So Dragon Age has taken over my life...aaaannndddd I started a new game on a separate profile simply to write this fanfiction.
So...my gift to you!
Please Review, tell me what you think!
Enjoy!
Amariel Lavellan did not understand what had happened.
She had no memory of what had happened.
She knew she had been sent by her clan to the Chantry Conclave as a spy to see how what proceeded there played out, as whatever happened would affect everyone, including her people, the Dalish Elves. Then…it was all black.
She vaguely remembered…green smog…a woman of intense light whose features were indistinguishable…running from something, perhaps spiders, climbing with all her might…
That left the now.
Now she had awoken to find herself bound in some dungeon, with her hand randomly sparking in pain.
What?
Looking down, Amariel was shocked to see that her hand glowed green. As the green mark flared brighter, Amariel felt the sparking pain return and she gasped.
At the same time the door to her cell was literally kicked open, and a fully armed woman with spiky brown hair burst into the room in a fury. Instantly Amariel was surrounded by guards, the angry woman approaching her at a slower pace now like a predator with prey. Behind her was another woman with fair brown hair just above her shoulders, lavender hood pulled upon her head. Amariel stayed quiet as the spiky haired woman circled her, watching her warily as she began to speak.
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The conclave is destroyed, everyone who attended is dead…except for you," the woman sneered, coming to a stop in front of her once more.
Amariel remained silent. The conclave, destroyed? How was this possible?
Another realization came to her at the same time.
These humans believed her responsible.
Of course they would blame an elf.
When Amariel did not reply, the spiky haired woman grabbed her arm, shoving her marked hand back in her face.
"Explain this," she sneered, and Amariel felt a small spike of panic as the mark sparked.
"I-I…can't," Amariel stuttered for a moment. That only managed to make the woman angrier.
"What do you mean you can't?" the woman accused sharply.
"I don't know what that is or how it got there!" Amariel replied defensively. The woman suddenly grabbed her by the front, her fury evident once more.
"You're lying!"
At this point, the other woman stepped in, pulling her furious companion back and restraining her. "We need her, Cassandra!"
Amariel managed to gather her courage, sitting straighter. "Whatever you think I did, I'm innocent!" she stated avidly.
The other woman stepped up, taking over the interrogation with a gentler tone. "Do you remember what happened, how this began?"
Amariel furrowed her brow, trying to think. "I remember running…things were chasing me, and then…a woman."
"A woman?"
"She reached out to me, but then…"
There was a few moments silence before the angry woman, Cassandra, stepped forward.
"Go to the forward camp, Leliana. I will take her to the rift."
The other woman—Leliana—nodded and left the room, leaving Amariel with Cassandra.
"What did happen?" Amariel ventured to ask in a soft voice. Cassandra hesitated.
"It will be easier to show you."
With that, Amariel was hefted to her feet and ushered out of the dungeon. Cassandra led the way through the Chantry that they were in and out the front door into the dark winter night. To Amariel's slight concern, the night wasn't really that dark, even with a snowstorm going on, and as soon as she stepped out her hand began to spark again.
Cassandra came to a halt, and Amariel paused as well, looking around to see where this thing was that Cassandra and Leliana had mentioned.
She didn't have to look far.
Up high in the sky was a terrifying green hole, one that Amariel found herself unable to look away from.
What was that thing? What was going on?
"We call it the breach," Cassandra started to explain, breaking the silence. "It's a massive rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hour. It's not the only such rift—just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the conclave. Unless we act, the breach may grow until it swallows the world."
No sooner had she finished explaining did the mark upon Amariel's hand suddenly start to spark and glow fiercely, causing such pain to rip up Amariel's arm that she fell to her knees with a cry. Cassandra was there in the next moment.
"Each time the breach expands your mark spreads, and it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time," Cassandra said urgently.
Just a few moments ago you were yelling in my face asking me if I was responsible, and now it sounds like you're asking for my help, Amariel thought tartly before shaking her head.
A rift into the world of demons…regardless of who was asking it sounded dangerous—deadly—and if she could help…
"I understand," Amariel said softly.
"Then…"
"I'll do what I can—whatever it takes," Amariel said a little more firmly. Cassandra nodded, pulling Amariel—still bound—to her feet. She nodded to the guards, who fell back as Cassandra began to lead Amariel through the little town before them. As they passed people stopped and stared, and not in a good way either. Amariel did her best to shake off their hateful glares, a feat a little easier as she was used to such looks aimed towards her elven race.
"They have decided your guilt," Cassandra explained without looking at her and without faltering. "They need it. The people of Haven mourn our most holy, Divine Justinia, Head of the Chantry. The Council was hers. It was a chance for peace between mages and Templars."
Cassandra was silent a little longer until they came to a slope right before a fortified bridge. "She brought their leaders together. Now they are dead. We lash out, like the sky, but we must think beyond ourselves as she did. Until the breach is sealed."
Cassandra brought Amariel to a stop, pulling out a dagger.
"There will be a trial, I can promise no more." With one swift move, Amariel was freed from her bindings. "Come, it is not far."
"Where are you taking me?" Amariel asked warily.
"Your mark must be tested on something smaller than the breach," Cassandra explained simply. Amariel took her silence after that as her cue, and together they made their way across the bridge. As they approached the large double doors that led to the wilderness before them, Cassandra called to the guards.
