"It looks quiet," Elissa whispered, looking through the trees,

"A little-"

"I swear Oghren, if you say a little too quiet I will hex you." Anders cut in, "So what's the plan boss?"

They were in a small thicket, watching the Tower. Unfortunately it was in a clearing, without knowing about any secret tunnels they'd be left in the open if they tried to make a run for the front doors. Elissa thought for a moment.

"I don't like it. There should be Templars around but we've not seen anyone, if I didn't know better I'd say this circle was abandoned."

"Won't they be trying to keep a low profile though? I doubt they're advertising what they're doing."

"Mmm, you could be right. Something just feels off though. Either way I think we're better off waiting until it goes dark, if there is someone watching we won't get across to the tower without being seen. There's only a few hours until sunset. I say we set up camp, get something to eat and come back then."

So decision made they backed off and set up camp. Oghren looked around at his friends, grouped around the fire. Everyone was quiet, thinking about the evening ahead of them and what they would find inside the tower. Even Elissa and Alistair were quiet and serious. It would do no good to dwell on it he knew, they were as ready as they were going to get, worrying about what was to come wasn't going to help them, with this in mind he turned to Elissa,

"Hey princess, remember how we got into the tower at Ferelden the first time?" Elissa's face immediately split into a grin,

"Oh I remember. I do miss Sten sometimes."

"You miss Sten?" Alistair asked, "Mr serious, really?"

"He wasn't always serious. What did he call Andrastes Urn? An ash tray?" Said Elissa with a small laugh.

"So how did you get into the circle the first time?" Asked Anders.

"Well," Oghren started, "We were travelling with this Qunari, Sten. Giant, must have been seven or eight feet tall. He hated everything about Ferelden except cookies, when we got to the circle there was this Templar, wouldn't take us across the lake see, so Sten bribed him with cookies, he'd stolen them from this kid..."

Soon the camp was full of the sounds of laughter as they swapped stories.

Back outside the tower a few hours later it looked just as deserted as it had earlier in the day. There was no light coming from the windows, had it not been a full moon they'd barely be able to see anything at all. Darting across the clearing Elissa expected to hear the shouting of guards at any moment but no Templars came to stop them.

Flattening herself against the tower wall to avoid being seen from the windows she edged around the side of the tower, the others right behind her. Something caught her eye, a light that had been hidden from their spot earlier by a low wall. Gesturing to the others silently she crept towards it, pulling her weapons from their sheaths as she went. It was an oil lamp, almost burned out by the looks of it, it was hanging from a shovel stuck into the ground, looking around and still not seeing anyone she told them to hold where they were, she had an awful feeling about what she was going to find. Making her way forwards alone she looked down. It was a mass grave, dozens of bodies lay on top of each other in various stages of decomposition. All were wearing the robes of circle mages, some had the brand of tranquillity on their heads, some were decomposed too much to tell. Elissa felt bile burn in her throat and had to lean on the low wall to keep herself on her feet while she heaved, eternally grateful she'd spared the others from seeing what she had, they didn't need the nightmares. She couldn't do anything for these poor souls now except promise they would be avenged. On slightly shaking legs she made he way back to where the others waited for her. Even in the faint light Alistair could see how much paler she looked,

"What was it?" Oghren asked,

"Nothing." Elissa replied, "Come on."

As they slowly and quietly mounted the stairs Alistair asked out of the corner of his mouth,

"You OK?"

"No. These Templars have a lot to answer for."

They reached the doors unchallenged to find they were unlocked, not a good sign. Pulling her swords out again she pushed one door open enough to slip inside and immediately realised why they'd got this far without seeing anyone. The two guards that should have been guarding the doors were broken on the floor, in pools of blood.

"Anyone else getting a sense of deja vu?" Asked Alistair, voice completely devoid of humour. They checked the Templars for signs of life but the bodies were cold, they'd been dead for a few hours.

"What do you think happened?" Anders asked, "Do you think maybe the mages finally had enough and fought back?"

Elissa shook her head, "I've no idea. Let's go up, floor by floor, keep an eye out for any survivors. Someone did this and if it's another Aeron we might be in trouble."

The tower was strangely eerie, corridors that should have echoed with voices took on a whole different dimension when silenced. Even when they had to re-take the Ferelden tower it wasn't quiet like this. It made Elissa's hair stand on end, the tension was unbelievable. Searching the mage apprentice quarters proved fruitless, nothing moved, no Templars, no mages, nothing but more silence.

"Maybe they left? The Templars could have took the mages and gone somewhere else?" Anders suggested at a whisper,

"Oh and the guards at the door pummelled themselves to death did they?" Oghren snipped back at him,

"Quiet!" Elissa hissed before a full blown argument could break out, "Does anyone else hear that?" She could hear soft murmuring coming from somewhere. Weapons drawn she moved into the next bedroom, looking around carefully, not sure what she expected to find.

"There, there it is again." Whatever was making the noise must have heard her because it suddenly went quiet again. Approaching a large cupboard she saw a pair of legs sticking out, pointing at the legs she nudged Alistair, the gestured for him to go around the other side. Appearing around the back of the cupboard at the same time they found a Templar lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He was propped against the back of the cupboard with a stomach wound. Elissa knelt on the floor next to him,

"What happened here?" She asked him in a hushed voice.

