Summary: She was only twelve years of age when all of Thedas grew scared of her. Destined to lead armies into battle and end the dark age, lords quivered at the green glow in her hand. AU where the Inquisitor is 12
She woke up dazed, kneeling on the floor of a dungeon. Having no memory of what happened, Trevelyan moved her hand to hold her head, only to realized both of her wrists were chained to the floor. Looking down at her hands in confusion, what surprised her were not the shackles, but the strange green glow on her left palm. A sharp pain shot through her hand as the mark flared up, and Trevelyan gasped in surprise. After the moment of pain passed, she looked around her cell in confusion. The four guards around her shifted uncomfortably with their weapons sheathed, as she narrowed her eyes at them. What was she doing her? Where was Aunt Teresa?
All of the sudden, the entrance to the cell flung open. Two women entered with strong strides. One had dark hair and a face that had seen far too much violence. The other woman had cropped red hair whose eyes that seemed to be able to see right through her. The woman with the dark hair spoke first in a harsh voice that reminded Trevelyan of her mother when she was angry.
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead. Except you."
Panic quickly took over her body as the news struck her like a slap across the face. Did that mean she was alone in this new land now? Every relative she had in Ferelden had attended that Conclave with her.
"What do you mean everyone is dead?," Evelyn asked in a small voice.
"Explain this!" The woman took her shackles and held them up. The Anchor flared to life again, and Evelyn winced.
"I-I...can't," Evelyn cried.
"What do you mean you can't?" the woman asked in disbelief.
"I don't know what that is or how it got there."
"You're lying!"
Evelyn braced herself as the dark-haired woman rose her hand to hit her.
Fortunately, the red-haired woman stopped her before the impact came. "She is just a child, Cassandra."
"A child who killed thousands," Cassandra spat.
The woman with the hood glared at her, and moved to stand between Evelyn and Cassandra in a protective manner. "Have you forgotten that we need her?"
Cassandra scowled, but gave up and took a step back from the frightened child chained to the floor.
The woman then kneeled down in front of Evelyn and spoke with a much gentler tone. "Do you remember what happened? How this began?"
"I remember...running. Things were chasing me," Evelyn bit her lip as she tried to conjure up memories of the events only moments ago. "And then...a woman?"
"A woman?", said the woman with the red hair in surprise.
"She reached out to me, but then..."
Cassandra intervened then as if in a hurry. "Go to the forward camp, Leliana. I will take her to the rift."
Leliana stood up reluctantly and then left.
As Cassandra replaced the shackles on her wrists with rope, Evelyn asked, "What did happen?"
Cassandra stood up and sighed, having seemed to calm down. "It will be easier to show you."
The warrior led the child into the white world outside. A cold breeze immediately hit Evelyn as she stepped out, and she shivered. The Frostback Mountains stood tall above them, covered in snow. Evelyn looked at the sky in disbelief. A massive green tear was in the sky, its green seeped down onto the ground immediately below it. Suddenly, Evelyn felt very small.
"We call it the Breach. It's a massive rift into the world of demons that grows larger with every passing hour. It's not the only such rift, just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the conclave," explained Cassandra.
"An explosion can do that?" Evelyn asked. She had never seen such a terrifying thing in all her life.
"This one did. Unless we act, the breach may grow until it swallows the world."
At that moment, the breach grew, and the green mark on Evelyn's hand flared once again. This time, however, it was almost unbearable. The child screamed out in pain and collapsed on the ground, tears in her eyes. Cassandra half-helped, half-lifted her up into a standing position. She looked down at Evelyn, sympathy in her hard, war-worn face. She put a hand on the child's cheek.
"Each time the Breach expands, your mark spreads...and...," Cassandra hesitated,"...and it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this but there isn't much time."
Evelyn closed her eyes in despair. Was she truly destined to die this young, having killed thousands and then creating a massive tear in the sky? She thought of her mother and siblings back home in the Free Marches. I am going to die, she thought. Tears watered in her eyes again, and threatened to spill. She realized, though, that Cassandra was right. There isn't much time left and her mark is the key to stopping the end of the world.
"If I can help...I will," Evelyn opened her eyes and focused somewhere in the distance.
Cassandra looked down at her, surprise written clearly on her face. "Then...?"
Evelyn took a deep breath and looked at Cassandra, meeting her eyes. "I'll do what I can. Whatever it takes."
Cassandra opened her mouth as if to say something, but stopped herself. She escorted the child through the town with a protective hand on her shoulder. Evelyn looked around at the strange town with its strange villagers. The villagers only met her eyes with scowls and glares of pure hate.
"They have decided on your guilt," Cassandra explained.
"But-" Evelyn protested.
"They need it," Cassandra interrupted,"The people of Haven mourn our Most Holy, Divine Justinia, head of the Chantry. The Conclave was hers. It was a chance for peace between mages and templars. She brought their leaders together. Now, they are dead."
They made it to the edge of town and the soldiers opened the gates, revealing a long pathway through the mountains.
"We lash out, like the sky. But we must think beyond ourselves, as she did. As you did. Until the breach is sealed." Cassandra stopped walking and turned to Evelyn, with a dagger sheathed. She looked at her with sad eyes. "There will be a trial. I can promise no more."
The binds around Evelyn's wrists were cut, and Cassandra led her toward of the gate.
