Bright flashes of light greeted us. The Mage that had questioned Cailan's use of the beacon at the meeting before that fateful battle at Ostagar was controlling the lightning. Two Abominations stood on either side of another Mage. His wrists looked like they were bound by the same light that was assaulting him and he was the source of the screaming.

"By the Creators," I whispered.

Near the wall, three more Mages were struggling against their own bonds. The lightning stopped and the Mage from Ostagar walked over to the tortured Mage and lifted his head.

"Do you accept this gift that I offer?" he asked.

The Mage nodded. The binds disappeared and he fell. The two Abominations joined the first Mage and made a circle around him. The lightning began again. The Mage screamed and flopped around like a fish. When they were done, he stood an Abomination. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. This had to be stopped. We walked forward and the Abominations turned and looked at us. The Mage turned to see who they were looking at.

"Ah, look what we have here." He stepped a few paces away from the Abominations and towards us. "Intruders. I bid you welcome. Care to join us in our... revels?"

"I take it you're Uldred," I said.

"Oh. Very observant. For a Dalish." I knew he was trying to rile me. "I'm quite impressed you're still alive. Unfortunately, that must mean you killed my servants. Ah, well, they are probably better off dying in the service of their betters than living with the terrible responsibility of independence."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Sarcasm dripped off my tongue. "Are you upset that we killed your lackeys?"

Someone snorted behind me, obviously trying to keep from laughing.

"We needn't fixate on who killed whom. That doesn't help our relationship."

"There's no relationship to speak of. You're an Abomination."

A Mage is but a larval form of something greater. Your Chantry vilifies us, calls us Abominations, when we have truly reached our full potential." Oh, how forgetful Abominations were.

"Not my Chantry."

He ignored the comment and motioned towards the captive Mages. "Look at them. The Chantry has them convinced. They deny themselves the pleasure of becoming something glorious."

"You're mad!" Wynne said. "There's nothing glorious about what you've become, Uldred!"

He laughed. "Uldred? He is gone. I am Uldred and yet not Uldred. I am more than he was. I could give you this gift, Wynne. You and all Mages. It would be so much easier if you just accepted it. But some people can be so stubborn."

"Say what you like, I'm still going to kill you," I said.

Uldred threw his hands up in the air. "Resistance! Everywhere I go, resistance! How very inconsiderate." He motioned to one of the Mages, an old man with grey hair and a grey beard to match. "I even have the First Enchanter on my side, don't I... Irving?"

"What have you done to him!?" Wynne cried, horrified.

"Stop him...," Irving said, weakly and full of pain. "He... is building an army. He will... destroy the Templars and--"

"You're a sly little fox, Irving, telling on me like that. And here I thought he was starting to turn."

"N-never!"

"That's enough out of you, Irving." He turned back to us. "He'll serve me eventually. As will you..."

Never again shall we submit. The Oath came to my mind instinctively.

"No, I won't," My tone having taken on a dangerous tone as I narrowed my eyes. "I would rather die."

"Killing you would be a waste. Your raw potential with the strength of a demon behind it would be unstoppable. I can do that. I can give you power and a new life."

"I like the one I have, thank you."

Tristan growled, driving the point home. I drew my swords.

"Fight. If you must. It will just make my victory all the sweeter."

"Do not forget the Litany," Wynne reminded me. "It will thwart Uldred's attempts to control the Mages and win this fight for us."

I nodded.

"How is she supposed to use it?" Alistair asked.

"She has to hold it towards the Mages."

"How will I know when to use it?" I asked.

"The Mage will glow and I'll help keep an eye out with you."

The Abominations charged us and Uldred started glowing and becoming bigger in size until he was bigger than an ogre. He had turned into a monstrous Abomination. He roared and charged us. I felled an Abomination and turned to the next one.

"The Litany!" Wynne cried. "Use it now!"

One of the Mages was glowing. I ran towards him, sheathing a sword and grabbing the Litany from my belt. I held it up and a bright light pulsated from it. I was knocked down by another Abomination raking a claw up my back. I fell and the Litany fell out of my grasp and reach. Another Mage was glowing.

"Alistair! The Litany! Use it!" I cried.

I drew my sword and attacked the Abomination from my back. And trust me, that is not an easy task. I saw the pulsating light from out of the corner of my eye and knew Alistair had heard me. The next moment, the Abomination went flying. I was on my feet the next moment, nodding my thanks to Sten. We ran to finish Uldred. When he fell, Alistair gave a final blow to make sure he was dead. I went over to the First Enchanter and knelt next to him. He was alive, if not worse for wear.

