as Andwn is able." He put his hands on his knees and grunted as he stood. "Now, I am going to go to sleep in a non-moving bunk. Good-night … and good luck on your journey west."

"Safe journey," Alistair said.

Greagoir smiled. "I'm going to go back to bed myself. See you in the morning."

Alistair swept his hand out the door. "I have something to show you outside," he said to Mari.

Mari stepped into the storeroom, came out with two lyrium potions and closed the door until the lock clicked. "For Lehan. If we're going outside, we can check on her."

"Good idea," Alistair agreed.

They went all the way downstairs, first checking on Andwn who was asleep. Lehan just smiled and waved. Mari hugged her and gave her the lyrium. Mari whispered the words, "In case …"

Then, Alistair showed Mari to a secluded garden in the front courtyard. There was a beautiful metal rack with metal ribbons around the edges. There were several urns of ashes already in place with the names of the Wardens on them who had perished in the fight with the Architect. Across the top, in metal letters were the words, In War, Victory. In Peace, Vigilance. In Death, Sacrifice. "Mikhael Dryden has been working on this memorial," Alistair explained. "He suggested we keep the Warden ashes here along with listing the names on the memorial wall in Denerim, providing the family doesn't request them."

Mikhael walked up behind them and added, "Callie says she's going to plant some of those sunflowers around the edges … to take some of the sad out."

Mari spun around and ran up to Mikhael. To his credit, he didn't flinch as she put her arms out. "May I hug you?" she asked him.

He held his arms out and Mari hugged him for many long moments … until she realized she was crying. She exited the hug and wiped her eyes with the handkerchief Alistair handed her. "Princess Anora tells me I cry too much."

With what Mari would later find out was a rare smile, Mikhael said, "Well, then, we balance each other out. I'm told I don't cry enough. Pah, I'd heard that Wardens were always so solemn. I've learned different in the past few months. I don't make bows. I saw you used a bow and daggers. Would you let me make a dagger or two for you?"

Mari grinned and the waterworks stopped. "Would I 'let you' make me a dagger? You bet I would, Mikhael." She looked back at the remembrance framework. "Any person who could make such a wonderful thing so fitting for the heroes of the Wardens … well, I would be honored to wield a weapon crafted by him."

"I should have something for you by the time you head out with Riordan," he said. Then, he nodded. "Good night, Wardens."

After their good-byes, Mikhael headed for his smithy. Mari turned to Alistair and took his hands. "I hope I never live long enough to see your name on that memorial."

He put his hand on the side of her face. "Neither do I, so we'd better go at the same time, huh."

As his lips pressed against hers and his arms wrapped tightly around her body, Mari was reminded again of her parents who passed within minutes of each other. Was Alistair the man she was looking for? Could she bear to live without him? Any other questions were lost to a few moments of passionate embraces and kisses.

They separated at some point and headed to their separate bunks. Surprisingly, Mari went to sleep right away, likely exhausted from the day … and desiring nothing more than dreaming of Alistair.

Things didn't turn out that way.

"So, I have you and the Wardens to thank for ridding us of the abomination Architect," a deep, raspy voice said in Mari's dream. Her dream self was sitting on a somewhat dry log in a swamp-like place. Maybe somewhere in the Korcari Wilds?

She turned around on the log to face a gigantic golden dragon laying behind her. "Thankful enough to stop the Fifth Blight?" Mari asked what had to be the Archdemon invading her dreams. She hadn't had any Archdemon dreams yet, but Marienna had a horrible one a couple of nights ago. From what Marienna described, it was nothing like the one Mari was in at that moment.

The dragon sighed. "Sadly, all that is not up to me in the waking world. If the Architect had just left me alone, I would have continued to sleep. There were powerful wards around that chamber that had protected me for millennia. No amount of scratching and digging could have defeated them, I believe. No normal darkspawn could have defeated that magic."

Mari asked, "So, I'm speaking to Urthemiel?"

"That is what some call me."

"How can I be speaking to Urthemiel and not … you know?"