"Where are you taking me?," asked Evelyn.
"Your mark must be tested on something smaller than the Breach," explained Cassandra.
Evelyn twisted her mouth into a frown and followed Cassandra wordlessly. She looked at the wounded soldiers resting near the Chantry brother who was reciting the Chant. They looked like death would take them any minute, but they sought out hope from the brother.
"Let my blood touch the ground," recited the Chantry brother. The child looked at him with wide, curious eyes.
"Let my cries touch their hearts. Let mine be the last sacrifice." Evelyn swallowed and continued on her way to Cassandra, trying desperately to ignore the dead bodies around her.
"Open the gate! We are headed into the valley!" ordered Cassandra, and the two soldiers stationed at the gate obeyed.
Evelyn followed Cassandra close behind as they made their way into the valley. Three men ran by them and one cried, "Maker, it's the end of the world!"
The pair trudged through the dirt and snow to the top of the hill and across the second bridge. Just before they made it to the end, a huge chunk of debris hit the supports and the bridge collapsed, causing an awful ringing in Evelyn's ears. The warrior and child tumbled down into the frozen river below. Evelyn groaned and held her head as she slowly sat up. Cassandra was quick to her feet and had her sword drawn. Evelyn looked at her in confusion, and then saw the demon in front of her.
"Stay behind me!" yelled Cassandra, and proceeded to attack the Shade.
Another Shade started to form behind Evelyn, and she gulped and scrambled back. "Cassandra!" she cried, but the warrior was in the midst of her own battle.
Evelyn quickly got to her feet and grabbed the two daggers by the pile of debris. The shade lunged at her, and Evelyn barely dodged its attack. She clumsily struck at the demon with her two daggers, and manage to get in a few slices before he once again lunged at her. This time, the child wasn't quick enough to get out of the way and fell the ground. The demon's claws were about to slice right through her before a sword went right through its body. The shade fell to the ground, dead. Cassandra helped Evelyn up by the arm.
"You should have listened and stayed behind me, otherwise you wouldn't have almost gotten killed," Cassandra said firmly, as if lecturing the child.
"A demon nearly attacked me. What was I supposed to do?" reasoned Evelyn.
"You don't need to fight," argued Cassandra.
"Are you saying it won't happen again?" retorted Evelyn.
Cassandra huffed, frustrated that the child had to argue like, well, a child. The warrior thought it over before answering. "You're right. I cannot always protect you and I cannot expect you to be defenseless."
Evelyn smirked, but it was quickly swept away by Cassandra's next comment. "Don't get smug on me. The next time you argue with me, you will regret it."
The two continued deeper into the valley. Along the way, they were met with more demons, where Cassandra took care of them. Eager to help fight, Evelyn was stopped by Cassandra numerous times. Eventually, they came across a steep staircase.
"We're getting closer to the rift. You can hear the fighting," Cassandra commented.
"Who's fighting?" Evelyn asked curiously.
"You'll see soon. We must help them."
At the top of the stairs were a handful of soldiers fighting demons. Two men caught Evelyn's eye as they approached. The first man was an elf with an exposed head, spitting ice out of his staff. He was tall for one of his people, and his fighting stance was unlike any other mages' that Evelyn has seen before. The second man was quite clearly a dwarf, shooting out bolts with his crossbow. He seemed to be taking pleasure in killing such creatures with his weapon.
Cassandra and Evelyn hopped down from the wall. Cassandra took up action right away and began killing the remaining demons. Evelyn looked at the small rift, and took note of how it made her mark tingle.
"Quickly!" shouted the elf. "Before more come through!"
He took her wrist with the mark and held it up to the rift. A spark of pain ran up Evelyn's arm as the Anchor closed the rift.
"What did you do?" Evelyn frowned.
"I did nothing. The credit is yours," replied the elf with a smile. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation."
The dwarf stepped in. "This is the only survivor of the Conclave? You brought us a kid, Cassandra," he said with a grimace.
"I had no control over who survived the Conclave," Cassandra spat. "Her mark is the only way to stop the Breach from ending the world. And, she agreed to come willingly."
"Guess there's no way to change the circumstances," the dwarf sighed. He turned to Evelyn and mustered up a small smile. "Varric Tethras: rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tagalong." He winked at Cassandra, who scowled in response.
Evelyn giggled quietly. "It's good to meet you, Varric." She bowed her head.
Varric smirked. The elf scoffed and said, "You may reconsider that stance, in time."
"Aww. I'm sure we'll become great friends in the valley, Solas," replied Varric.
Cassandra grit her teeth in frustration. "Absolutely not. Your help is appreciated, Varric, but..."
"Have you seen the valley lately, Seeker? Your soldiers aren't in control anymore. And this girl needs all the protection she can get for her to make it to the Breach. You need me."
Cassandra made a noise of disgust and walked away.
The elf approached Evelyn. "My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions. I'm pleased to see you still live."
"He means, 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept,'" said Varric.
Evelyn smiled at Solas. "Thank you."
Solas gave her a small smile and replied, "Thank me if we manage to close the Breach without killing you in the process."
"We must get to the forward camp quickly," said Cassandra.
Cassandra and Solas continued down the path. Varric looked up at Evelyn and said, "Well, Bianca's excited."
Evelyn giggled again and the two met with the warrior and elf, and continued on their way to the Breach.