"The mages...the mages they...er."

"We know you were experimenting on the mages," Anders looked down at the Templar with a look of disgust, "Don't try to cover it up now. Just tell us what happened."

The Templar seemed to consider what Anders had said and with a wet sounding cough nodded, "I'm done anyway." He said, "Someone needs to stop what's happened. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Some us were just looking for a compromise, somewhere between tranquil and being a full mage-"

"Tranquillity is not a compromise! Do you think-"

"Anders," Elissa warned over her shoulder. Anders went quiet, allowing the Templar to continue.

"Some of the Templars wanted a compromise but most just wanted to be rid of the mages. But the Knight-Commander here, Ser Arn Francois...he's completely insane. He and his generals were trying to make powerful tranquils using lyrium branding. They managed once a few weeks ago but the mage escaped, they succeeded once more last night but the mage they picked...I think he was a blood mage or he'd made a deal with a demon. Ser Arn and his generals escaped with most of the mages but he left the rest of us behind."

Elissa looked at the Templar in horror.

"Wait. Just wait, are you saying they've created a lyrium branded abomination?!" The Templar nodded at her before coughing again.

Hardly able to believe her ears she stood up, staring at the wall and trying to block the image of Aeron from invading her thoughts. She could still hear his laugh echoing around her head. Alistair took one look at her face and knew exactly where her mind had gone, giving her a moment to compose herself he took over questioning the Templar.

"Where is this abomination now?"

"I don't know but I would try the harrowing chamber at the top of the tower, that's where the experiments were taking place."

"Any ideas where this Ser Arn went?"

The Templars covered his hand with his mouth to cough again but shook his head. Alistair caught Anders eye and gave a tiny nod at the Templar, Anders huffed, clearly not happy with what he was being asked to do but said,

"Fine." And knelt to try and heal the Templar, he was waved away however as the Templar coughed again before saying,

"Don't bother. I'm done. Just," more coughing, "be careful."

Subtly taking Elissa's elbow and hoping no one noticed Alistair led them from the room. Letting the others go in front of the under the guise of rummaging through a desk he asked,

"Are you OK?"

Jaw clenched so tight he was surprised her teeth weren't breaking under the strain she nodded. Giving up the pretence of looking through the desk he cupped her cheek in his hand,

"You're not and it's OK that you're not. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

She turned to him, eyes so big they seemed to take up her entire face.

"It's not me I'm worried about." She brushed her hand over his and went to catch up with the others.

They checked every other room on the way up to the harrowing chamber but found no one else left alive, just lots of dead Templars. Elissa's apprehension grew the further up the tower they climbed. Finally they reached the last door. Stopping outside she turned around to talk in a hushed voice,

"This is it. Keep your wits about you. Nate, stick to ranged combat. If you've any poisons you've got stored in your pack, now is a good time to use them, pour it into your quiver if need be. Anders, focus on healing and defence rather than offence. Oghren, Alistair and myself will attack from three different sides. Try to keep him distracted as much as possible, confuse him, taunt and withdraw, keep him on the back foot. Everyone ready?" She waited for them all to nod before throwing the doors open and stalking into the room.

A man was stood in mages robes, looking out the window when they entered. He turned to greet them, arms crossed behind his back.

"What do we have here?" He asked, "Come to stop me perhaps? Sent by Ser Arn to avenge his Templars and claim back his tower."

"We came to stop the experiments, to try and save the mages." Elissa said, hands inches from her weapons, fingers tingling.

"Alas, it seems you are too late."

"Apparently so."

He turned back to the window with a sigh, "Ser Arn has fled this place, but I will find him."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Elissa said, quiet but determined.

Looking over his shoulder the mage smirked at her, "Let me? You cant let me do that? I'd like to see you try to stop me. Ser Arn will pay for all he's done here."

Elissa looked at him sadly, "Yes, Ser Arn will pay for what he's done. But I cannot allow an abomination to walk free. I'm sorry for what's happened to the mage inside you but the demon cannot be allowed to leave here."

She withdrew her swords as the mage turned to face her.

"Pity. Such a shame."

Faster than she would have believed he cast a paralysing spell, catching all of them. All they could do was watch as he whipped a knife from the inside of his robes and dragged it along his wrist, using the power in his blood he began to change into his true form. Elissa stood rooted to the floor, her neck craning as he grew, and grew, and grew some more. Raising it's arms above it's head in a roar that seemed to shake the tower itself stood the biggest demon Elissa had ever seen, at least a dozen feet tall, rippling in muscle, with a mouth of very sharp looking teeth and hands with a deadly looking claw at the tip of each finger. Well, shit. The spell broke and she ran.

