Prologue
Maker!
I had always believed I was doing his work with my crimes and charity to others who just wanted more out of life or who just wanted to get out of the dirt.
My fellow nobles always forgot others and keeping them down and trodden. Like my father, who would prefer that I sit playing the "game", sipping tea, marrying some rich duke's first born son in Orlais and paying tithes to the chantry for the rest of my life; like my siblings.
Instead, I took to the streets as The Raven of Kirkwall helping where I could, taking out thugs, doing jobs, and taking magical artifacts from those who didn't need or deserve them. Magic is meant to serve man not rule over him, after all. But, of course, I had to be curious when My family wanted to send me to Haven to attend this "Conclave" or as my father had tacked on, 'Be truly disowned'; Not like I much cared about his threats. I just went because it had to be another way to help those less fortunate. This civil war was going nowhere and it was just harming those who had no way to save themselves. Of course, my father saw this as a means to an end hoping I would either run off; again, to save his reputation or find some noble that I would not try to stab when he gives me away; like that will ever happen. I had love but he was no longer in my life. Not that I didn't try to find him but, when a man like him does not want to be found... It's best to I leave him alone. He deserves better than me. Hopefully, today goes well, I would hate not to make a good first impression.
The Breach
I awoke to the feeling of a burlap sack and a smelly, cold, dank interrogation cell if the cold bindings on my hands could tell me anything. Just great I decide 'let's do something legit for once Tara' and I still end up in chains...
How did I get here in the first place... I was heading to the conclave with Eda, then nothing. then there was that dream, or was it a hallucination? I was being chased by giant spiders and there was this woman, glowing radiant holding out her hand to save me... It couldn't have been real... Could it?
No enough of this, instead of just sitting here waiting for some interrogator with a bloated case of righteousness to come along. I need get out. Hoping, as I blindly searched around on my leg, trying to get to where I had placed my kit. Finding it, thankfully it was there. Well the idiot they had search me didn't think that I would have tools in places other than my belt. I slowly pulled out one of my small knives starting to carefully cut out a gash in the sack. I need to see what I was dealing with.
After what seemed like forever I had finally made just enough of a dent in the sack to see at least some of my predicament. Well for the most of it I was right. A dark cold dungeon with two guards at the door one of which was falling asleep at his post. I hate dungeons. I glanced down; thankfully my bindings looked like a simple pair of bar cuffs And blessed. the guards like most men are terrible judge of size and I can easily slip my hands out of these. As for the green glowing mark on my left hand, I didn't want to start worrying about it until I was out of here and at a nice inn.
Attempting to be as quiet as possible, I folded in my thumbs and slowly worked my wrist out of the cuffs using my knee for leverage. my wrist finally gave through I raised my other hand to stop the cuffs from making any noise on the cold stone floor.
More reasons to hate dungeons. Slowly grabbing the small dagger I kept in my boot I cut my ankle bindings. Finally being able to sneak to the side of the door I worked my other wrist through the bar cuffs. Once I freed myself of the bar. I stepped out from my hiding spot behind the "awake" guard, knocking him in the head with the cuffs. The sleeping guard was awake just long enough to see himself getting the same treatment. Checking for life signs I knew this would only give me a few hours at the most.
That's when I ran; checking all the chests in the hall no sight of my gear to be found except for one dagger, elfroot, and a well-leafed through a copy of Hard in Hightown. Useless, unless I wanted to read while waiting to be caught. I let out a long breath. Not much to work with.
Quickly making my way to the staircase I could only assume was the exit. I was greeted with a not so pleasant sight. Four more guards and two women I could only assume were my captors. The first woman definitely looked like my righteous interrogator, with her armor, short black hair, and her stern pale face. Her companion though looked familiar, silent and hooded I already knew she was the most dangerous of the lot.
"Sigh, well guys I know when I am had." bowing for a moment; no other exits. Damn. I looked back at the ladies who did not seem like the merciful sort.
"Tara Trevelyan at your service, so who sent you? My family? Orlais? Ferelden? Kirkwall?" I asked trying my best to not to show how bad this was. When in doubt bluff or tell a story.
The righteous one motioned the guards to grab my arms, As I was still trying to place her companion. I wish I had my powders right now or they would never have seen me.
"I think I will be the one asking the questions. So tell me why we shouldn't kill you now?" The righteous one said bitterly. The guard grabbed my wrist roughly and bound me… Again.
I kept silent since I had no clue as to what I was being accused of. She grabbed my hand with the glowing mark.
"How do you explain this?!" she growled.
I told her all I could remember that I was being chased by things… with many eyes and a woman… yanking my hand to safety. Hopefully, that information alone was enough to remove the suspicion or at least to get my hand back. She released my hand the welts showing where her hand was. I was about to protest when her companion Decided to chime in.
