by Milton Garby
"I have been mistaken." Sten admitted.
"I know." Aedan responded casually.
"Enjoy this while it lasts, it will not happen again."
"What changed your mind?"
"You did, of course."
"Cute."
"Thank you."
"So…will you tell me why you were imprisoned back in Lothering?"
"….I caged myself. As you know, a weak mind is a dangerous foe."
"Are you saying you put yourself in that cage?"
"I know that my failings were my own. As I said before I was sent to your lands by the Arishok to learn about the Blight with seven others of the beresaad, my brothers. We made our way across the Ferelden country side without incident, seeing nothing of the threat we were meant to observe. Until the night we camped at Lake Calenhad."
Sten told Aedan of how he and his brethren were ambushed by darkspawn, which sounded almost like what happened to him at Ostagar. He told him of how he was rescued by a family of farmers. And when he discovered that his sword was lost he went into panicked, unthinking rage and struck down his rescuers.
"How could you do that over a sword?" Aedan asked.
"I have no excuses. That sword was made for my hand alone, it was a part of who I am, the thing that defined who I am. When I lost my sword, I lost who I was. When I realized what I had done, I shamed what was left of the qunari in me."
"What then?"
"I waited for several days for the village guard to come get me. I did not resist and I accepted whatever punishment they saw fit. It was no less than what I had earned. Even if I survive the blight and my people would kill me on sight. They would know me as soulless, a deserter. No soldier would ever lose his weapon while he still drew breath, no Sten of the Beresaad would shame the qunari in such a way."
Aedan could see that Sten regretted what he had done and lamented his lost honor. Even though Aedan hated the qunari, even he knew that when that to lose one's honor and their right to return home was no small thing.
"Where did you fight the darkspawn?"
"Near Lake Calenhad."
"If we have time we will find it." Aedan promised.
"Perhaps those words are empty…but thank you all the same."
Aedan left the study hall and went to the courtyard. Bodahn had set his cart up these and wasted no time helping refill the castle's stores. Aedan approached him and was vastly relieved and joyful to find that he Bodahn had a cask of Wild Wine. After all the crap he'd been through over the past two days he needed a real drink. He popped the cork and wearily sat down on one of the empty barrels next to Bodahn. Aedan downed half the bottle in one swig.
"Having a bad day, I take it?" Bodahn observed.
"Suddenly the war with Orlais doesn't seem so bad right now, Bodahn." Aedan answered.
"I know the feeling, ser, I really do." Bodahn explained. "It's always easier to want someone else's problems after they've been solved than wanting to face a problem we don't know how to approach, everyone does it. But one thing I learned early in life is when we have to come up with last minute, desperate solutions to impossible problems, all we can do is face them with our heads held high and do what we can with what we have."
Aedan was actually impressed with that bit of wisdom. "Did you learn that a bit of wisdom in Orzammar?"
"Actually I learned when I got lost in the deep-roads, and was wishing that I had just stayed home and got married to this girl my folks arranged for me."
Aedan laughed for the first time since he arrived in Redcliffe. "So tell me, any news on the road."
"Oh, there's plenty of news going around. Dark times indeed."
"Any involving Loghain?"
"Oh, he's the hottest topic of all. Even more so than the Blight going on. There are demands from the bannorn that Loghain must step down from the regency, and Loghain is calling these men traitors. Just last week the bannorn challenged him to open-field combat at Wintersbreath and Loghain met them but was outnumbered three-to-one. Despite that Loghain was able to win the day, but there where losses on both sides. Still that Loghain's tactical ablilities aren't to be underestimated."
"And his capacity for treachery isn't to be underestimated either. And now there are even less men to fight the darkspawn. What else have you heard, Bodahn?"