"Open the gate, we are heading into the valley!"
The doors were opened before Amariel even reached them, Cassandra only a few steps behind her. Out on the road, soldiers were braced and ready for something, and frightened people ran past them speaking of the end of the world. Amariel dodged the flaming debris of wagons and supplies, surprised at the destruction she saw around her.
What had happened, truly?
Amariel's thoughts were stopped as she was sent to her knees yet again with another pulse of pain, unable to get up. Cassandra had to come up behind her and pull her to her feet.
"The pulses are coming faster now," Cassandra said shortly, and they continued on. As they did so, Cassandra explained how when the breach appeared, there was a blast that destroyed everything around it, and the rift appeared in the sky. According to what others were saying, Amariel had…stepped out of the breach, a woman behind her no one could clearly see. That was all they knew—everyone else was as clueless as Amariel.
They rounded a corner, coming upon another bridge. Just before they managed to cross, a large rock on fire blasted into the bridge, destroying it completely and causing the stones to crumble instantly beneath them. Amariel and Cassandra fell haphazardly onto the solid ice below, and as they pushed themselves to their feet, more green blasts landed around them. From those green blasts sprouted demons.
"Stay behind me!" Cassandra commanded, stepping forward and drawing her longsword. Amariel stepped back, allowing the armed one of their party to deal with the warped creature before them.
At least until another flaming green mass struck the ice before Amariel, and a second demon appeared.
That's not going to be an option, Amariel thought in alarm, looking around desperately for something—anything—she could use against these creatures.
Then, over by a smashed supply crate, Amariel spotted two daggers just lying there, a sight that caused her to light up.
Perfect.
She'd been trained to wield dual blades masterfully as a hunter, and had picked up a bow a few times. This…this she could happily work with.
Amariel lunged to seize the blades, snatching them up off of the ground and spinning around to attack the demon. She came at the creature in a blinding fury, slicing as quickly as she could with the blades and even getting the opportunity to leap into the air and dig her blades into it's back before she was forced to disengage. The creature turned and tried to limp over to where Cassandra was still fighting her demon, but Amariel followed, blades moving at a blinding speed once more. Within moments, Amariel had slayed the demon—which disintegrated in a flash of green—and Cassandra had similarly dealt with hers.
"Its over," Amariel said with a sigh.
She was on the defensive in the next moment as now Cassandra advanced upon her, sword still drawn.
"Drop your weapon, now!"
Amariel bristled, but forced herself to relax enough not to cause Cassandra to be even more on edge. However, she did not lower her newly found weapons. "If you're going to lead me through a demon infested valley, you're going to have to trust me."
"Give me one good reason why I should trust you," Cassandra returned harshly.
"Because my life is on the line," Amariel said tersely. Cassandra took that in, then relaxed, lowering her blade.
"You're right…" she said with a sigh, stepping back and turning away. "I cannot protect you, and I cannot expect you to be defenseless. I should remember you agreed to come willingly…"
Turning back to Amariel, Cassandra pushed a few small vials into Amariel's hands for Amariel to store in her pouch.
"Take these potions, who knows what lies ahead of us," Cassandra said seriously, and Amariel was relieved to see the potions were indeed eight healing potions.
They would, in fact, come in handy.
The streams of green light bearing demons continued to fall to the ground as they made their way forward, the distant sound of fighting—men and women shouting as blades clashed—reaching Amariel's ears. She was tired, but she didn't need a potion…not yet…
"We're getting closer to the breach—you can hear the fighting," Cassandra called as they raced up old stone steps.
"Who's fighting?" Amariel called back.
"You'll see soon enough—we must help them," Cassandra replied.
They crested the stairway, and up ahead Amariel could see a concentration of green light and smoke, and the fighting grew to a dull roar. As they approached the next bridge, Amariel zeroed in on the closest demons, jumping right into the fray with her daggers and assisting the nearest soldier so he wouldn't be slaughtered by the assault from the demon that towered over him.
She had just finished off the demon when an elven man suddenly approached her, shouting to be heard over the fighting and the howling wind.
"Quickly, before more come through!" he shouted. Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Amariel's hand and shoved it towards a glowing, shifting green light just hovering in the air. The wind picked up speed, hair and clothes flying wildly about, and Amariel felt like her hand was being pulled towards the strange light before there was a mild boom and the green light simply disappeared. Amariel stumbled away as if freed from some sort of suctioning force, gazing at the man in shock.
"What did you do?" Amariel asked.
"I did nothing—the credit is yours," the elven man stated gracefully.
"At least this is good for something" Amariel murmured, gazing at her clenched fist that held this strange mark."
"Whatever magic opened the breach in the sky also placed that mark upon your hand. I theorized the mark might be able to close rifts that have opened in the breaches wake—and it seems I was correct," the man continued.
"Meaning it could also close the breech itself," Cassandra stated, a remark to which the man nodded.
"Possibly. It seems you could hold the key to our salvation," the man said.
"Good to know," came another gruff voice off to the side, and Amariel turned to see a dwarven man with a crossbow slung across his back approaching her. "Here I thought we'd be ass deep in demons forever."
The man came to a stop before her. "Varric Tethras: Rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tagalong," he said with a smirk, aiming his expression at Cassandra, who immediately looked appalled. Amariel decided to shift towards anything other than the current track of conversation—Cassandra already disliked her enough, there was no reason to irk her forward or encourage someone who irked her.