"We need her, Cassandra." She said calmly her Orlesian accent only slightly pronounced. Her red hair shimmered as she stepped into the torchlight. She continued to walk up to me her steps light but steady. She had to have been a bard, and not the "I sing songs" kind of bard. More like I am going to play you a tune and then take all your secrets type of bard.
Cassandra clenching her fist and looking like if she had her way I would be spending the rest of my days in chains. For a beacon of the law, she is rather quick to blame anyone. She looked away from me. Her companion turned to face her.
"Go to the forward camp, Liliana. I will take her to the rift," Cassandra said while returning her gaze to myself. Liliana wasn't she one of the hero of Ferelden's companions. No wonder she looked familiar, we sold a lot of the portraits of them when the news rang out that the blight was over. She looked happier then... I thought as she walked off, I was curious,
"What happened at the Conclave? And What in Thedas is a rift!?" I asked Cassandra, who just looked me and motioned that I follow, "It will be easier to show you."
Once out of the dungeon I realized I was in a Chantry, candles lit the hall reflecting off the stone pillars. The high ceilings filtered in light from above and birds were taking shelter in the rafters. We walked down the hall my boots clicking on the smooth stone floors and the soft jingle of Cassandra's chainmail echoing in the great hall. I took in the simple adornments, this was a chantry after my own heart very simple with none of the ostentatious gold filigree and murals. Had I known of this place I may have prayed in one more often.
Cassandra opened the doors and led me out of the chantry. I squinted my eyes. The light was glaring off the snow, evergreen firs surrounded what looked like a small was littered with tents. I looked up, and I saw the problem. A large green vortex devouring the sky. Well... Shit. Now I can see why I was detained, they need someone to blame... for that. What it didn't explain was why they needed me still.
Cassandra led me past the encampments and explained how I literally stepped out of the fade, unharmed. Sort of. That I was the only survivor of the disaster that destroyed the Conclave. I followed Cassandra past the townsfolk; they all looked like they wanted to kill me. I guess they will have to wait their turn. My mind was still troubled at the thought that I actually survived what they were calling The Breach. I looked at the palm of my left hand closely, I was unnerved by the green glow it shared with the sky. I can only hope Fennic made it out alright. Hopefully, she is just laying low waiting for me. that's if they free me, I glanced back at Cassandra's sword. Yeah, not running...
Cassandra watched me intently, the suspicion slowly fading from her face as she saw me comparing the two marks. I'm no mage, how could they think I caused any of this? I thought as we finally reached the gate. Cassandra turned to me and told me that I would be tried as she freed my hands. The trial was not as surprising as her trust in freeing my hands. But I was now involved with this if they liked it or not. This is a problem for all of Thedas. As we hiked to the forward camp, dealing with collapsing bridges and stumbling upon trails of mangled corpses. The smell of their fresh blood reminding me of the deaths that must have occurred here. I had learned that as the breach grows my mark grows too, and it does not feel too pleasant.
Cassandra had reluctantly trusted me with some daggers and potions after a fight with demons from the breach. We had just dispatched another group when Cassandra shouted to me "We are getting close to the rift, you can hear the fighting!" Ah great, more people and more weird shit. "Who's Fighting?" I asked. She sped up the stairs "You shall see soon, we must help them".
When we reached the top of the stairs Cassandra rushed to join what looked like an elf apostate, a Familiar dwarf with his odd crossbow and two soldiers in fighting off the demons. That was not the weird bit I thought as I jumped in to assist. The weird bit was the big glowing crystal overhead the entire battle. It was the same green hue as my mark.
I backstabbed a shade as we finished off the demons it was only Cassandra, the elf, Varric and myself left now.
I was about to clean my blades when the elf suddenly jerked my left hand and held it up at the crystal which had opened into a large hole. "Quickly before more come through!" cried the elf. My hand suddenly burst out a beam of green light at the hole and with a sudden blast the hole was gone as though it was never there. I looked at the elf; he looked like some of the hedge mages I had seen around the free marches. His face had strong features and sadly seemed to resemble one of my father's favorite treats, an egg. Keeping these observations to myself "What did you do?"
"I did nothing. The credit is yours," he said calmly. How could he be so calm with demons raining down around us?
I looked down at my hand "well at least this thing is good for something." Yes apparently to close weird glowing crystals called "rifts" that spit out demons as the elf explained. Lovely.
Cassandra marched forward "this means it also could close the breach itself"
He looked at Cassandra and then to me "Possibly. It seems that you hold the key to our salvation."
Oh lovely. Looks like more demons in my future.
"Good to know! Here I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever" Varric said as he adjusted his gloves. Of course, he had to be in this mess, the one person who made Hawke the infamous person she is today...