"I don't know. You are different. I felt that before the taint took over my conscious mind. You have no magic yet you seem different somehow. It's as if … as if you come from a different time, but you must be quite real to have had a part in killing the Architect. I have no explanation."

"Did you have anything to do with my awakening before the Architect's fireball hit that statue I was looking out of?" Mari asked.

"I think so. I don't know. I thought 'Begone!' and you were gone after the fireball turned the statue to dust. I was confused. I still am." Urthemiel shifted and the large dragon head with jeweled eyes looked directly into Mari's eyes, "I have a request of you. You sometimes travel with an elf from my time before. He will know or can find out if my life essence can be saved at the end when the Grey Warden kills the tainted dragon body. It might save the life of the Grey Warden? I am uncertain about that."

Mari frowned. "Too bad you can't control the progress of the Blight. We could get to your wish sooner with a lot less death if you could."

"Everyone during a Blight has their role to play, young one," the dragon said. "Mine is to lead the most destructive force in the world. Non-darkspawn's role is to get rid of as many darkspawn as possible, including the Archdemon." Mari noticed the edges of the scene start to blur. "Our time tonight is ending. As Urthemiel, I don't think I will be able to return. I must bury my rational mind to protect it from going insane. One good bit of news is that killing the Architect should prevent another Blight. Provided another like him doesn't show up, there won't be a Sixth Blight."

The scene ended and Mari sat up in her bunk with a short cry of surprise.

Marienna rolled over on her bunk. "Archdemon get to you tonight?"

"Yes … no … I don't know." Mari moved her feet to feel the solid floor before she told Marienna what she had just experienced.

Marienna was also sitting up by the time Mari finished her retelling of her dream. "I've never heard of an Archdemon dream like that, Mari. We must tell Riordan and Arctavi. They might know."

Mari got up and looked out their small slit of a window. It was very early dawn. The other women from the Peak who shared their barracks room were still asleep. The sky was turning that morning yellow-blue-gray just before the sun would start to slip past the horizon into the sky.

Ardoc, Solas, Varric and the Wardens heading to Weisshaupt were already awake by the time Mari and Marienna headed downstairs. They had a wonderful surprise! Andwn was sitting in a comfy chair with his feet up on a sack of something. "I'm so happy to see you up, Andwn!"

He gave a weak laugh. "Yeah, but your face says that I look like I've been eaten by the Archdemon and spit out whole because it doesn't like elf."

"We should be so fortunate," Solas said.

Ardoc smiled. "We aren't leaving for a few hours. We didn't think you'd be up yet."

Marienna turned to Mari. "It is your story to tell, Mari. I'll go get Riordan and Arctavi." After a thought, she added Anton, Dugan and Makis to the list. Mari assumed that Duncan had mentioned Anton's worth to the Ferelden Wardens. It made her wonder if Duncan planned to make Leciah or Anton the Warden-Commander if something should happen to him.

"Story?" Varric asked.

"I had a dream that Marienna feels was unique," Mari replied. She smiled at Varric's frown. "Patience, my friend." She pitched in and helped with the deciding what to take and packing it up. They were leaving the horses and wagon at the Peak and walking over to Drake's Fall … all with the assumption the Eluvian there still worked after The Mother and her minions had infiltrated the lower levels.

Shortly enough, Marienna returned with the Wardens in tow. "I have not told them," she said.

Once everyone gathered and found a seat, Mari began. "The dream started with me sitting on a dry log in the middle of a swampy area akin to the Korcari Wilds. From behind me, a raspy voice thanked me for the Wardens killing the Architect." She noticed everyone begin to say something at the same time, so she held up her hand. "Let me finish the dream and we can talk about it."

She noticed Alistair and Gorim standing in the doorway and spared a moment to give them a smile. They both seemed a little nervous for some reason. "I turned around on the log and faced the speaker. It was a golden dragon. I asked if it were grateful enough to end the Fifth Blight."

"Only you would sass the Archdemon, Park," Varric said.