"That's a nice crossbow you have there," Amariel stated, gesturing to the weapon on Varric's back.
"Ah, isn't she?" Varric replied happily. "Bianca and I have been through a lot together."
"You named your crossbow Bianca?" Amariel asked incredulously.
"Of course, and she'll be great company in the valley."
"Absolutely not!" Cassandra suddenly interjected, stepping forward. "You're help is appreciated Varric, but—"
"Have you been in the valley recently, Seeker? Your soldiers aren't in control of the valley any more. You need me," Varric finished smugly.
Cassandra simply made a sound of disgust and turned away, which prompted the elven man to step up.
"My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions. I am pleased to see you still live," Solas said pleasantly.
"He means 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept,'" Varric expanded. Amariel turned to face Solas completely.
"Then I owe you my thanks," Amariel said sincerely.
"Thank me if we manage to close the breach without killing you in the process," Solas replied, earning a smile from Amariel before he turned to Cassandra. "Cassandra, you should know, the magic here is unlike any I have seen. Your prisoner is no mage, but I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power."
Cassandra inclined her head. "Understood. We must get to the forward camp quickly," she stated shortly before they continued forward.
"Well, Bianca's excited," Varric said cheerfully before he followed after the pair with Amariel in tow.
They only met resistance one more time on the path, resistance that was dealt with much easier with their new companions even though Amariel found herself needing to use a health potion Cassandra had given her. Following the ridge beside the frozen river, they climbed up the steep hill until they came to the next ridge—and from the call of the soldiers by the door for help Amariel assumed it was where they were supposed to be.
Another rift lie waiting for them just before the door, as well as a handful of demons the soldiers were apparently wary of. With just as much fervor as she'd had fighting the other demons and wraiths that attacked them, Amariel plunged forward with her three companions backing her up, going for the wraiths first since they preferred to attack from a distance. It only took a few moments for the few of them to finally dispatch of the creatures, and Amariel turned hesitantly to the rift before her. She looked at her hand, trying to think of how she would do this—Solas had simply shoved her hand towards the other green rift.
Trying to make it look like she had an inkling of what she was supposed to be doing, Amariel shoved her hand towards the green rift, immediately feeling that strange pull as the air started to compress around her, the green light seeming to collapse on itself before there was a small explosion once again and Amariel was released from the pull. She pulled her hand back the same moment that the green rift disappeared and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Open the gate—we need to get through!" Cassandra ordered the soldiers who had stayed out of their way.
"Yes, Seeker!" they replied, and the group of four waited patiently for the two soldiers to do so. Once the doors were open, Amariel and the other three made their way through, passing several soldiers encamped on the bridge. Amariel took the liberty to stop and refill her potions at a supply crate, grateful that no one objected or looked twice. Looking ahead, she spotted the other woman Leliana up ahead speaking to a man garbed in the usual chantry attire. Rising to her feet, Amariel approached the two to hear them arguing.
"Ah, here they come," the Chantry man said distastefully, his tone causing Amariel to bristle.
"You made it," Leliana said in relief, stepping forward. "Chancellor Roderick, this is—"
"I know how she is," Roderick snapped. "As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royal to face execution!"
"Order me?" Cassandra spat. "You are a glorified clerk! A bureaucrat!"
"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry!" Roderick returned sharply.
"We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor; as you well know," Leliana replied coolly.
"Justina is dead! We must elect her replacement, and obey her orders on the matter!"
Amariel could barely believe what she was hearing. "So none of you are actually in charge here?" she asked incredulously.
"You killed everyone who was in charge!" Roderick shouted furiously at Amariel. Cassandra frowned and stepped forward, though Roderick continued to speak. "Call a retreat, Seeker, our position here is hopeless."
"We can stop this before it's too late," Cassandra argued.
"How? You won't survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers," Roderick said with a sad sigh.
"We must get to the temple—it's the quickest route," Cassandra rebuffed.
"But not the safest," Leliana cut in. "Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains," Leliana pointed out, gesturing to the mountains off to their right.
"We lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It's too risky," Cassandra returned.
"Listen to me: abandon this now before more lives are lost!" Roderick pled.
The giant hole in the sky pulsed powerfully, the sound like thunder while the sky roiled in response, and Amariel's hand began to spark furiously, causing her to grasp her wrist to keep her hand from shaking too much, though she did not cry out this time, remaining silent until the glow faded once more.
To Amariel's immense shock, Cassandra turned back to her. "How do you think we should proceed?"
"Now you're asking me what I think?" Amariel asked with a slight laugh of bewilderment.
"You have the mark," Solas said simply.
"And you are the one we must keep alive," Cassandra added. "Since we cannot agree on our own…"
Amariel sighed, glancing over at the mountains. Yes they could charge, but how many soldiers would be killed? And someone had to go after the missing scouts—something must have happened to them. Amariel looked back to Cassandra. "Use the mountain path," she finally said in a firm voice. "Work together: you all know what's at stake!"
Cassandra nodded, turning back to Lelianna. "Leliana, bring everyone left in the valley—everyone!"
Leliana gave a slight bow of her head, then left to do as asked. Cassandra, Amariel, Solas, and Varric all made their way past the table Roderick now braced himself on, issuing one last sneered comment.
