"Maker keep us, Maker protect us! Maker keep us, Maker protect us—"

"Stop it! You're driving me insane."

Aurora groaned, becoming suddenly aware of the fact that she was lying on a cold stone floor as she slowly regained consciousness, forcing herself up onto her arms. Shianni's voice was quick to reach her.

"Oh, thank the Maker you've come to! We were so worried."

Aurora opened her eyes, propping her arm up on her knees as she looked around at the other four women who'd been taken captive, including Shianni and Valora. One of them—probably the one she'd heard first—was rocking back and forth in a kneeling position and muttering something under her breath over and over. They definitely weren't in the Alienage anymore...and Aurora worried if her suspicion of where exactly they were was correct.

"Where are we?" she asked cautiously, braced for the bad news.

"We're in the palace, of course. Doubt we're getting a tour," Shianni quipped, obviously trying to lighten the mood somewhat but failing miserably considering how strained and bitter her voice had been.

"They locked us in here to wait until that...bastard is ready for us!" Valora said.

They're probably going to rape, beat, and then kill us...but it will do no good to say that out loud. We all know it, but acknowledging it out loud is only going to stoke their fear...

"We'll kill the first human that opens the door—we can't let them take us," Aurora said steadily, rising to her feet.

"But we're five unarmed women! What makes you think that we can kill anyone?" one of the others said shrilly. That only made the muttering one panic more.

"Maker keep us, Maker protect us!"

"Great, now this again..." Shianni said bitterly under her breath.

Aurora ignored them, getting up and searching the room for anything they could use as a weapon, trying the doors for herself when she passed them just because. If only she was better at picking locks...

"Look, we'll do what they want, go home, and try to forget this ever happened," Valora said haltingly behind Aurora, causing her to turn around and face the group of women once more.

"She's right—it will be worse if we resist," the other agreed. Shianni scowled.

"It will be worse if we don't!"

"Someone's coming!" one of them hissed, and they all turned to look at the door. Aurora bit her lip, looking at the women before her. None of them but Shianni were in any shape to fight back, unfortunately, and just Aurora and Shianni were not good odds. She'd have to retract her fight back at all costs plan.

"Be quiet. Don't do anything until I say," Aurora said evenly, giving them all a steely look to show she meant it as the doors swung open. Six guards entered the room, looking cold and uncaring, a few even looking a little excited.

"Hello, wenches—we're your escorts to Lord Vaughn's little party," the one in the middle said, obviously the leader.

"Stay away from us!" the girl who'd been chanting this entire time said shrilly, rising to her feet. Without missing a beat, the guard at the front drew his sword and slashed her across the throat. The other girls screamed as the blood sprayed, but Aurora stood rigid in place, mind blanking from the shock of what she'd just seen.

Valora kneeled in front of the now dead woman on the floor, looking up fearfully at the guard. "You...killed her!"

"I suppose that's what happens when you try teaching whores some respect," the guard mused as if he'd simply kicked a rock in the road before he started giving his men their orders. "Now, you grab the little flower cowering in the corner, Horace and I'll take the homely bride and the drunk. You two, bind the last one—she's a scrapper."

Their group was divided up and led out the door one by one until it was just Aurora and two guards who looked too eager.

"Don't worry, we'll be perfect gentlemen," the one on the left said, but she could tell by the glint in his eyes as they came closer that was not going to be the case.

"Now, you heard the captain. Be a good little wench, or you'll end up like your friend there," the second, one with a mustache, purred. The pair came close enough that Aurora stepped back, finding the stone wall at her back. When she lashed out, it was from fear, not bravery.

"Try it. See what parts you lose first," she threatened as they stepped closer. Mustache pinned her to the wall with his arm as he laughed, trapping her right arm by the wrist against the wall when she tried to swing it at him. The other guard did the same thing with her left arm, both standing too close for her to maneuver to knee them where it would hurt. She struggled, even though she knew it was useless, even as Mustache's hand plunged mercilessly under her clothes, as the other started to rip her dress away little by little, as she felt nails digging into her skin, hands and lips and teeth against flesh, greedily taking whatever they could touch or reach. She tried to hit, to bite, but they had her pinned—she couldn't move. They even enjoyed her struggle.

"Horace was right—she's a scrapper!" Mustache laughed before biting hard enough to make tears of pain reach her eyes. She was about ready to resign herself to the terrible fate before her when a familiar voice sounded from the doorway.