He walked over to me and smiled. The same as ever, "Varric."
He nodded to me in return, "Lark."
Cassandra looked at us, "Varric you know this Rogue?" We grinned then, "More like a Common line of work..." he said glancing back at me, "you're not going to punch me again are you?"
Heh, he was most likely referring to the time I assaulted him for his tales getting my apprentice almost killed, "Depends, are you sticking around?"
Varric adjusted his gloves again nervously, "Well, Technically I'm a prisoner, just like you. So yes."
Free marchers must stick together I suppose. Varric still had a face to remember, Chiseled with his signature roguish smile. His jacket shifted as he rolled his broad shoulders and the shirt collar opened to show a great amount of chest hair and well-developed muscles. the typical distraction tactics of those who want information, and as a writer, he definitely wanted that.
Cassandra chimed in "I brought you here to tell your story to the Divine, Clearly that is no longer necessary." They were standing face to face now, Cassandra's hand gripping her sheathed blade. A lot must have happened in those two months he was missing from Kirkwall. She definitely wanted to kill him, the question is when.
"Yet, Here I am. Lucky for you considering current events." he retorted.
She made a disgusted grunt and turned. Her armor clinked as she paced to gain some composure. "I think we have an accord, I don't think we will have much a choice anyway," I muttered to him. at least I didn't have much choice, the fact was if my hand had the answer then the seeker would never let me go. Cassandra returned, "And Why didn't you tell me that you knew the prisoner, Dwarf?!"
"Because you didn't ask," he met my eyes again, and it was clearly evident that he enjoyed tormenting her, "And anyway I'm sure we will be great friends in the valley." He smiled.
Cassandra charged forward in front of Varric again "Absolutely not. Your help is appreciated, Varric, but..."
"Have you been in the valley lately, Seeker? Your soldiers aren't in control anymore. You need me." he rebutted. Cassandra just grunted and walked away from him once again. I got the feeling these two had a history.
"My name is Solas if there are to be introductions. I am pleased to see you still live." Solas said as he stepped closer. I turned to look at him. He was tall, taller than most elves I have met and so out of place with his untucked knitted cotton jerkin under a tattered overcoat. The coat was simple with a high collar just tall enough as to barely touch his jaw. He had a wolf jaw tied to a string around his neck. It swayed with his movements.
Varric chided "He means, "I kept that mark from killing you while you slept."
Oh lovely, Just what a regular girl needs, a morning in chains, weird shit falling from the sky and virulent mark that can close green holes in space. Can this day get any better?
"So I take it you know a great deal about it all," I asked him.
Cassandra finally over Varric's remark "Solas is an apostate"
He looked at her, "Technically all mages are now apostates, Cassandra."
Turning back to me to answer my thoughts "My travels have allowed me to learn much of the fade, far beyond the experience of any circle mage. I came to offer whatever help I can give with the breach. If it's not closed, we are all doomed, Regardless of origin."
Part of me was still screaming that something was off about him, but I pushed it aside to ask. "And what will you do once this is all over?" I secretly hoped he would mention where he came from.
"Well one hopes those in power will remember who helped and who did not," he said
Crud, well there went that plan to peg the elf, Solas.
"Cassandra, you should know: the magic here is unlike any I have seen. I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power" he said.
"Understood." she nodded "we must get to the forward camp, Quickly." she moved forward jumping down into the path leading to the valley.
Varric stepped from behind me. Looking at me with a smirk and twinkle in his eye "Well, Bianca's excited!" he moved to follow the rest of the group.
As I jumped down into the valley I just had to wonder, would I be excited too? Well guess it didn't matter if I was the savior of Thedas, it was going to be no more dark shadows and poking pricks. Just... Lovely.
Time to save the day.
After what seemed eternity we finally climbed our way to the forward camp. The demons were swarming every inch of the valley; I still don't know how we made it in time to save the camp from a rift. Hopefully, this endeavor does not kill me I would hate it if my father had to criticize a gravestone; I love his consternation so. I took out one of my blades to clean it as Varric leaned beside me. "So Lark, Where in the Free Marches did you tell me you were from?" pulling out what looked like a small pad of parchment. I enjoyed his Company in the valley, but I was still shocked he Did not tell them everything that he knew about me when they brought me in. I guess there was some honor amongst us. "Hmmm? how do you know I am not a Kirkwall native?" pretending to wonder how he knew, he has a good ear.
"Accent. I'm a native of Kirkwall, but you're from… further east, maybe?" He smiled scribbling something on the page, already taking notes I guess, "Here and There, I kind of lost track," tucking my blade away. if he cannot remember then I will not tell him.