"Well, that wasn't the end of what happened at Winter's Breath." Bodahn answered glumly. "I heard on the road today that Bann Grainne burned her own crop rather than let Loghain's men feed on them. Three soldiers were killed in the fire. Loghain killed Grainne's husband at Winter's Breath, you see. Then Loghain sent his men to chase the woman down and the murdered her in her own manor! 'Punishment for burning the king's grain without permission' is the excuse we're told." Bodahn explained with sarcasm and disdain in his voice. "It's hogwash if you ask me! I mean, this is Ferelden, isn't it! A person can do with their crop as they please. A freeholder answers to no one!"
Aedan could hardly believe his ears. "What the hell is Loghain thinking? This is exactly this kind of tyranny that the Orlesians inflicted on us! And now he stoops to their level?"
"That's exactly what many people are saying." Bodahn answered. "Loghain's actions have reminded many of why they fought against the Orlesians in the first place and are using it as a rallying cry to rebel against the crown. Queen Anora issued a plea the bannorn to step down, lest there be a repeat of what happened at Winter's Breath. I don't think they're listening, though. Many think the queen is just repeating what her father tells her to say. Can't say that I blame them."
"Damn right!" Aedan agreed. "Where is the queen in all of this? She should be the one reigning in on her father's actions, but instead she's allowing her father to inflict this tyranny on our people."
"Well, she is still his daughter, isn't she?" Bodahn sighed. "I mean you can't ask someone to side against their father, can you?"
"She's supposed to be the queen, Bodahn." Aedan answered. "She's supposed to be giving justice and equality to her people. Do what is truly best for them. Instead she is doing only what her daddy tells her to do."
Aedan quaffed down another large swig of his Wild Wine as he remembered Anora. His father brought him and his mother to Denerim during one of his meetings with King Maric. Aedan was only thirteen at the time and Fergus was already on his sojourn in Antiva. Aedan met the future queen that day. Anora was as beautiful as a summer dream; barely into her adulthood she was already the envy of every woman and the desire of man in the kingdom. He heard a rumor that even the Empress of Orlais had commented on her charm and intellect. But Aedan never liked her and did his best to avoid being near her; he was usually prone to bludgeon people he didn't like. While he couldn't deny she was incredibly beautiful and endlessly charming, he noticed that air of superiority around her. The way she looked and talked down to people she believed were beneath her. A very Orlesian, or even Tevinter attitude. She had Cailan wrapped around her little finger and he didn't even know it. What's more she completely idolized her father. At this point, that was a dangerous and even heinous trait to have. Aedan knew she would let half the country burn if her father told her, only so long as she was queen of whatever was left. Aedan took it into consideration that she may need to be deposed in order to stop Loghain. Thankfully, he had another heir to the throne in his company.
"Excuse me. Are you the Warden? Aedan Cousland?" a stranger's voice asked.
Aedan looked up from his drink and met eye-to-eye with a middle-aged man with thick, dark hair. His face was long and his eyes were also very dark, almost black but very friendly. Kind of like the eyes of a puppy. Despite the timidity in his voice, the man nonetheless stood with a kind of humble pride and dignity.
"I am Aedan Cousland, yes." Aedan responded. "But I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, ser…?"
"Oh, where are my manners? The name is Levi, Levi Dryden." The man revealed.
Aedan's eyes went wide. That was a name he'd never thought he'd hear from the lips of another living pers
on.
"Dryden is a black name." Aedan blurted unconsciously. "Your family lost its land and titles almost over a hundred years ago!"
The man didn't seem bothered by Aedan's outburst. "But Teryn Cousland's son should know that in politics things are seldom as they seem."
Aedan felt ashamed at his lack of tact. "Forgive me, ser. I'm just surprised to hear your name still exists. How can I help you?"
"Did Duncan ever mention me? Levi of the coins? Levi the trader? No?"
"You knew Duncan?"
"He was an old friend, he was. Knew him ever since the Wardens came back to Ferelden, proudest day of me life, that was."
Levi explained how he and other Warden supporters petitioned King Maric to rescind King Arland's decree that all Warden's be banished from the kingdom. And after Maric's mysterious venture with Duncan and the then Warden-Commander, Genevieve, in the deep roads, Maric finally lifted the decree and allowed the Wardens to resume their duties in the kingdom.