Her movement spurred the others into action as she ducked her head and ran between the monsters feet to come up behind it, Alistair went left while Oghren went right. Her swords burst into flames thanks to Anders magic and she swung both her blades, she hacked and slashed at the abominations legs, it roared but Elissa could have sworn it sounded more like a laugh as it reached and arm down to sweep at Alistair. Elissa let out a roar of her own, trying to draw it in her direction. She saw it turn to her and backed up, trying to get it to follow her to give Alistair and Oghren time to get a few hits in. She could see Nathaniel's arrows, some hitting it and some bouncing off it's thick hide but the abomination wasn't paying them any attention, hopefully the poison would work it's magic though. Backing up until she reached the wall she waited for it to advance before rolling between it's legs, coming up behind it once again. Oghren took his turn, baiting the monster toward him. She charged and attacked with all the strength she could muster and she finally drew blood, getting the abominations attention again. It stomped it's feet, shaking the ground and sending them falling to the floor, Elissa looked up just in time to see it's foot coming toward her. Rolling to her left it's foot slammed down where her head had been just seconds before. Alistair gained his feet first and let out a war cry, trying to draw it's attention away from Elissa, it turned his head to roar back at him but didn't give chase, instead it tried to stomp on Elissa again, rolling right this time she avoided it's foot but it wasn't giving her enough time to get up, she could only do this for so long. An idea occurred to her and when it tried to bring it's foot down on her again she didn't try to avoid it, instead she held both swords up over her head and felt the abomination impale its foot on her long swords. When it lifted its foot back up again she pulled her swords with her and launched herself to her feet. She looked at it in triumph only to be amazed by the lack of damage she'd done. The damn thing wasn't even limping! She swallowed hard, what was it going to take to kill this thing?

Running back towards the abomination she tried everything, she swiped at it, slashed it, stabbed at it, nothing was slowing it down. She could see Alistair to her left, face creased in concentration as he used his sword and shield, attacking with everything he had. He taunted it, bringing it closer to him, using his shield to try and block it's attacks. With a swing of an arm it sent him spinning to the floor. Elissa ran between it and Alistair, blocking him from the abomination. Giving Anders time to send a healing spell his way and for Alistair to get to his feet. Within seconds he was back at her side, together they ducked under an arm, splitting off again to keep the attack on all sides. She was so busy watching it's arms that she missed its foot, it kicked behind it, sending her spinning to the floor.

Oghren was bellowing in rage and dancing around, trying to avoid it's massive claws when she rejoined the fray, he was using every chance to hack at it's fingers whenever he could reach, he was hitting it but again it was shrugging off the damage as though they were nothing more than an irritation. Coming up next to Oghren, she joined him, maybe if they could incapacitate one of the beasts hand it would at least have a weaker side they could exploit. Elissa attacked the back of it's hand while Oghren focused on the fingers, all while they attempted to avoid it's grasp. Oghren eventually got a shot in and with a mighty swing of his axe he cut the tip of the abominations finger clean off, sending it's claw spinning across the room. Roaring in anger and pain in leant over, bringing its full arm across the swipe at Elissa and Oghren, sending them flying across the room to crash into a wall. Shaking her head to clear it she felt the warmth of Anders healing them and scanned the room for Alistair who was now engaging the monster alone, he was trying to bait it around a column to neutralise its longer limbs. Nathaniel was pulling the string on his bow so fast that his fingers were a blur and Anders were launching attacks at the monster at a slower pace, reserving his energy for healing his team. This wasn't working, they needed to try something else. Spotting what looked like a weakness on the abomination she turned to Oghren,

"Oghren, I've got an idea."

"About time. It had better be good princess!"

"It's crazy. If it doesn't work, get them out!"

"Elissa-"

"Oghren I don't have time to argue with you! Say it!"

"I'll get them out." He grumbled. Elissa quickly patted his arm before leaping to her feet once more. She allowed herself two deep breaths before screaming,

"Anders, haste! Alistair lift!"

She heard Alistair shout,

"You've got to be kidding!" But it was too late, she was already sprinting towards him. The world seemed to slow down around her, she felt her feet start to lighten and her pace increasing thanks to Anders' spell, she heard Oghren bellow behind her, drawing the abominations attention, she saw Alistair's look of horror as he lowered his shield for her and she had time to think that was was probably the craziest thing she'd ever done before she leapt.

Thanks to Anders spell and Alistair's strength she flew straight at the abomination, swords held out in front of her, she screamed as they both went straight to their mark, right where it's heart should be. To her horror it didn't drop. Roaring in pain and anger is swiped at the small human now dangling helplessly from it's chest, knocking one of her swords out. Now hanging from one hand she held on as it swiped at her again, stamping it's feet into the ground and she felt her hand begin to slide off the handle of her sword. Nathaniel fired, an arrow embedded next to her hand, she grabbed it, holding on for all she was worth. Another arrow hit, further up, then another, Nathaniel was making her a ladder! She could hear Oghren and Alistair on the ground, attacking and trying to draw the monsters attention away from her. She climbed as quickly as she could, swinging herself onto the abominations shoulder.

"Elissa! Make it count!" Oghren shouted, throwing her fallen sword to her. By some miracle she caught it, bringing the blade down into it's skull with every ounce of power and strength the had. She felt it sway beneath her and heard Alistair scream her name before it collapsed, her going with it and the world went black.