My first play through from the game went something like this, and it's been on my mind since then. Might only be around two chapters long.
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age.
"Why aren't they attacking us?" Alistair murmured. "Are they blind or something?"
"Yes, fool," Morrigan grumbled. "I'm sure they know how to use their weapons without being able to see a thing."
They were in the caverns at the temple at Haven, and over time they had managed to fight their way through the countless groups of cultists. A tiny group of men stood in the center of the room. None withdrew their weapons, but an angry look was on each of their faces. One man stood in the center, more heavily geared than those around him. The leader, she suspected. Alyssa Cousland led her small group towards them, trying not to show any sings of hostility. There had been enough battles already.
"Stop!" the man demanded. "You will go no further!"
Alyssa peered at him curiously. "Who are you?"
"You do not have the right to demand my name," he spat. "You have defiled our temple! You have spilled the blood of the faithful and slaughtered our young! No more. You will tell me now intruder why you have done all this. Why have you come here?"
"I have come for the Urn of Sacred Ashes," she answered.
"You did this all for an ancient relic? Know this, stranger. The Prophet Andraste has overcome death itself and has returned to her faithful in a form more radiant than you can imagine. Not even the Tevinter Imperium could hope to slay her now. What hope do you have?"
This man was obviously mad, she could tell already. Curiosity picked at her.
"I wish to see this arisen Andraste," she declared.
"None but the Disciples may approach Andraste," the man explained. "She is not ready yet. When the time is right, She will descend upon the nations in fiery splendor, and all will know Her!" He paused, and crossed his arms over his chest, considering something. "But... perhaps there is a way to make up for your recent transgressions."
"Why do you suddenly want to cooperate with me?" Alyssa inquired.
"It may be because I believe in second chances. All of us stumble through the darkness before being found and shown the light. Perhaps, through Andraste's mercy, her greatest enemy will become Her greatest champion."
"Go on."
He then began explaining about taking a single vial of blood and pouring it inside the Urn, because the Urn was the one thing that held Andraste in the mountains. However, it was in the gauntlet and protected by a powerful guardian, so he could not do so himself. Leliana and Alistair immediately voiced their disapproval about this idea, but Morrigan interjected that doing as they bid would put the Warden in a very advantageous point. Alyssa wasn't interested, until he spoke of the reward. Money wasn't something they needed. Weapons and armor wasn't something they needed, but she sensed that this would not be what he was offering.
"What is this reward, exactly?" she asked.
"You will drink the blood of Her," he went on, "and will gain the memories of the fallen faithful."
The power of a dragon? Temptation gnawed at her. With that, she would be so much more powerful. With that, maybe she could find some way to protect her allies during minor battles against the Blight, and nobody would die. She accepted.
"I don't know if I like the idea of us helping this Kolgrim," Alistair muttered.
"Silence. I know what I'm doing."
...
...
"I never dreamed I would ever lay my eyes on the Urn of Sacred Ashes... I... I have no words to express-" Leliana whispered, in wonder.
"I didn't think anyone could succeed in finding Andraste's final resting place," Alistair murmured, "but here... here She is."
"I stand in awe," Morrigan sighed sarcastically. "Really."
Alyssa stared at the large Urn, uncertain of what to think. No, she didn't believe that the High Dragon lurking outside was Andraste, but she still desired the power... the reward for performing the simple task. She fished out a small leather pouch from her pack, and scooped a pinch of ashes inside. Her hand lingered on the vial, and she slowly pulled it out. Alistair caught her movement quickly. He grabbed her arms, holding her back before she could uncork it.
"Let me go!" Alyssa cried.
"No!" he yelled. "You can't do this. I won't let you!"
"I have to! With that power, I can make sure none of you die!"
For a split second he loosened his grip, stunned by her words and wondering what she could possibly mean. In that split second, she popped the cork off the vial and poured the dark crimson blood into the Urn of Sacred Ashes. It seeped through slowly, and corrupted them.
"No!" Leliana cried.
"The Ashes!" the Guardian yelled, entering the large room.
"I knew I would have regretted letting you agreeing to that man," Alistair spat.
Alyssa squirmed out of Alistair's grasp, gazing down the steps. The Guardian withdrew his weapon and strode towards her, declaring, "This most grievous of sins cannot go unpunished. Andraste must be avenged." Leliana glared at Alyssa, with hatred in her eyes. This was the same friend she had known for such a long amount of time?
"You... fiend!"
The corner of Alyssa's mouth twitched. "I'm sorry... it had to be done."
"No, it did not!" Leliana screamed. "You did this only because you care for yourself. Well, I won't stand for it. It ends here."
In a quick movement, the bard withdrew her bow and aimed it at Alyssa's heart. Alistair sprang in front of her without hesitation and shielded her from the shot. After that, he bashed Leliana square in the face, knocking her back. She tumbled down the steps, landing at the Guardian's feet. He quickly summoned two ash wraiths. The demon arose from holes in the ground. Four against three.
Demons were weaker than the Guardian, and had to die first. Morrigan began conjuring spells and firing them at a demon, while Alistair fought the demon at the bottom of the steps. He bashed at one several times, and then ran his sword cleanly through it twice. A blast of lightning finished it off, and it crumbled back to the ground. The witch downed a potion of lyrium, and then cast a healing spell on Alistair. His deep wounds knitted back together.
While shielding himself from the powerful but slow blows of the Guardian, he began slashing at the second demon. Another arrow flew at Alyssa, but she dodged it slighly. It just grazed her cheek. She charged down the steps, dodging Leliana's attacks, and helped bring down the second wraith, stabbing it from behind until it fell. Only Alistair and Morrigan were dealing with the Guardian, leaving Alyssa with Leliana.
"Don't do this," the warden whimpered. "Don't make me kill you."
Leliana said nothing, and fired another arrow. When the Warden dodged again, she pulled out a dagger hanging at the side of her belt. But the bard was too slow. Alyssa stabbed her side quickly, opening a large hole in her side. Leliana stabbed Alyssa's shoulder. The two danced around each other, continuing the process of dodging blows and driving weapons forward. Suddenly Leliana fell down, not able to take any more.
"I... thought I knew you."
She was dead. Alyssa fell to her knees, sobbing. Oh Maker, how could she have done this?
...
...
The foul of the blood still lingered in Alyssa's burning throat. They departed from the outside of the temple without another fight, thankfully. Brother Genitivi was still awaiting their return at the front of the temple. He smiled at the sight of them.
"Welcome back!" he greeted. "You were gone for quite some time. Well? Did you find it?"
Alyssa pulled out the pouch, silently putting it in his hands. His eyebrows puckered as he observed it.
"Is that... oh, there is some dust on-" Realization hit him. "No, that's not dust... oh, Maker... I'm not worthy to look upon..." He handed it back to her, awe etched on his face. "What... what was it like? Coming to the Urn, I mean?"
"It was just a stone flask with a burnt woman inside," she grumbled.
"To you, maybe, but it's not so to thousands of people. We must organize an expedition! There is so much history here. It must be studied. And... and pilgrims should be allowed to come to the Urn."
"Wait, you can't do that."
"And why not?"
"Because I... defiled the Ashes."
Brother Genitivi stared at her. Had he heard correctly? There was no signs of lying in her eyes. "You... you did this for the cultists, didn't you? How could you? You... you're a monster! I should never had led you here!"
Alyssa flinched as he turned on his heel and darted out of sight. Trembling, she looked down on herself. She remained covered in the blood of Leliana, her friend.
Maybe she was a monster.