"Uh...hello?" Soris said, and Aurora glimpsed her cousin standing in shock in the doorway, a sword in hand and a crossbow on his back.

"Oh, look at this, a little elfling with a stolen sword!" Mustache crowed, the pair dropping Aurora like a rotten piece of meat and turning to face Soris, approaching him and bracing for a short fight.

The sword...isn't for him. It's for me, Aurora thought, pushing to her feet and quickly tying the remainder of her dress with shaking hands around her torso so that it's strips at least covered the essentials as much as possible. As soon as she was standing straight, she nodded to Soris, gesturing for him to slide the sword to her.

As soon as he saw that she was ready, Soris dropped to one knee and slid the sword across the ground right under the guards and to her waiting hands. She twirled the sword expertly in her hand, fury and hate burning through her veins as the guards turned to face their now armed victim.

"Oh, sod..." the second guard said, though he didn't get a chance to say much else as Aurora had already stabbed him through the chest while they'd been processing that she had the sword, killing him before he could even draw his weapon. The other had made it to his blade but didn't have a good enough grip on it before Aurora knocked the blade from his grip and shoved her sword through his chest just like the first, letting him fall to the ground with the sword still in him. As she pulled away her hands shook terribly, and she felt sickness fast approaching.

"A-Are you all right?" Soris stuttered, obviously unsure of what to say. Aurora forced down the bile quickly rising in her throat, breathing ragged as she fought for control.

"I'm...I'm fine now, just...just shaken," she said unsteadily, kneeling down to peel the armor off of her first victim—she needed something to cover herself with, and this would do far better than the tattered rags clinging to some parts of her body now. She didn't have time to think about what was happening right now—she needed to move, to act. Shianni and the others were still in danger, and they needed to get out of this cursed castle.

"Thank the Maker," Soris said honestly, though the concern was still clear in his eyes while Aurora situated the chainmail on her. It was extremely heavy for her, but it would have to do until she found something more suited to her needs. Maybe some good, old fashioned leather armor. Surely somewhere in this castle there was leather armor. "Hopefully we can still save the others."

We have to, Aurora said in her head, pulling her sword out of Mustache. That was when the thought occurred to her. "Wait...where'd you get the sword?"

"That Grey Warden Duncan gave Nelaros and me his sword and crossbow, but that's all we have," Soris said worriedly.

"Why didn't Duncan come?" Aurora asked in confusion.

"He can't interfere, he said. Something about the Grey Wardens being neutral."

Innocent women getting raped and murdered and he can't interfere?

Aurora bit back her anger at the thought, picking a dagger off of one of the guards as well—she was a dual-wielding rogue. "Come on—we'll grab weapons as we go."

Soris nodded. "Nelaros is guarding the end of the hall, let's figure this out with him."

Aurora pushed past him to take the lead as she normally did, opening the door Soris had come through to find herself in the castle kitchens. She'd hardly walked into the room when the human cook turned away from the fire and spotted her.

"What's this? I don't recognize you, elf!" he boomed, stalking threateningly closer to Aurora and Soris. Suddenly he paused, taking in the blood soaked armor she wore and her bloodied appearance. "Wait...is that blood? You're bandits, rebels, outlaws! The guards will make quick work of you!"

He didn't get to say much else, as an elven servant who'd been lurking in the corner snuck up behind him and hit the man hard enough to knock him out. "You have no idea how long that shem's had it coming."

Aurora decided not to complain, glancing towards the door out of the kitchens. "Have you seen a group of elven maidens?"

"Yes, dragged them to Lord Vaughn's quarters they did. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm getting out of here before the storm hits!" he exclaimed, gesturing to the door Aurora had been eyeing before rushing out the door on the opposite side of the room. Aurora pushed open the door, ready to just rush through to her destination when she instead ran into more guards who'd been on a lunch break apparently. They both rose to their feet as soon as Soris and Aurora entered, suspicion clear in their faces.

"Where did you get a weapon, elf," one of them sneered at her.

"Uh oh," Soris muttered.

"You better talk quick, scum!" the second snarled.

"We don't have time for this," Aurora growled impatiently, throwing her dagger into the neck of the one that was armed with swords. It killed him nearly instantly since he had no armor, and the other whipped out his bow to retaliate but never got to notch an arrow before Aurora ran him through with her longsword. She turned to see Soris just managing to put an arrow in the crossbow by the time both bodies fell to the floor, and she sighed.