"On your head be the consequences, Seeker."
I really do not like him.
The path was difficult to climb with the freezing cold and blinding snowstorm, but the four trudged through the mountain, determined to make it through the pass and to their destination. Amariel was loath to think of what would happen to her once they finished this task—these people did think she was responsible for what had happened.
And with Amariel's missing memory, for all she knew she was responsible.
Though still, she never would do what they were claiming she had done, and she would stand by her claim of innocence.
Amariel listened only partially as her companions spoke of how they were entering an old mine that would lead to the temple, and how they may come across the missing scouts or at least whatever was holding them. Amariel hoped they did find the scouts—she'd feel terrible if they'd come through the path and left them to perish.
The entrance to the mine appeared and Amariel drew her daggers, ready for trouble. Sure enough, she'd barely made her way into the cave before she spotted a demon, and without hesitation she leapt forward to sink her blades into its side. Her companions reached her in seconds, and once it was clear they could handle the demon Amariel rushed to the left to deal with a wraith she hadn't noticed at first.
She usually was one to just jump into the thick of things.
It only took a few hits to defeat the wraith, and she turned around in time to see the other three defeat not just the initial demon but one of the wraiths as well. Amariel gave them all a small nod before she continued deeper into the passage with them, the faint glow of the torches lighting her way through the stone passageways. She stopped a few times when she noticed abandoned gold, and at one point she even stopped to pick up a dagger that was slightly better than the ones she had grabbed, switching it out for one of her daggers. She found a few other goodies as well, and safely pocketed them.
The path through the mine was even shorter than she'd expected, and with one more brief skirmish with demons and wraiths they were out…but not to a pretty sight.
"I see we've found our missing soldiers," Varric stated quietly as Amariel gazed upon the corpses just in front of the doorway.
"Yes…but not all of them," Cassandra observed, her sharp eyes having already taken in their number.
"So…some of them may still be alive?" Varric stated hopefully.
"Our focus must be the breach, or more shall perish," Solas reprimanded them.
Including the soldiers creating a distraction for us, Amariel thought. But one of the reasons I wanted to come this way was to find them.
"I'm leaving that to our elven friend," Varric told Solas. Amariel started to lead them forward.
"If we find them, we will help them," Amariel stated in a tone that left for no discussion, even if she was the prisoner in their group.
No one argued, though she wasn't sure if Solas disliked his advice being so easily brushed aside.
Thankfully, just down the path, they did find the soldiers locked in a desperate battle with four or five demons, right before one of the rifts, and there were only three of them.
Immediately the group readied their weapons, and Amariel plunged forth, instantly attacking a wraith while her party spread out to assist the soldiers that were pinned in the corner and take care of the other threats.
The demons were gone in seconds, but no sooner had they gotten rid of their first few threats did two lessor terrors come through the rift, immediately demanding their focus. Amariel turned to deal with the one closest to her, Solas assisting her and attacking it from a distance with his spells, though no sooner had they managed to defeat the lessor terror did the other one disappear underground, and while Amariel tried to move away from where she'd been it moved much faster, popping out of the ground and coming straight for her. Varric managed to shoot it, and Solas reacted quick enough to hold it at bay with a few spells. Their combined efforts gave Amariel time to get back to her feet and a safer distance away before she and Cassandra joined them in attacking the creature, and they quickly defeated it all together.
Without any hesitation this time, Amariel turned to face the rift, shoving her hand towards it to close it before any more demons could stumble through. As it's small exploding sound ripped through the air, Solas approached her.
"It sealed as before…you are becoming quite proficient in this."
"Let's hope it works on the big one," Varric quipped.
Over by the scouts, Cassandra was helping their leader to her feet, a woman who was breathlessly stating her thanks.
"Thank the Maker you finally arrived, Lady Cassandra. I don't think we would have lasted much longer."
Cassandra gestured over to Amariel. "Thank our prisoner—she insisted we come this way."
"The prisoner? Then you..?" the woman said in surprise, trailing off.
"It was worth saving you if we could," Amariel said honestly.
"Then you have my sincere gratitude," the woman said, crossing her arm across her chest in a sincere salute.
"The way into the valley behind us is clear for the moment, go while you still can," Cassandra suggested, and without a word the three quickly made their way back through the mine. Solas leaned upon his staff.
"The path ahead seems to be clear of demons as well."
"Let's hurry before that changes," Cassandra reprimanded.
Down two long ladders they went before their path turned to a steep path downwards, and the wind picked up to an intensity where Amariel couldn't see through the snow shifting everywhere. However, she did start to see ruins, and once they passed a certain wall…
"The Temple of Sacred Ashes…" Cassandra said softly.
"What's left of it," Varric muttered.
Amariel looked around in horror at the bodies still alight with flame but charred remains, burned in place like dark, gruesome statues built from the ground themselves. The destruction was haunting, and what was left standing of the walls blocked the blinding wind enough that the picture was painfully clear.
There, right before them, was the massive rift that was causing the hole in the sky, one high above the ground and so massive…well, at least it's size wasn't as large as the hole in the sky, but it was large enough Amariel could begin to understand why the hole was so huge.
"You're here—thank the Maker!" came Leliana's increasingly familiar voice behind them, and they all turned as the woman rushed towards them. Cassandra was quick to take charge.