"What promise did Duncan make you?"
"Well, as you know, the Dryden name is mud around noble circles and Duncan promised to help me investigate Soldier's Peak, the Order of the Grey's great fortress here in Ferelden. My hope is that we find a piece of history that will help clear my family's name and in so doing reclaim the keep for the Wardens. But poor Duncan is…well, he's no more. So I was hoping to come to you to fulfill his promise."
"Why were the Grey Warden's banished in the first place?"
"Well, that's also got to do with my own family being banished. There was a civil war going on back then, loads worse than this one."
Aedan remembered the war from his history lessons. King Arland was a cruel and conniving king, most unworthy of the Theirin name. His actions devastated the country so badly that is left them open to be conquered by the Orlesians almost a century later. It was truly one of the darkest times in his people's history.
Levi explained to Aedan how Sophia Dryden was the last Warden Commander of Soldier's Peak and how Arland banished House Dryden's from the kingdom along with the Warden's, back when the order seemed to be nothing more than a bunch of freeloaders. If Aedan remembered correctly, Soldier's Peak was built during the late Glory Age not long after the second Blight. The Grey Warden's built their fortresses well and strong, and if Aedan was going to raise an army he'd need a place to house it. And he'd get an entire merchant family to supply it. What could be better?
"Very well, Levi. Your family's faith will be answered and I will personally see Duncan's promise fulfilled."
Levi's eyes lit up with delight. "A thousand blessings on you, Warden. I'll mark the location on your map and meet you there."
As Levi doodles the path to Soldier's Peak on the map, Aedan noticed the mage's entourage approaching from the gate. At last they arrived. Aedan left Levi to his business and approached First Enchanter Irving.
"First Enchanter, I'm glad you're finally here. The situation here is dire."
"I understand, Warden." Irving said warily. "Please, show me where the others are."
All the mages, even Jowan, were gathered in the main hall. All of them, as well as Wynne, were making preparing the ritual and placed lyrium around a runed circle. When the circle was complete the mages all stood at each direction of it and entered in to a meditative trance. Aedan overheard the Ser Perth and the other knight-officers talking about their discomfort about these mages being in the castle halls. About what had happened to Connor. About how unnatural it all was. Their fearful superstition and lack of resolve made Aedan uneasy. He beckoned over to Teagan and the two approached the knights.
"Knights." Teagan called. "Come over here." The knight went over to Teagan, standing at attention away from the mages.
"Now listen and listen well." Aedan told them with grim solemnity. "I am only going to say this once and it will never be repeated again. What you've seen here will never be spoken of by any of you. What you've heard that has happened to the Arl's family is to never leave these walls. Do you understand?"
The knights were visibly unnerved by Aedan's words and looked at Teagan for confirmation.
"You heard him, men." Teagan addressed. "This event will forever haunt this arling and my family. My brother and I do not want our family's name to be blemished by this."
"As far as the world will be concerned." Aedan continued. "A bloodmage sent by Loghain summoned a demon here that took over the castle. If the mages save Connor than that is all that will be known. If Connor cannot be saved, then it will be known he died in the demon's attack. Any detail other than that, you will bury this in your hearts and take it to your graves. Are we clear?"
"We…understand, ser." Ser Perth answered.
"Swear it. Swear it on everything you hold dead and holy."
The knights swore their vows in the name of The Maker and his divine bride Andraste, that they would never tell a soul that what transpired here was of Connor's blind doing. Aedan held no stock in holy vows but he knew they did and accepted their oaths. Aedan and Teagan left the knights and rejoined the First Enchanter in the main hall.
"The ritual is ready and we have tuned to circle to Connor's place in the Fade. We are ready to begin." Irving stated. "You must choose who will be going in to the fade. The rest of us must wait here and maintain the ritual."
"Any last minute advice?" Aedan inquired.