"How about you go grab the mace and shield off the guard I killed earlier? That should be easier to use than that crossbow. We'll be done by the time you figure out how to use it."

Soris frowned but didn't argue, setting the crossbow aside while he went to relieve Moustache of his weapons. When he came back armed, he strapped the crossbow to his back to be returned to Duncan later, or possibly given to Nelaros, and nodded to show he was ready to move forward. She handed him a dagger she'd pilfered off of the goon she'd gotten in the throat, just in case he ended up without the mace, then made her way to the door, determined to push on. They didn't have the luxury of time—every moment passed was more time for Vaughn to have his way with the other four elves. For all they knew, some of them were already dead.

They fought their way past two more guards before Aurora found the armory, and her face lit up. "Good! Soris, keep watch, we can find what we need in here," she ordered, already taking off her swords and looking for the leather armor she knew had to be in here that would finally let her fight as well as she normally could. The armor she was wearing right now was already wearing her down, and they still had a long ways to go before they found Vaughn.

"Thank the Maker, there's an entire female leather armor set in here," Aurora said with a sigh of relief as she approached the armor stands, stripping down of the armor she was currently wearing and starting to put on the armor, gloves, helm—even the boots, though she carefully tucked her mother's boots away in a large backpack she found in one of the chests where they would be safe. She secured the backpack after she tucked away some arrows, a shortbow, a few daggers, and some whole armor that could be worth some money inside, making her way to the door. "All right, let's go," she said, feeling much more comfortable now that she was not only properly covered in something that fit her but armored as well.

She'd just opened the door at the end of the hall, ready for more guards considering the terrible luck they were already having. She wasn't, however, prepared for the sight that did meet her once the door was opened.

She just barely managed to register Nelaros standing weaponless before three armed guards before the one in the middle slashed him across the chest and Nelaros fell into a pool of his own blood, dead in seconds. Aurora froze, shock dominating for several long minutes at the same time that the guards noticed Aurora and Soris.

"See? Told you there'd be more. Elves run in packs, like rodents," the one who'd killed Nelaros stated calmly, sword still tight in hand.

"Should we keep the knife eared bitch alive?" one of the others asked. The leader only shook his head.

"They killed our boys: she dies."

Aurora's eyes snapped up to the leader, anger gripping her once more as she unsheathed her blades. "I'm going to enjoy this," she hissed.

"Stupid wench. We'll show you how men fight," the guard growled, and just like that all three converged on Aurora and Soris at once.

Aurora was ready and eager in a disturbing, bloodthirsty way. She was livid, fueled by the injustices these human men regularly carried out against her and her people. They'd killed her mother, killed innocent women, killed Nelaros, took whatever they pleased, hurt whomever they wanted...

She'd had enough.

Aurora caught the blades of the first guard that came at her, kicking the man in the stomach and then disengaging to run him through the stomach with her sword once he'd staggered back, knocking away the sword of the second guard with her dagger before she pulled her sword free and turned to face her new enemy. She managed to see Soris bash his opponent with his shield hard enough the man staggered and Soris scored a killing blow with his mace to the man's head, deciding to engage her opponent just long enough for Soris to reorient himself. Aurora's swords clanged against the man's shield and sword as she danced around him, careful to stay just out of his reach. He was so focused on her he'd forgotten about Soris, who came up behind him and swung his mace against the man's head, felling him instantly. The two simply stood there for a few moments, breathing a little heavier than normal before they both turned to Nelaros' fallen form.

"Nelaros! I'm so sorry," Soris said mournfully as Aurora approached. She kneeled beside the dead man, carefully closing his eyes. She caught a glint of something gold in the candlelight, and saw a wedding ring stained with blood identical to the band Nelaros wore on his finger, lying on the ground not far from Nelaros' now slackened hand. Carefully, Aurora picked up the band, gazing at the little piece of golden metal in her palm.

"He died to save me," she said softly. She may not have wanted to get married, and hadn't felt any attraction towards him...but he had been chosen to be her husband, even if she hadn't been that willing of a participant. He had still tried to save her...and he had never deserved to die.

Soris put a hand on her shoulder, and Aurora quickly closed her hand around the band, pocketing the ring for later. "Let's make sure it wasn't in vain."

