Utor Exitus

Celestine woke up with a start, sitting up straight from the wonderfully soft feather mattress that she had been provided with. She gulped several calming breaths of air before she could compose herself.

She was suddenly very grateful that each of them had been given a separate chamber to accommodate them for the night. It was still dark outside, the lights from the village blurry through the small window in her room. Hours had passed from when she had stepped into the Fade to try and rescue Connor.

She had expected it to be similar to her Harrowing, where her perception of time spent in the Fade was so twisted that she forgot how long she had been there, what her purpose had been. It had been a clear indicator of how powerful a foe she'd been set against then.

This time was different though. Perhaps because it had not been her mind that she had entered, but someone else's. Regardless, she had never forgotten her purpose, but that did not mean it had been easy.

Her Harrowing had set her against Pride. She knew of her failings there. Was fully aware of them and while perhaps not entirely capable of eliminating the traces of it from her, she could confront and admit her failings there quite comfortably.

This time had been different. Her foe had been Desire. An aspect barely weaker than Pride, but in some ways, just as dangerous. She had encountered the creature several times while trying to find Connor within his own mind.

It had started subtly, with its offers. Suggestions she had almost fallen prey to, due to their perceived innocence, but as she fought through those, the creature had become more and more desperate. Targeting her more base wants.

The last encounter had been what brought her out of her sleep: Hot breath against her neck, firm muscle beneath her touch. Calloused hands exploring her like nothing she had ever imagined-

Celestine broke off the chain of thought. That was how the demon had almost gotten her; she had almost missed its offer entirely, to give her that whenever she desired it, in exchange for the boy. But it had also been that offer which snapped her back to reality, for things were not so simple. Even in that moment, there was more to life than simple pleasure fulfilment. There was always a catch in a deal with a demon and that it was never worth it.

She had, of course, on occasion, entertained such thoughts. But it had been only recently where she had done so with any seriousness, after leaving the Circle - where whispers of rape painted the idea in a foul light. Where the other apprentices and mages shot each other salacious looks, but looked on her with fear and suspicion.

Matters of the heart had briefly entertained her, when Jowan told her of his supposed Chantry Sister, when she picked up on the whispered rumours about herself and Ser Cullen. But on both accounts it had merely been a moment. A blink, before rational thought brushed away such notions. Jowan's story seemed to hold too little weight, or was too fanciful, until, to her surprise, it had been proven otherwise, and Cullen...while he had been kind for a Templar, he was still one of them . Those who had steeped her childhood with fear by simply existing.

That had all changed when Alistair had stepped into her life, a proverbial knight in - if perhaps not shining - armour. He may have originally been a part of the Order, but the way he spoke of it disassociated him from strict spartan Templars so strongly, that she could not help but overlook it.

He had proved to possess a frivolous wit that brought colour to her formerly drab life, and while not the most intellectual of men, he possessed a kindness that warmed her heart whenever she was witness to it. There was also a sincerity, an honesty, to all he said and did. A man with nothing to hide.

No, that was not entirely true. There were times she caught him looking at the simplest of things with longing. As if there was a burden he bore, beyond the weight of what the Grey Warden's demanded. What could rival the weight of that?

Yet still his intentions were worn on his sleeve, and even if there were things he had not revealed, she doubted it was because he wished anyone harm.

It was these things that had her at odds with herself more than anything. Alistair was a warrior, trained to defend the world against an ever-encroaching darkness and had the physique to show for it. His features also added to the effect, with strong angles defining most of his face, yet not obviously so. That he had this, in addition to character appeal, made it very difficult to overlook how she felt. Or how to keep what the demon had shown her from visiting her dreams.

She got up from the bed and stumbled through the darkness where she knew the washbasin was. Wetting her hands, she ran them over her face and the back of her neck cooling her overheated skin, bringing reality more fully to the forefront. Then, dream as forgotten as she could force it to be, she returned to sleep, the question of who had carried her up to her rooms tugging at her mind.

~

They had breakfast in a guest-bedroom repurposed to that end. With all the other rooms in which one would normally have eaten in having had walking corpses in them for the past few weeks and the main hall still sporting impressive blood stains and bad memories, it was by far the best idea. Celestine secretly lauded whomever had thought of it.

People had moved up from the village, to slot in as replacement servants until something more formal could be arranged. The mage thought that, while it was perhaps not something they were used to, to wait on people, they probably felt safer with stone walls around them and those that drove back the undead near. Provided they forgot the convenient fact that it all started here.

The meal provided was a hearty one, if simple. None of the villagers could claim to have served as chef in a noble household before. Once everyone had had their fill, the companions convened together with Bann Teagan and the local Knight-Commander, Ser Harrith. Isolde had excused herself, stating that she wished to remain at her husband's and son's side. Her absence was something Celestine was grateful for after the previous two day's events.

The Bann was sporting a significant concussion, and spent most of the meeting reclining on the room's bed, while the others planned what to do next.

"We should head to the Circle first, take the boy with us as well." Erik suggested as he cleaned a piece of his armour with a stained rag.

"Judging by how the noblewoman has acted so far, 'tis doubtful that she would permit it." Morrigan dismissed.