"Leliana, have your men take up positions around the temple." Leliana did so with only a nod, and Cassandra turned back to Amariel, who somehow managed to tear her eyes from the large green rift before her.
"This is your chance to end this, are you ready?" Cassandra asked. Amariel stood a little straighter.
"I'm assuming you have a plan to get me up there?" Amariel asked. How Solas began his answer threw her off, though his explanation eased her concerns just as quickly.
"No, this rift is the first and it is the key. Seal it and perhaps we seal the breach."
"Then let's find our way down—quickly," Cassandra stated, already moving away. They had hardly taken two steps when a new voice echoed around the ruins, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once…
"Now is the hour of our victory," it said. "Bring forth the sacrifice."
"What are we hearing?" Cassandra asked in an uncharacteristically frightened voice, though they all managed to move forward to reach their goal despite the strange occurrence. Solas was quick to explain.
"A guess? The person who created the breach."
They wound their way along the balcony the soldiers were spread out upon, looking for a way down. Amariel couldn't help but notice the red…crystals that grew from everything around them.
"You know this stuff is red lyrium, Seeker?" Varric whispered softly as they passed by more.
"I see it, Varric," Cassandra said tersely.
"But what's it doing here?"
"Magic could have drawn on lyrium beneath the temple and corrupted it," Solas explained solemnly.
Varric made a sound of disgust. "It's evil! Whatever you do, don't touch it!"
"Keep the sacrifice still," the deep voice from earlier stated, appearing briefly yet again.
"Someone, help me!" came a new voice, one that instantly had Cassandra's attention.
"That is Divine Justinia's voice!"
Amariel didn't say anything, only made her way down towards the breach as she finally found some stable stairs that led the way, tall shards of regular lyrium towering over her. Finally, she rounded the corner, and everyone collectively—warily—approached the rift.
"Someone, help me!" came the Divine's voice again.
"What's going on here?" came, to her immense surprise, Amariel's voice, just as her hand began to spark again.
"That was your voice," Cassandra said breathlessly from behind her. Amariel did not turn, trying not to react to the sparking of her hand. "Most Holy called out to you, but…"
There was a sudden flash of light, and everyone looked away for a few moments before the light subsided, and they turned to see a frightening display before them created from smoke. The Divine was held in place by this dark shadow with red eyes, and as they watched, Amariel herself appeared, seeming to run in on them.
"What's going on here?" Amariel saw herself ask.
"Run while you can! Warn them!" Justinia pled with her. The shadow raised a knotted hand and pointed it at Amariel.
"We have an intruder. Slay the elf."
With that, the smoke simply dissipated, and they were all left wondering what had just happened. There was a few moments of silence before Cassandra approached her, looking dumbfounded.
"You were there…" she said breathlessly before launching predictably into the questions. "Who attacked? And the Divine, is she…was this vision true? What are we seeing?"
"I don't remember," Amariel repeated in a frustrated voice. Thankfully, Solas answered before Cassandra could continue with part of an answer.
"Echoes of what happened here…the Fade bleeds into this place. This rift is not sealed but it is closed, albeit temporarily. I believe that with the mark the rift can be reopened, and then sealed properly and safely. However, opening the rift will likely attract attention from the other side."
"That means demons, stand ready!" Cassandra commanded, her voice carrying through the space for all to hear. Solas stepped aside, and Amariel took that as her que to act. Slowly approaching the rift, Amariel waited until everyone was in place with bows drawn and swords ready before she raised her hand to the rift, allowing it to pull her towards it. Instead of closing like the others, it flashed and abruptly let her go, causing Amariel to stumble as something came out of the Fade right behind her. A terrifying roar sounded, and Amariel turned to stare in fear at the giant pride demon that had stepped out of the Fade.
"Now!" Cassandra commanded, and arrows immediately flew through the air with the men descended upon the pride demon. Amariel wasted no time in joining them despite how frightening it was.
It was best to get rid of the immediate threat before trying to seal the rift lest she turn her back on the creature and be slaughtered.
They tried attacking it head on for a few moments, but it was obvious that they were doing no damage within moments.
"We must weaken its defenses!" Cassandra shouted.
But how? Amariel thought wildly, looking around as she backed up to try and think. How did they weaken this terrifying creature?
Amariel's eyes fell upon the rift, and she bit her lip. Perhaps…if she managed to do a number on the breach, close it slightly, then it would cut the demon off from the Fade, weaken it just as they needed it to be…
Trusting the others to keep the demon off of her if she caught its attention, Amariel rushed towards the breach, shoving her hand towards it and feeling the familiar pull. Just as when the demon appeared, it ended early, but with the resulting boom came a triumphant cry from Cassandra.
"It's defenses are down! Attack it now!"
Feeling pride for discovering such a handy thing, Amariel threw herself back into the fray, coming up behind the demon and digging her daggers into its thighs before she leapt away for safety, attacking with both daggers from a different spot this time. Back and forth she went, chipping away at this demon with everyone else and finally finding a rythmn to their fight.
At least until Cassandra gave another warning cry.
"More are coming through!"