"This is most likely a demon of desire. Powerful and subtle. It will likely try to engage you in dialogue, you must not listen. Anything this creature says is merely a trick to destroy you."
"We understand."
"Now, who will you be sending into the Fade?"
"Morrigan will accomplish this." Aedan answered.
"Oh, I will, will I?" Morrigan asked with sarcastic disapproval. She quirked an eyebrow and looked at Aedan questionably.
"Morrigan, please." Aedan beseeched. "I need you to do it. Wynne is a healer and I don't want her to face the demon alone. You have braved the Fade before and faced down the demons that reside there. Please, do this for me."
Morrigan liked how Aedan looked at her with those blue, pleading eyes. So full of yearning. How could she say "no" to him?
"Oh, very well. If I must." She answered flatly.
Aedan kissed her cheek. "Thank you." He whispered into her ear. "I promise: I'll be here until it's over. I have faith in you."
Had Morrigan been a lesser woman she would have blushed furiously.
"Now, let us begin." Irving called.
Morrigan sat in the middle of the circle with Aedan holding her hand. It somehow made her feel more confident to feel her hand in his. She had completely forgotten how foreign the gesture seemed to her before. Morrigan closed her eyes and entered a trance. When she opened her eyes she found herself in the shifting stillness of the imperminant and eternal land of spirits.
Aedan and the others watched Morrigan in resounding silence, Aedan's hand never leaving hers. Time dragged on in what seemed like days to Aedan. There were moments that Morrigan would squeeze his hand suddenly and her face would twitch in what looked like pain, and she would speak incoherently. Aedan surmised that she was fighting the demon and its minions. He hoped that he hadn't sent her to her doom. No. No, Aedan knew she would be alright. He knew how strong she was. She was going to save Connor and return to him.
Morrigan's eyes finally fluttered open. "It is done. The boy is safe." She said in exhaustion.
Aedan quickly stole a kiss from her and she gladly reciprocated. "I knew you wouldn't let me down, Morrigan."
She smiled at him. "When have I ever disappointed, my dear Warden."
Arlessa Isolde ran up to her son's room and silently cried tears of joy as she held her sleeping baby to her. Aedan felt a twinge of relief and even…happiness at the sight of such accomplishment. After so much death a little joy was most welcome. Isolde picked up her tired child and quietly set him in his room.
Everyone left the castle and joined the village down below by the lake and properly burn
ed and mourned their dead. This horror was finally over, but the nightmare has not yet ended. The Blight still threatens everything that lives. When the funeral was over, Aedan and the others joined Teagan and Isolde back on the upper floor of the castle.
"So it is over." Teagan sighed with relief. "Connor is his old self again. He seems to have no memory of what happened, which is a blessing. I suppose we will need to send him to the Circle for training…when the war is over. It's so odd to think of the boy as a mage, of all things. Eamon has much to mourn and rebuild should he recover. But at least he can wake up to find his wife and son are still alive." Teagan looked sadly over to his slumbering brother, still comatose on his bed.
"I owe you my deepest thanks." Isolde credited in tired happiness. "I had nearly…I can scarcely believe Connor is the boy he once was."
"But our task is not yet finished." Teagan spoke. "Whatever the demon did to my brother, it spared his life. But he remains…comatose. We cannot wake him."
"The Urn!" Isolde declared. "The Urn of Sacred Ashes! It will save Eamon!"
"The Urn is a myth." Aedan responded. "I don't have the time or the resources to go chase after a fairy tale."
"The Urn may be a possibility, we are not just grasping at straws." Teagan explained.
"Several years ago." Isolde continued. "My husband employed a scholar, Brother Genitivi, who has been studying the inscriptions on Andraste's Birth Rock. He believed that he is close to finding the Urn. The knights I sent to his house in Denerim said that they could not find him, however."
Aedan sighed in frustration "I have the darkspawn to contend with!"
"Eamon is well respect and powerful." Teagan assured. "He can pull Ferelden together and end the war. Then we can focus on stopping the darkspawn. I assure you, this is no trivial pursuit."