Mari smiled that Varric had taken her suggestion and used only her last name. Then, she took a deep breath. "It wasn't the Archdemon. It was Urthemiel." This time she did pause and looked at Solas. "She knows you travel with us and mentioned you might know a ritual to separate Urthemiel's essence from the Archdemon's body when the Grey Warden kills the Archdemon. It said that this ritual might save the Grey Warden's life. That request came at the end of the dream, but I thought I'd mention it now so you can ponder that. Anyway, she said that she would be unable to affect any change to the Archdemon in the waking world."

Alistair interrupted. "Sorry, but does anyone mind if I get Greagoir to hear this?"

Andwn replied. "I do. Most of the time Greagoir is pretty fair. But, when it comes to an Old God in a Grey Warden's dreams … and the potential to save the Grey Warden who kills the Archdemon with an Old God ritual … I think we should keep that among the Wardens. At least for now."

"I see your point, Andwn," Alistair admitted. He smiled his brilliant smile and added, "I'm new to this thinking. I'll try to always ask before I leap."

Riordan walked over and patted Alistair's shoulder. "You'll catch on soon enough. Just ask for any reason … any question." Everyone nodded in agreement.

"I asked her how I could be talking to Urthemiel and she told me I was different. That I didn't have any magic but I was different somehow. She said it was like I came from a different time. She explained that I must be real enough since I helped to kill the Architect, but that was her initial impression. She had no solid explanation." Mari shrugged and smiled. She did notice that Solas was looking to the side and mouthing the words "different time". "Oh, yes! She also said she believed that if the Architect hadn't defeated the wards on her chamber there would be no Blight because she felt they would have held against the darkspawn's digging and scratching. She surmised that unless there is another Architect out there, we shouldn't have any more Blights."

"If there was one of those assholes, there could be dozens more somewhere else in the Deep Roads," Varric said. "There were seven Old Gods. If Mr. Creepy was a Magister, there could be more out there."

Mari noticed that Riordan looked at Arctavi who nodded at him … but he didn't say anything, so she continued, "I told her it was too bad she couldn't at least shorten the Blight so we could come to the ending quicker with less loss of life. She explained that she was going to bury her consciousness as deep as she could or Urthemiel might become as crazed as the Archdemon is. Meaning, she couldn't control any outcomes." She spread her arms and shrugged. "Then, I woke up and told Marienna who said we needed to tell you all right away."

"Are you all right, Mari?" Anton asked and then laughed. "I know I ask that all the time, but, dammit girl, you always get into these situations."

"What did she get into this time?" Greagoir asked as he walked up behind Alistair.

Without missing a beat, Anton answered, "She had her first Archdemon dream … years before most other Wardens do."

Mari shrugged and said, "Lucky me. And, before you also ask, I'm fine. Just makes me one of the many during a Blight."

"Still want to travel with us to Highever, Knight-Commander? Our nightmares can get quite loud sometimes," Riordan chuckled.

"I'll sleep on the other side of camp." Greagoir turned to Alistair. "Ready to get started on those old manuscripts we found yesterday?"

Alistair said, "I … uh …"

"We're doing Alistair's and Gorim's Joining this morning, Greagoir," Anton said.

So, that's why they seem nervous, Mari thought to herself.

"The old chamber you and Alistair found a couple of days ago is the Joining Chamber for Soldier's Peak," Arctavi explained. "We cleaned it up yesterday and we wanted to have as many Wardens as possible as witness for the Joining … so, before the others leave this morning, we are all going to be there for support."

Greagoir turned to Alistair and then looked at Gorim. "If you both are certain this is the path for you, you have the Maker's and the Stone's Blessings, I'm certain. Good luck."

"Thank you, Greagoir!" Alistair said.

"Yeah, thanks," Gorim said. Then, he chuckled. "Better get on with it before I change my mind."

Ardoc lifted Andwn and carried him. "They waited until I could attend," Andwn said. "Hopefully, by Highever, we should have a couple more Warden mage healers!"

"I'll get word to Anders to stay on alert if you need him downstairs," Greagoir said. "Dismal place, if you ask me," he mumbled as he walked away toward the barracks.