"Maker! I'm too old for this," he muttered as Wynne knelt on the other side of him.

"Irving! Are you alright?"

"I've..." He grunted. "Been better. But I am thankful to be alive. I suppose that is your doing, isn't it, Wynne?"

"I wasn't alone. I had help."

"The Circle owes both of you a debt we will never be able to repay. Come." I helped him to his feet. "The Templars await. We shall let them know that the Tower is once again ours." He still held onto my arm.

"Sounds like a plan," I said.

"I'll need you to guide me down the stairs. Ah, curse whoever insisted the Circle be housed in a Tower."

He leaned on me as we went down the Tower, gathering the Templar, who I learned was called Cullen, and Godwin on the way. Petra was overjoyed to see Wynne and Irving. She mouthed a silent "Thank you" towards me. We took the survivors and went to the great doors, where Irving demanded that Greagoir open the doors. The doors opened and we walked towards the Knight Commander.

"Irving?" he asked. I could hear the astonishment in his voice. "Maker's breath! I did not expect to see you alive." I had a feeling he'd thought we would fail. Or maybe he hoped we would.

"It is over, Greagoir," Irving said. "Uldred is dead."

"Uldred tortured these Mages, hoping to break their wills and turn them into Abominations. We don't know how many of them have turned!" Cullen blurted.

"What?" Irving turned to the Templar. "Don't be ridiculous!"

"Of course he'll say that! He might be a Blood Mage! Don't you know what they did? I won't let this happen again!"

"I am the Knight Commander here, not you!" Greagoir scolded.

"Then what does the Knight Commander think?" I asked.

"We have won back the Tower. I will accept Irving's assurance that all is well."

"But they may have demons within them," Cullen argued. "Lying dormant... lying in wait!"

"Enough! I have already made my decision." He turned to me. "Thank you. You have proven yourself a friend of both the Circle and the Templars."

"What about the Darkspawn? I require aid."

"I promised you aid but with the Circle restored, my duty is to watch the Mages. They are free to help you, however. Speak to them."

"You mean the First Enchanter?"

"Yes, Irving. For now, I will oversee a sweep of the Tower. There may be more survivors and we should do our best to tend to them. Please, excuse me." He turned to the First Enchanter. "And Irving... It is good to have you back."

"Ah, I'm sure we'll be at each other's throats again in no time." Greagoir left and Irving turned to us. "Here we are, the Tower in disarray, the Circle nearly annihilated... though it could have been much, much worse. I am glad you arrived when you did. It's almost as if the Maker Himself sent you." What was it with all the Shem thinking their god sent me to help them?

"The Blight drove me here to seek aid," I said.

"The least we can do is help you against the Darkspawn. I would hate to survive this only to be overcome by the Blight."

"So I have your word?"

"You have my word as First Enchanter. The Circle will join the Grey Wardens in the fight." At least somebody here was keeping their word.

"Thank you."

"Irving," Wynne said. "I have a request. I seek leave to follow Realin."

I looked at her, surprised. I hadn't expected that.

"Wynne...," Irving said. "We need you here. The Circle needs you."

"I appreciate the sentiment but the Circle will do fine without me. The Circle has you," She motioned to me. "This woman is brave and good and capable of great things," For someone that didn't know me long, she sure was complimenting me greatly. And I noticed that she hadn't referred to me by my race. It was as if Wynne didn't see the Dalish at all, but saw the person within. Who I really was inside. "If she will accept my help, I will help her accomplish her goals."

"I would be honored to have you join me, Wynne," I said.

"You were never one to stay in the Tower when there was adventure to be had elsewhere," Irving said.

"Why stay when I can be of service elsewhere?" Wynne countered.

"Then I give you leave to follow Realin but know that you always have a place here." He turned back towards me. "There is much to be done here and I must go. You must forgive me for not being a proper host."

"Can the Circle go to Redcliffe to save a possessed child?" I asked, the whole reason we'd come to begin with.

"The child is possessed? But... killing the demon would mean killing the--," He paused. "Unless you intend to enter the Fade? Yes... yes, it can be done with a group of Mages... I shall gather what Mages I can and we shall leave promptly. A life is at stake." I was glad he didn't ask how I knew about that.

"We will see you there."