"Ansburg? Ostwick? This is going to bother me." I chuckled, as he scratched his head, most likely trying to remember something or make a creative answer to my origins. No wonder Varric gets so many people to tell him their stories, his persistence was one of his finer qualities. I got up from my spot on the bridge heading toward Liliana and what looked like a man with a bad case of indigestion. I turned and walked backward looking at Varric. "Nah, Varric see it as a Challenge. It should help you write; by the way, if I live you need to sign my collection. That's if Cassandra has not stabbed them or turned it to kindling." Smiling as he laughed. Good, cause it looked like the Chantry is here to make a mess. As usual. I turned proceeding to the table to join Cassandra and Liliana.
"She should be arrested and taken to capital to be tried by whoever becomes the next divine." the clerk shouted at Cassandra and Liliana. I had to step in here they didn't deserve the arrows meant for me. "So you mean to say that there is no one in charge here? Well, that's a relief means we can fix the breach without a clerk with a stick up his ass getting in the way."
He looked like he wanted to see me burn and dropped into the valley below for that comment, "YOU KILLED EVERYONE WHO WAS IN CHARGE! But then I would not think a common thug would understand the meaning of that."
I scoffed; this clerk who I now recognized was Chancellor Roderick. Hard not to, his face is…very memorable.
"Chancellor... Roderick, right? I may be a thug but I am anything but common. As for this argument, it makes me laugh to think that you want us to take a timeout from..." I pointed up at the breach, "That. So if you don't mind, I think I am going to do my Job and try to fix it." I turned to Cassandra and Liliana before the Chancellor had time for rebuttal.
"As for the options you gave me earlier, I say we charge. Doesn't look like I will be living to see my trial," pointing back at Roderick who was turning a new shade of red.
"If we are going to do this I say we do it hard and fast." I started walking towards what remained of the temple.
I didn't even care if they followed me I had a goal now, I must complete it. Never know, it could save my head, Maker knows my father won't.
...
It was never ending the rush of demons spilling from the breach. For the past few days, the tide had been endless. This is worse than the circle. I couldn't let more of our men fall Just because we were waiting for the prisoner. A quite familiar prisoner But I would never tell Cassandra that or there might be more than one subject to question.
How Did she get here anyway? She should be safe and back in Kirkwall.
No Enough of that, I could ask her that once she woke. If she woke.
I attempted to focus on the rift ahead of us, hoping to suppress it even a little, but nothing. My powers were not what they used to be since I had stopped taking lyrium. Another Wave of Demons came out of the rift, long spindly and grotesque. Nothing I had not fought before. My heated strikes holding the beast back, as feet sounded behind me, Cassandra's shouts echoing through the clearing. They were here, Good. I cut through another shade, soft rapid footsteps passed me, before I heard the loud shriek from one of the many demons before me. She was revealed to me as the beast faded away, her strikes swift, controlled finesse, not holding back. Her soft emerald eyes met mine, gracing me with her smirk as she flashed off in a stream of dark hair to take out the last pack of demon spawn.
Shimmering in one of Solas' barriers as she sliced the last ravager clean in two, it's corpse fading into the rift like the rest. The rift started to glow along with the palm of her hand. She closed her eyes holding it up to the rift, a sharp beam of light erupted from her palm meeting the rift. her soft features furrowed in concentration. then with a sharp snap, the rift closed as fast as it had appeared. Her eyes opening, glancing at her hand, fisting it as Solas had taken her attention.
Ugh, I needed to appraise Cassandra of the situation not ogle my ex, I took stock of my men; everyone was fine except for James who looked like he had taken a nasty shot to the leg.
I sheathed my blade and shield, as Seeker Pentagast walked up to me. "Lady Cassandra Looks like you managed to close the rift. Well done."
Cassandra turned to her, "Do not thank me, Commander. This is Tara's doing."
I looked at the Raven of Kirkwall.
Tara had not aged a Day since I last saw her. With her dark brown hair and blue-green eyes. She was beautiful with or without her mask, her fair skin and the spattering of freckles on her cheeks. She smiled. It's a wonder I never caught her. She walked towards me over the dirt and remains of a terror demon. "Is it?" I said trying to keep the familiarity out of my voice. She's a prisoner. I needed to be professional, "I hope they are right about you. We have lost a lot of people to get you here."
She twirled one of the blades and promptly sheathed it, she kept smiling at me, "I hope they are right too, Commander Cullen. I hate to think our reunion was blemished by demon swarm."
I smirked, She did have a way of saying things. "Well, we will see soon enough won't we?" moving back to the seeker I placed my arm to my chest in salute. "The way to the temple should be clear; Liliana will try to meet you there."
She looked back to the group "Then we best move quickly. Give us time Commander"
Back to work.
"Maker watch over you for all our sakes." I looked at Tara, the Raven of Kirkwall one last time if she lived we will have to talk. I grabbed James and helped him off the field.
Maker, watch over us all.