"She is a fool. The Bas-Saarebas has already proven to be weak. Yet your leader still saved it from itself, fulfilling this woman's wish. Disregarding anything more from this failed tamassran would be wise."

Everyone looked at Sten in surprise. It had been more words from him than anyone had heard since they had initially picked him up from Lothering.

Elisa's face split into a wide grin, "I like opinionated Sten! He's growly ." She said the last part by folding her hands to her cheek and fluttering her eyes coyishly at the ceiling. Erik just pressed his hand to his eyes and sighed.

Celestine was nodding though. "I agree with Sten, It would be the best thing to do." She looked at the Knight-Commander for affirmation as she continued. "We barely have a dozen Templars here to help prevent anything should we have a recurrence and with Redcliffe's guard depleted as it is…."

The aged man looked at her slightly surprised. "I would not expect a mage to advocate the Circle so, but you are right. Without proper training, the boy can only be a danger to all around him."

"Considering it seems like Jowan failed spectacularly on that front," Celestine mumbled into her hand, staring into space.

"If we could travel by boat it would be considerably easier." Leliana pointed out. "Someone Connor's age might have a lot of energy, but he would still tire out before any of us do. Travel by land may cause more problems than we can foresee. He is noble-born, and used to being treated as such."

"Yes! Faster too!" Elisa exclaimed, eagerness apparent.

"Well," Celestine mused, "Kinloch Hold is located off-shore regardless and the Imperial bridge has long since fallen to pieces. Leliana's idea has more than a few merits."

The archer smiled softly at the compliment, looking down at where her folded hands rested in her lap.

"What of the maleficar in the dungeons?" Harrith asked, plans regarding Connor set.

Celestine sighed heavily, a bitter smile on her face. "I was hoping he was a problem that would just go away."

"That may be the case, but it will not actually cause that wish to come true." the Knight-Commander stated firmly, his greying brows bunching.

Celestine looked to his pale eyes then at the floor. "Jowan and I...have a history. He will not willingly travel in my company."

"I see," the stern man responded, though she doubted he really did. "I will ensure that he be taken into custody. One of my men will watch over him at all times while I send for reinforcements from Denerim."

Celestine nodded. Numerous fates jumped to mind, as to what would happen to Jowan in the hands of the Templars. She envied none of them, but he had made his choice when he attacked friends and foe alike, in his escape from the Circle. She hoped that she was not too biased in her decision.

Bann Teagan and Ser Harrith left soon after that, any business regarding them concluded. The Wardens gathered together to see if there was anything that still needed to be addressed while the other party members returned to their quarters to prepare for the journey. Leliana was tasked with finding a vessel that would carry them across Lake Calenhad.

Alistair clapped both Elisa and Erik on the shoulder before falling into a chair again. "Maker, am I glad you're all around. I can't imagine how terribly it would all have worked out without everyone helping as they did. I merely need to stand there and look pretty, most of the time."

Elisa laughed aloud. "A task you exceed at, Al." Celestine hid her chuckle of agreement.

"I'll have you know, I put a lot of effort into getting my hair this good." The senior Warden replied, looking up at his brow and gently brushing at his upturned fringe with one hand.

"Grooming matters aside," Erik interrupted, "it's good to know that we have another goal. That the Circle also owes us its allegiance according to the treatise ties in perfectly. But we'll need to decide whether to try and find the Dalish after that, or go to the Dwarves."

Celestine wondered what it would be like, to return to her home after all this time. In reality it had only been a few weeks, perhaps months, since her departure. But she had experienced innumerable things since then. She was almost an entirely different person. But she dismissed those thoughts and addressed Erik's concerns.

"We know where the dwarves are and we can trust them to honour the treatise, their system would not allow for anything other." She paused before continuing, "The elves though, they are inherently untrusting of humans. We might have a difficult time getting them to commit. It would probably be best if we head to Orzammar first, since that should be nothing more than a visit. That would then give us time to address the Dalish. Hopefully we'll find something to help the Arl along the way. He is no longer dying, but the demon placed him into some form of stasis that neither heals or degrades his body. Unless we find a cure for the extensive poisoning he's undergone, nothing will wake him."

Erik nodded his agreement. "Perhaps we'll encounter more of the knights on the road. They might know of something by now."

"The ones we did encounter were looking for the Urn of Sacred Ashes," Alistair pointed out, "Perhaps if we ask about that too, we might find something."

Elisa mock-yawned, "That sounds like work for dusty old men, digging through dusty old places."

"Yes, which means we might get some answers from the First Enchanter. There's bound to have been a mage of the upper echelons looking into that at some point. Particularly if a noble was involved in sponsoring," Celestine added, ignoring the implied disinterest in the Cousland's tone.

The Wardens concluded by suggesting various routes to travel by once they left the Circle, but decided to settle the matter closer to the time and left to gather their own things and meet their other companions in the harbour.

Leliana had done an admirable job of requisitioning transport, finding the owner of a larger vessel to take them all. The man was simply grateful for their aid in driving out the dead, as well as an opportunity to leave the town. That he had been promised compensation upon the end of their trip did assist in making his gratefulness even more profound.

A strong breeze snapped at the sails of the vessel as it departed, pulling it swiftly from the safety of the harbour.