Aurora nodded, rising to her feet. "Let's keep moving," she said stiffly. "We don't have much time."

Not for the first time, she searched the guards, pocketing anything useful like money or injury kits before they pressed forward once more. She didn't know what room would be Vaughn's, or where exactly in the castle they were, so they searched every room, and more often than not each room's occupants would attack Aurora and Soris. As a result, they left a trail of bodies everywhere they went as they slowly searched the castle, and Aurora knew she wouldn't stop until Vaughn was dead and her fellow maidens were safe.

Finally, after passing a great hall, they came to one last hall with three heavy metal doors. The first on the right only had two guards inside that they made short work of, and the one on the left she couldn't open. But on the other side of the one in the middle...

Vaughn. He and his two goons stood over Shianni, who was on the floor with tears in her eyes as she pulled her skirt down, trying to cover herself. She had several bruises and cuts on her, and with horrifying realization Aurora realized that the deed had already been done—they'd interrupted before Vaughn could finish. He must have heard the fighting and hurried to get ready for the coming fight.

"My, my...what have we here?" Vaughn said coldly as he took in the sight of the blood-soaked Aurora and Soris.

"Don't worry, we'll make short work of these two," the one that had called Aurora knife ears announced. That only annoyed Vaughn.

"Quiet, Jonaley, you idiot! They're covered with enough blood to fill a tub! What do you think that means?" Vaughn growled at him.

"It means your guards are dead," Aurora spat, hands already on her sword and dagger.

"All right, let's not be too hasty here. Surely we can talk this over?" Vaughn asked smoothly.

"You really think you can talk your way out of this?" Aurora snarled.

Shianni's soft sobs broke through Aurora's fury haze, the red headed woman looking up at Aurora with fearful pleading in her eyes. "Please...just get me out of here! I want to go home!"

"Think for a minute," Vaughn stressed as Aurora took a step closer. "Kill me and you ruin more lives than just your own. By dawn the city will run red with elven blood. Think about it: you know how this ends. Or we could talk this through...now that you have my undivided attention."

Just like that, Aurora saw red again. How dare he! She was done rolling over for human scum like him! Even if they arranged a deal, Vaughn would rain Hell upon the Alienage anyway, and his reign of terror would continue. She knew the stories—it wasn't just the occasional elven woman Vaughn did this to. Women in general were swept away to Vaughn's castle and turned up dead a few hours later wherever was convenient to dump the body, be it the river, the sewers, or the very streets.

"I am done talking," Aurora snapped. "It's time you died!"

"I'll gut you myself," Vaughn swore as he drew his sword and shield, lunging at Aurora. She easily sidestepped the move, and the one she still didn't have a name for converged on Soris while Jonaley came to assist Vaughn with Aurora. She turned just enough to slash Jonaley across the chest and kick him away before facing Vaughn once more, catching his shield with her longsword and deflecting his sword with her dagger. The clang of shield on shield sounded through the room as Soris fought his opponent, and Aurora noticed that Jonaley did not return—perhaps her blow had been a killing one. Good, that meant that she could focus on Vaughn.

Aurora caught Vaughn's sword with both of her blades, ducking under his shield as he tried to bash her in the head with it. That single movement allowed her to get under his defenses, and she came up fast after disengaging her blades to bring her dagger up his chest. He stumbled from shock at the deep wound, and without any hesitation Aurora swung her longsword while he was still stunned, taking off his head with the one clean blow. She turned around to see Soris still fighting the last man, and effortlessly threw her dagger into his back. The man keeled over and Soris backed away, staring at the carnage around them. Aurora stepped forward to pull the dagger from the man's back, and Soris finally spoke.

"He...he's d-dead!" Soris said in shock. "Tell me we did the right thing, Cousin!"

Despite Vaughn's threat, she couldn't find it in herself to regret what had happened, but knew Soris would have doubts. She shook her head. "What's important is that Shianni's safe," she assured him.

Soris shook his head, looking frazzled. "I-I'll check the back room for the others...Shianni needs you," he said pointedly before walking away. Aurora took a moment to search Vaughn and his boys, discovering that Jonaley was not dead, but still breathing—slightly. She left him there—he'd bleed out soon anyway, and she wasn't about to give him a mercy killing. None of them deserved it.

Once she'd finished pilfering and had secured her blades, Aurora approached Shianni's side, kneeling before her. She was still sobbing, and it tore at Aurora's heart.