Immediately Amariel broke away from the pride demon, turning to find other smaller demons rapidly approaching with their eyes set on the soldiers. Amariel rushed forwards, engaging the first one that came too close with her dagger, lashing out at a second that tried to pass by her and engaging it too. Her heart pounding with fear and adrenaline, Amariel did her best to ignore the pride demon a few paces from her and keep the two demons she was fighting from attacking the others before she dealt with them. She was breathing heavily, but in a minute or two she had both of them down, shakily fishing a health potion from her pocket and downing it without hesitation, throwing the bottle aside to shatter upon the ground. She looked back at the pride demon to see it was fully swinging again with its defenses up, and that prompted her to disrupt the rift that was his source of power once more.
Now, as the demon fell to its knees and everyone swarmed to attack it again, Amariel could feel that she had its attention.
Great.
She joined the fray despite the fact she knew she was its next target, moving at blinding speeds to get in as many hits as she could before it got on its feet again. The demon roared dangerously, rising up and immediately taking a swing at Amariel. She was sent flying through the air and hit the ruined wall hard, knocking the breath out of her and doing quite some damage. It advanced upon her, ignoring the others as they whittled away at it as it seemed to realize she was its biggest threat. Electricity sparked from its hand as it raised its clawed hand high in the air, roaring and bringing it down swiftly towards her.
It's the end, she thought in horror as she saw the claw rapidly approach.
A shadow fell over her, and the clawed hand was halted with a loud thud, whatever had come between them stumbling at the impact. Amariel was stunned to see Cassandra before her, shielding her from the demon, but she did not waste her opportunity. Breathing a quiet thanks to Cassandra, Amariel stumbled away, taking another health potion when she felt her injuries from the blow screaming in protest. While everyone else grouped together to hold the pride demon at bay, Amariel raced towards the rift, disrupting it as fast as she could and sending the demon to its knees once more.
Hopefully this time they could finish it off.
To Amariel's immense pride, she was the one who struck the blow that caused the pride demon to rear up with a bellow of furious agony and disappear in a swift flash of light. However, her rejoicing was short lived as Cassandra reminded her of the seriousness of the situation.
"Now! Seal the rift!" Cassandra shouted, and Amariel raced forward, shoving her hand towards the breach. "Do it!"
The wind grew to an alarmingly fast weight, and Amariel felt as if this rift was pulling her very soul from her body. The sound grew unbearably loud and then…there was a shockwave that sent Amariel flying backwards, a huge explosion that pulsed up to the sky taking the stream that connected rift and breach with it…
And then there was nothing, the only thing she was managed to see before losing complete consciousness being the light that remained in the sky.
When Amariel woke with a sudden start, she was shocked to find herself clothed in something else, as well as warm in a bed inside of a cabin. Shifting, Amariel groaned and placed a hand upon her head, trying to figure out how she got here and where she was.
Off to the side, there was a sudden crash, and Amariel looked up to see an elven woman before her with shock upon her face and a shattered, small crate at her feet.
"Oh! I didn't know you were awake, I swear!" the woman stated in a panicked tone. Amariel was confused as to why the woman was so frightened, but she had a more immediate thought on her mind and didn't move to comfort her.
"Is this another prison?" Amariel asked, regarding the woman warily. The woman seemed shocked.
"I-I, no, I mean…I don't think so…" she stuttered.
"Then where am I? Tell me," Amariel said in slight frustration. To her further amazement, the woman dropped to her knees and bowed to her, practically putting her face in the dirt. Amariel wanted to tell the woman to rise, but the woman was already spewing forth an explanation Amariel needed.
"I beg your forgiveness and blessing! I am but a humble servant. You are back in Haven, My Lady. They say you saved us. The breach stopped growing, just like the mark on your hand. It's all anyone has talked about for the last three days!"
As she spoke, Amariel looked down at the mark on her hand, a mark that glowed and sparked slightly but didn't hurt as much, and sure enough had not spread, frozen in a jagged green glow across her skin. Still, she was confused. "So you're saying they're…happy with me?" Amariel asked.
"I'm only saying what I heard! I didn't mean anything by it. I'm sure Lady Cassandra will want to know you've awakened. At once she said!"
"And where is she?" Amariel asked, rising from her bed.
"In the Chantry with the Chancellor. At once she said!"
And with that, before Amariel could ask any other questions, the woman fled without hesitation. With a sigh, Amariel started to poke around the room until she found her actual clothes cleaned and repaired. She pulled them on, then took a moment to ruffle through what the woman had dropped.
Just some elfroot and dawn lotus. Still, it might come in handy…
Once Amariel was sure there was nothing else she could find in the cabin, she hesitantly made her way to the door and stepped outside.
To her shock, there were two armed guards standing ready at attention with salutes, and people were crowding the path in front of her house just behind them, craning their necks to get a good look at her.
How…how had things changed so quickly? Didn't they blame her for Justinia's death?
As she slowly made her way down the path, people parted, and Amariel managed to catch a few whispers that only confused her further.
"That's her, that's the Herald of Andraste!"
"They said when she came out of the Fade, Andraste herself was watching over her!"
"Hush! We shouldn't disturb her!"
"Did Lady Cassandra have her in chains? I thought Seekers knew everything!"
"It's complicated."
"It wasn't complicated—Andraste herself blessed her!"
"That's her! She stopped the breach from getting any bigger!"
Herald of Andraste? Blessed by Andraste? What happened while I was unconscious? Amariel wondered as she made her way up the steps, past tents, and past more people standing at salute, even people who weren't soldiers.