With that the Wardens adjourned to the Joining chamber. Greagoir was right. It was dismal … until Andwn lit sconces around the room. The angle of the stonework and placements of the sconces made it quite bright in the room. It visually explained the phrase "dwarven-made" that Mari had heard many times.

Ardoc placed Andwn on a stone bench next to cots near where Alistair and Gorim would be taking their Joining.

The ceremony went similar to Mari's. Riordan gave the introductory comments and Anton recited the Joining pact.

Alistair looked down into the chalice and Makis said, "Eh, that be your first mistake, lad. Don't look. Jus' drink it down."

That made everyone laugh and broke the tension. Alistair turned toward everyone in the room. "From early in life, I thought about becoming a Grey Warden. 'Uncle' Duncan came by our home in Highever to check up on me from time to time. Just before I turned fifteen, he told me my birth father was King Maric and my birth mother was an ex-Warden Fiona, now the Grand Enchanter. That I was conceived in the Deep Roads during that mission 20 years ago where they first ran into the Architect." He took a moment to chuckle. "The following Satinalia I was heading to the Chantry to work with Elle Cousland on a show for the children and orphans. Who do I run into on the streets of Highever? Teyrn Loghain MacTir. He took one look at my face and the game was up. Everyone was called into Bryce's office for a … thing. I ended up telling Maric that he was my birth father. Needless to say, Maric was upset, Bryce Cousland was upset."

"To make this short … shorter … it was decided that I would be given until my eighteenth name-day to decide my path … Highever Guardsman, Templar … or Grey Warden. That day arrived." He looked toward Mari. "Along with this woman with a most unusual story which I'm fairly sure we all know by now. Everyone around me had their own thoughts about what I should do … except for my birth parents, my adopted parents … and Mari. She refused to give me her opinion or advice lest that interfere with what I should do with my life. I decided to become a Highever Guardsman with time off to learn about my heritage, as well as spending time with Maric and the Royal Family. But, Mari was always in my thoughts. Anyway, when I got her letter that she was going to become a Grey Warden … and I spent a little more time with her … I told Duncan if a Blight happened, I would join the Wardens." He held up the shiny chalice. "And, so, here I am." He took a deep breath, held it and quickly drank the Chalice down.

From then on was new to Mari. Alistair's eyes rolled back in his head and he fell into the waiting arms of Ardoc and Arctavi who took him to the cot next to Andwn. Anton grabbed the chalice before it hit the stone floor. "He lives," Andwn said with a smile to Mari. Almost immediately, Alistair started thrashing around … as if in a battle.

Everyone turned to Gorim. "Nothin' to say here," Gorim said and drank down the Joining formula. He also fell back, but didn't thrash around. In fact, he woke up in less than an hour with with hangover that he said would kill a bronto. Mari made a mental note to ask him what a bronto was later. He went upstairs with Dugan and Makis to grab a good breakfast … or two … or three.

The others stayed until Alistair calmed. Solas came down to add his assessment to Andwn's … that Alistair would be fine shortly.

Assured of Alistair's condition, Solas and the Drake's Fall group headed out.

Arctavi and Mari stayed to run errands for Andwn if he needed anything. They called for Anders and Lehan to double check everything as well. It really was good to have two more mages soon to be in the Warden ranks.

After only a few hours, Alistair opened his eyes. Mari happened to be the one sitting next to him. With terrified eyes, he grabbed her hand and croaked out, "You cannot be the one to kill the Archdemon!"

His grip was becoming painful, but Mari didn't let go. "I promise I will not … unless I'm the last Warden standing."

He looked confused. "But … I'm right …." He sat up and looked around. "It was a dream," he whispered. He dropped back on his sweat-soaked pillow. "It was so real. We were in Denerim. The last standing Wardens." Tears were in his eyes as he took her other hand. "You knocked me out, Mari, so you could make the killing blow," he half-sobbed.

She leaned down and caressed his face. "It was just a nightmare, Alistair. You took the Joining for the Grey Wardens. You survived it. Now, we're both Grey Wardens."

