Losing You To Those Before: Rewind
I love you, even after death...
Those were the last words of his lover, the haunting melody of that promise echoing even in the deepest recesses of his mind. Not even Vengeance could mask it, even if the spirit wanted too. Although he and Anders are one and the same person, the blonde mage could feel the spirit's lament, as if it too mourned Hawke's death.
"Anders, are you ready?"
The frail voice of the Divine Mother called out to him almost harshly and his head jerked up, his eyes aglow with blue fire. She started and involuntarily stepped back. Then she regained her composure, not willing to showing weakness in front of her rival.
"I have always been ready to do what is necessary," the mage intoned in a deep voice. The Divine Mother's eyes narrowed at the demonic voice, but something was off with it. It was hard, but not as, not as evil sounding as it used to be. Then her eyes widened at the implication of the change.
"Justice twisted into Vengeance. Vengeance's converted to retribution." She whispered almost reverently. The hard lines of her face creased even further, making her look older than she really was.
"Understand this, human. Once we're back, none of this would happen. You wouldn't happen."
"Same goes for you, demon." She replied haughtily. Anders gave no reply, knowing that even as allies, she was goading him into attacking her, verbally or otherwise. Instead, he gave a perceptible nod before staring at the Maker's alter. He muttered something underneath his breath, the words imperceptible to the Divine Mother. The cup of lyrium mixed with Anders' own blood exploded into red fire and the area around the two darkened to where the only light source was the altar itself.
The hoarse shouts and cries could still be heard somewhere behind the darkness. The Qunari growls and shouts for their surrender surrounded the altar, but neither of the two most powerful figures in the desperate war flinched. They had lost too much to these foul, unforgiving beasts.
The door cracked suddenly and the Divine Mother hissed at Anders, urging him along, to speed up the spell. Another crack followed by a thunderous roar of "Capture the saarebas! Kill the Mother!"
The Qunari charged in, the basra in lead, his baton clenched tightly in his hand and ready to be used for capturing the blonde mage.
The Mother stood protectively in front of her ally, a bow wielded expertly in her hand as the first arrow flew swiftly and truly into the leader's heart. The basra released a weak gurgle before falling back, the arrow's poison racing throughout his collapsing body.
Unfortunately, the death of the leader prompted the others to rush and the Mother fell before her enemies, her head quickly cut off by a Qunari blade. The mage grimaced at the death of his rival. While he had always disagreed with her views on magic, he had never truly wished for her death, at least not at the Qunari's hand.
"Saarebas, you're coming with us!"
"Back, you Qunari heathens," the mage growled menacingly and before the leader could step forward, blue fire streamed forth unto him and his group, enveloping the horned humanoids in the fiery blaze.
"Your resistance is futile! Everything you have done is meaningless. Your Hawke is gone as is the Hero of Ferelden despite the traitor's effort!" Another shouted hoarsely at him and a spear was thrown straight at the mage. It was thrown back by the mage's shield, which exploded, covering the area into darkness.
A scream cried out and those who looked unto the battle from afar had to shield their eyes from the blinding white light, only to look at the ruined scene of charred bodies and building. Later, when the Arishok strolled down, to examine the scene, the only remnant left was the Mother's decapitated body. The mage, the leader of this futile rebellion, was nowhere to be found...