Why?
There was just more gossip as she made her way to the Chantry of the same thing, with none of it making any sense, so she paid it no heed. Cautiously, Amariel made her way into the Chantry, where raised voices quickly wafted towards her. Unsurprisingly, she was the topic of the heated debate.
"Have you gone completely mad? She should be taken to Val Royale immediately to be tried by whoever becomes divine!" came the voice of Roderick. Amariel soured—she really didn't like that man.
Deciding she'd hear truth more if she didn't enter, Amariel lingered outside so they didn't know she could hear them.
"I do not believe she is guilty!" came Cassandra's firm voice.
"The elf failed, Seeker, the breach is still in the sky! For all you know she intended it this way."
"I do not believe that!"
"That is not for you to decide. Your duty is to serve the Chan—"
"My duty is to serve the principles upon which the Chantry is founded upon, Chancellor, as is yours!"
Deciding now was probably the best time to enter, Amariel opened the door, now prepared for what kind of a mess she was walking into and holding herself high.
At least everyone wasn't condemning her anymore. Just…some people.
"Chain her!" Roderick said immediately. "I want her prepared for travel to the capital for trial."
"Disregard that and leave us," Cassandra told the guards tersely.
"You walk a dangerous line, Seeker," Roderick said coldly. Cassandra wasted no time getting in his face.
"The breach is stable but it is still a threat. I will not ignore it."
Amariel looked between them, trying to make sense of everything that was happening. "So I'm still a suspect, even after what we just did?"
"You absolutely are," Roderick snarled.
"No, she is not," Cassandra snapped back.
"Someone was behind the explosion at the temple. Someone the Most Holy did not expect. Perhaps they died with the others—or have allies who yet live," Leliana stated, appearing from the shadows and staring coolly at Roderick.
"I am a suspect?" Rocerick asked incredulously.
"You and many others," Cassandra said indifferently. "I heard the voices at the temple. The Divine called to her for help."
"So her survival, that thing on her hand—all a coincidence?"
"Providence. The Maker sent her to us in our darkest hour."
Amariel blinked, raising her hands. "You realize I'm an elf—a Dalish Elf."
"I have not forgotten," Cassandra scolded her. "No matter what you are or what you believe you are exactly what we needed when we needed it."
"The breach remains, and your mark is still our only hope of closing it," Leliana added.
"This is not for you to decide," Roderick said coldly. Cassandra, apparently fed up, turned and grabbed a heavy book, slamming it against the table.
"You know what this is, Chancellor? A writ from the Divine, granting us the authority to act. We will close the breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order—with or without your approval!"
Roderick only glared at them and said nothing before he turned and stormed out of the room in a fury. Cassandra waved him off, and Leliana stepped forward.
"This is the divine's directive. Rebuild the Inquisition of old, find those who will stand against the chaos. We are not ready, we have no numbers, and now no Chantry support!"
"But we have no choice," Cassandra said softly, turning to Amariel. "We must act now with you at our side."
"If you're truly trying to restore order…" Amariel said slowly.
"That is the plan," Leliana reassured her.
"Help us fix this before it's too late," Cassandra pled, stepping closer. Amariel debated, holding the woman's gaze. If she said yes…she was committed, no matter what came, and she knew everything would change…more than it already had.
Deciding she couldn't just sit around and do nothing even if there were clearly people who hated her, Amariel nodded, reaching out and giving Cassandra's hand a firm shake.
Amariel never thought she'd see such a wide smile cross that woman's face.
The next few days passed in a blur for Amariel. Preparations were made furiously, with Leliana and Cassandra reaching out to two others to help make preparations—Josephene and Cullen. Despite the fact they were now in Haven and helping to bring the Inquisition about, Amariel hadn't really spoken to them much—she hadn't had time. There wasn't really anything for Amariel to do until the four got the Inquisition up and running. Amariel did know the four met constantly, and she remembered the day Leliana sent her ravens to make contact with those who could potentially help. Roderick was openly angry that they had formed the Inquisition, and that it was starting to make ground. Soldiers came and were being trained, the people of Haven and some from outside of Haven came to help, weapons were made, the symbol of the Inquisition, an eye, sword, and sunburst, now hung on banners.
And the breach remained high up in the sky, a reminder for their goal every time they stepped outdoors.
Now Amariel made her way into the Chantry not for the first time recently, but at least for the first official meeting where the Inquisition would truly begin to act. She was understandably nervous, but she didn't let it show, tugging at the gloves of her new clothes. She'd been outfitted with new clothes and with personalized armor that she appreciated admittedly more than her previous clothes. Her hair was in its usual intricate braid and bun once more, and she marched with a purpose that wasn't faked.
Now she did have a purpose.
Cassandra met her at the door, and as they walked inside, Amariel couldn't help but mess with the hand that held her mark. Cassandra seemed to notice this.
"Does it trouble you?" she asked, and they momentarily came to a stop.
"Not really."
"What's important is that your mark is now stable as is the breach. You've given us time, and Solas believes a second attempt might succeed—provided the mark has more power. The same level of power used to open the breach in the first place. That is not easy to come by."
Amariel arched an eyebrow at her. "What harm can there be in powering something up we barely understand?"
Cassandra cracked a small half smile. "Hold on to that sense of humor."