He took her hand and held it while he worked on slowing his breathing and calming down. Riordan and Anton came in and pulled chairs up to the cot … as well as pulled up a small table for the tray of food Anton carried with him. "Tell us about it, Alistair," Riordan said.

Mari reached for the bowl of stew and fresh bread."Here, eat a few bites and then tell us."

Alistair pulled himself up to lean against the wall next to the cot. He complied with Mari's suggestion. "Good idea," he said quietly as he ate a few bites.

Anton passed him a bowl of cheese cubes. "Got some of the good stuff for you, Alistair."

That got a smile out of Alistair. He took another bite of stew, several cubes of cheese and a long draught of something that smelled like that redberry juice that Mari was becoming so fond of lately. Then, he took a deep breath. "It was very strange. At first, I was just going through short bits of battles from a number of places in Denerim. The Alienage. The Market District. The Palace District and up through Fort Drakon. Mari was the only other Warden I saw." He looked at Riordan. "You disabled the Archdemon somehow and it landed atop Fort Drakon. I guess it still wanted the high ground. You … you fell to your death in front of us, Riordan." Alistair put his head in his hands. "Maker."

"Well, at least I died doing something useful," Riordan said. "But, Denerim?"

"Andraste's Tears," Anton added. "If that beast made it all the way to Denerim, all hope must have been lost."

Alistair looked at Mari. "Like I said, Mari and I were the only Wardens. We had other non-Wardens with us and there were already others on top of Fort Drakon starting the fight, but none of them were Wardens either. We had a bunch of dwarves with us and fought our way to the rooftop. Wynne was with us as was a Qunari of all things. The final room before the door to the roof had two ogres and an emissary. We lost half of those with us during that fight." Alistair's eyes started to lose focus. "When we ran out onto the roof, there were so many dead lying everywhere. I got the Archdemon's attention and Mari joined the Dalish archers until they ran out of arrows. Then, Mari and the dwarves tried to work the giant arbalests up there, but ran out of bolts as the Archdemon fell to the floor. Greagoir was also in melee with me. Irving and several other mages were trying to use magic, but the lyrium ran out. I called a halt to all attacks. It was up to the Grey Wardens to end the Blight."

Alistair took a deep breath and Mari could see the tears in his eyes. "It was all so odd. No one was wearing any tabards or Warden armor. No one. I was wearing the old armor that Arctavi told me about…Sylvia Dryden's demon wore here at the Peak. Mari had a nice set of drakeskin, it looked like. We approached the Archdemon and had an argument. Mari told me that I was … the king? And, that she needed to make the sacrifice for the sake of Ferelden. We argued more, but she eventually agreed for me to take the killing blow." He sent her a look of part fear, part anger. "Then, she knocked me out and killed it herself."

He sat up and took her shoulders. "If that situation ever comes to pass, you've got to swear to me you'll never do that!"

A bunch of answers came and went in her head before she said, "I swear." She kept to herself that if both Maric and Cailan had perished, she would have to break that promise.

He looked sad, as if he read her mind. "I guess I can't really ask that of you."

She put her hands on either side of his face. "When we go to the Maker's Side, we go together. I swear that."

"All right, enough swearing," Anton said. "I've never read anything about the Archdemon being able to foretell the future. We're doing everything possible to make certain there are many, many more Wardens at the final battle than you two. So, not unlike other Grey Wardens during their Joining, your very creative mind came up with a scenario of desperation."

"I didn't dream of anything," Gorim said from the door. He took a long drink of something in a mug. "But I do have a headache that feels like the Archdemon stepped on my head." He held up the mug. "This is making my headache all better."

"Desperation … and headaches … those are some things the Archdemon would want you to feel," Riordan said as he stood up. "Get some sleep … all of you. If you're up to it, I'd like to leave either tomorrow or the next day."

!¡!¡

AN: As always, thank you to all comments, messages and words of encouragement! Judy, thanks for your special encouragement! Next time, Weisshaupt … and a small bit with a certain familiar Antivan!