"D-don't leave me alone!" Shianni pled with tears falling down her face. "Please...please take me home!"

Aurora carefully put an arm around her, her heart going out to her cousin. She wished she could do more and somehow take the woman's pain away. "Everything will be all right," she promised in a soft whisper.

"S-so much blood...I can't stand to look at it, it's...everywhere!" Shianni cried, turning into Aurora's embrace and away from the gory scene around them. "You killed them, didn't you? You killed them all?"

Aurora nodded, holding Shianni comfortingly close. "Not just them. All the humans who hurt you."

"Good," Shianni whispered. "Good."

Aurora looked up as Soris returned with his bride Valora, and no one else in tow. They must have already been dead.

"Is she going to be all right?" Valora asked. Aurora didn't answer.

"Let's just get out of here," Aurora muttered. She couldn't stand to be in this awful place any longer.

"I'll take the rear guard. I can't wait to leave this place," Soris said, voice strained. No one complained, and one by one they left the room, and eventually the castle.

************************************************

When they walked through the Alienage gates, they were greeted by Duncan and Valendrian, who met their small party as soon as they were a few paces into the Alienage.

"You've returned! Has Shianni been hurt? Where is Tormay's daughter, Nola?" Valendrian asked.

"Nola didn't make it! She resisted, and..." Valora stated, voice choking off with emotion.

"They killed her," Shianni finished softly.

"Nelaros too, the guards killed him," Soris added sadly.

"I see...would the rest of you ladies please take Shainni home? She needs rest."

"Of course," Valora said, leading a still shaking Shianni away. Valendrian turned to Soris and Aurora.

"Now tell me: What happened?"

"The arl's family just got a bit smaller," Aurora said flatly, resulting to dark humor as she continued to reject what had happened in her mind. It would take some time before she managed to come to terms with everything.

"Then the garrison could already be on its way. You have little time," Duncan said seriously.

Aurora looked at Soris, working her bottom lip between her teeth. "We may need to leave Denerim for a while," she said softly.

Valendrian sighed tiredly. "That it has come to this..."

Suddenly, an elf ran up to them, his eyes wide as he shouted for all to hear. "The guards are here!"

Aurora felt her heart leap up into her throat, but she bit back the fear, keeping her expression neutral as Valendrian spoke. "Don't panic!" he called to everyone who'd heard the proclamation, turning to Aurora and Soris. "Let's see what comes of this."

Aurora and Soris stepped back to stand just behind Valendrian, watching as a small contingent of heavily armed guards—much better armed than the men Aurora had fought in the castle—approached.

"I seek Valendrian, elder and administrator of the Alienage," the one at the front with a silvery beard announced

"Here captain," Valendrian said cautiously. "I take it you have come in response to today's disruption?"

"Don't play ignorant with me, Elder. You will not prevent justice from being done," the guard growled before he spoke in a voice for all to hear. "The arl's son lies dead in a river of blood that runs through the entire palace! I need names, and I need them now!"

Aurora closed her eyes, sucking in a deep breath. They would tear the Alienage apart until they had Vaughn's killers.

By dawn the city will run red with elven blood.

No. Her people were not going to pay because Aurora had taken justice into her own hands, even if, at least to her, the justice she'd dealt had been exactly what Vaughn and those who helped him deserved for their crimes. Soris wouldn't pay either—he'd only been rescuing Aurora from her fate.

Opening her eyes and stepping forward with a determined set to her jaw, Aurora spoke. "It was my doing," she said clearly and firmly. She could feel everyone's eyes on her as she spoke, Soris and Duncan's especially.

The guard looked at her in surprise. "You expect me to believe one woman did all of that?"

Well, even counting Soris it was mostly me.

"We are not all so helpless, Captain," Valendrian said quietly.

The captain nodded. "You saved many by coming forward. I don't envy your fate, but I applaud your courage," he said respectfully before turning to the rest of the Alienage, who had been steadily gathering to see what would happen. "This elf will wait in the dungeons until the arl returns. The rest of you, back to your houses!"

Duncan surprised everyone by stepping forward before the guards could gather Aurora. "Captain...a word if you please?"

The captain sighed. "What is it, Grey Warden? The situation is well under control, as you can see."

"Be that as it may, I hereby invoke the Grey Warden's right of conscription. I remove this woman into my custody."

Aurora reeled in shock, whipping around to face Duncan. "You can do that?"

By the captain's reaction, he very well could.

"Son of a tied down—" the captain started to swear before he cut himself off, shaking his head. "Very well, Grey Warden, I cannot challenge your rights, but I'll ask one thing: Get this elf out of the city, today."

Duncan inclined his head. "Agreed."

"Now, I need to get my men on the streets before this news hits. Move out!" the captain ordered, and with that, he was gone. Duncan stepped up to face Aurora, his expression serious.

"You're with me now. Say your goodbyes, and see me when you're ready. We leave immediately."

Aurora looked back to where the guards had disappeared, knowing he was right. If she stayed she'd be in danger of angry humans taking matters into her own hands...and Duncan had just taken custody of her. She had to do what he said. She balked at the thought of leaving her home, leaving Shianni after what had happened, leaving her father and Soris...being alone with a human man in general...but she knew she had little choice in the matter.

"Understood," she said softly.

Do not take long. I agreed to have you out of the city forthwith," Duncan said gently. With a nod, Aurora turned away, walking a few paces away to where Soris stood looking nervous. He stepped up once she came near.

"Thank you...you really saved my hide back there..." he said shakily.

"I did what I had to...what was right," Aurora said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"As you always do. Well, I'd like to follow your example. No more daydreaming—I'm settling down. Valora's a good woman, and she has ideas on making life better for everyone here." Soris shook his head. "Your father had the women take Shianni back to your place. Will you see her before you go?"

"Of course!" Aurora replied. What kind of a question was that? Soris gave her a small smile, then pulled her in for a hug.

"Good luck, Cousin. You've been my hero since we were kids. It's just official now," he said softly before letting go. Aurora tried not to tear up, giving him a watery smile before she turned to make her way home.

Just outside the door, Aurora spotted her father, and instantly her spirits dropped even lower. This was not going to be an easy goodbye.

Her father started to speak before she even reached him. "If...this is what the Maker has planned for you, then I guess it's for the best...your mother would've been pleased."

Aurora just couldn't ignore his tone, and the words slipped past her lips before she could think much about what she was saying. "You're not pleased?" she asked. Of course he wasn't! His little girl was being conscripted by the Wardens and whisked away to Ostagar. Hadn't she given Nessa's family ten whole silvers so they could avoid going to that dreadful place?

"I just wish there was another way," her father said sadly. "I dreamed of grandchildren, family gatherings, and...I'm sorry, this isn't helping," he finished with a sigh.

He stepped forward, pulling Aurora into a hug, mindful of the blades on her back. "Take care, my girl. Be safe. Be wise. And...well, you know. We'll all miss you."

"I'll miss you too, Papa," Aurora said softly, kissing his cheek as she pulled away. She entered the house before she could break down and refuse to leave with Duncan. She had to leave, no matter what she wanted.

"There you are! Thank you! For me, for Soris, everything," Valora said, walking up to Aurora as soon as she entered the room. Aurora gave her a small smile.

"We elves need to stick together."

Valora beamed at her. "You're the sister I always wanted. Shianni seems to have regained herself. I'll leave you two alone. Good luck, and thank you again!" Aurora laughed softly at Valora's radiant enthusiasm even after everything that had happened, the smile fading as she entered her bedroom where Shianni was sitting on the edge of Aurora's bed.

"You took all the responsibility for what happened...you're amazing, you know that?" Shianni said quietly as Aurora entered the room.

"I just did what had to be done," Aurora said with a shake of her head.

"You always do. They'll write legends about you someday. When the world was at its worst, there you came—fire in your eyes, like something out of a storybook. I'll never forget that." Aurora was deeply touched by her words, tears coming to her eyes even as Shianni continued. "I love you, cousin. Make us proud out there."

Finally, Aurora allowed herself to cry, pulling Shianni in for a hug. "I love you too, Shianni...I'll do my best."

"Maker watch over you," Shianni murmured. The two simply stayed there, clutching tightly to each other before one of them—Aurora didn't know who—finally had the courage to pull away, and Aurora slowly made her way back to the gate where Valendrian and Duncan were waiting. She made sure she'd gotten rid of all of her tears by the time she reached Duncan, hands trembling slightly as the nerves started to settle in.

"Are you ready to go?" Duncan asked as she approached.

"I am," she said steadily despite her inner fear.

"Good. Then we leave for Ostagar immediately."