When Cassandra walked in with the fifth member of their council, Commander Cullen Rutherford had to do a double take. Of course he'd seen her on occasion here and there throughout Haven, but they hadn't really met face to face yet—they had basically been in different places at all times.
She was not what he had expected.
The woman—Amariel—had a fair complexion with lightly tanned skin, rich, long blonde hair pulled into an intricate braid that formed a bun in the back. Her elven ears were small, and the pointed tips that came at eye level were difficult to spot even for Cullen, even with her hair pulled back. Her cheekbones were high and well defined, just enough to make her appear even more elegant than she already was. Furthermore, of her elegant features were the thin, neat eyebrows that were slightly raised at all times, it would seem, helping her appear alert and ready. She possessed a strong, firm chin and jawline, sharp just as with her cheekbones. Her lips…a rich, deep red—like roses with a wet shine that caused those lips to beg attention. But what really stuck out to him were her eyes; sharp and narrow, almond-shaped, icy blue eyes. She had thick, long lashes that only accented the entrancing mystique of her eyes. As if to help bring out her piercing eyes, she also had a simple, elegant facial tattoo, the vibrant red pale enough not to clash with her complexion but sharp enough to bring out her eyes. She excelled at manipulating her cosmetics to bring out her features, her eyeshadow ranging from a dark blood red against her black eyeliner to a pale pink by her eyebrows. Her soft blush of barely visible red was placed to make her cheekbones seem sharper. She was also faintly scarred upon the face, as he was, though in his opinion it complimented her features more so. There were two scars, one in a loose crescent shape over her right eye, and one small scar over her lip just like he had, except hers was on the left side.
A truly stunning woman.
"May I present Commander Cullen, leader of the Inquisitions forces," Cassandra introduced him, and Cullen couldn't help but give Amariel one good look over from top to bottom as he responded.
"Such as they are. We lost many soldiers in the valley, and I fear many more before this is through," Cullen said somberly. Amariel inclined her head at his words, appearing to take them to heart as Cassandra moved on with the introductions, even as Amariel's eyes lingered on Cullen just a few split seconds.
"This is Lady Josephine Montilyet, our Ambassador and Chief Diplomat."
"Andaran Atish'an," Josephine told Amariel. The woman's eyes lit up, and she smiled at Josephine.
"You speak elven!" she said excitedly. Josephine laughed.
"You just heard the entirety of it, I'm afraid."
"And of course you know Sister Leliana," Cassandra added, moving rather quickly through the introductions. She was clearly ready to get to business.
They had much to do.
"My position here involves a degree of…" Leliana stated, searching for the right words.
"She is our spymaster," Cassandra said simply.
"Yes, tactfully put, Cassandra."
Amariel arched her eyebrows, and Cullen wondered what was going through her mind to garner such a reaction. Doubltess she had many questions, though she didn't look lost.
"That's an impressive bunch of titles," she quipped.
Well, he hadn't been expecting humor. At least if she brought that to every meeting they wouldn't be so tense.
"I mentioned your mark needs more power to close the breach for good," Cassandra explained to Amariel.
"Which means we must approach the rebel mages for help," Leliana jumped in.
"And I still disagree," Cullen cut in quickly and firmly. "The Templars could serve just as well."
"We need power, Commander. Enough magic poured into that mark—" Cassandra started to explain with a sigh before Cullen interrupted her.
"Might destroy us all," Cullen stated seriously. "Templers could suppress the breach, weaken it so—"
Now it was Cullen's turn to be cut off, this time by Leliana.
"Pure speculation," she said simply.
"I was a Templar. I know what they're capable of," Cullen said quietly and seriously. Amariel watched the entire exchange actively, but said nothing. Instead, it was Josephine who spoke up.
"Unfortunately, neither group will even speak to us yet. The Chantry has denounced the Inquisition—and you specifically," Josephine added, turning to Amariel. The woman shifted, looking annoyed but yet not as offended as Cullen expected.
Then again, perhaps it was harder to offend her since she was used to harsh treatments from humans. At least Cullen assumed that's what most of her interaction with their race had been.
"That didn't take long," Amariel stated sourly.
"Shouldn't they be busy arguing over who should become Divine?" Cullen asked, his voice only a little less annoyed than Amariel's.
"Some are calling you, a Dalish Elf, the Herald of Andraste. That frightens the Chantry. The remaining clerics have declared it blasphemy, and we heretics for harboring you," Josephine explained to Amariel.
"Chancellor Roderick's doing, no doubt," Cassandra stated sourly, and a look of displeasure appeared in Amariel's eyes for a brief moment.
"It limits our options. Approaching the mages or Templars for help is currently out of the question," Josephine said simply. A frown tugged at Amariel's mouth as she thought of something.
"Will the Chantry attack us?" she asked in concern.
He understood her concern, but at the same time he had to repress a snort at the thought. "With what? They have only words at their disposal."
"And yet they may bury us with them," Josephine finished lightly.
"There is something we can do," Leliana said, stepping in. "A Chantry cleric by the name Mother Giselle has asked to speak to you. She is not far, and knows those involved far better than I. Her assistance could be invaluable."
"I'll see what she has to say," Amariel said promptly. It seemed she was ready to do something more than wait around.
"You will find Mother Giselle tending to the wounded in the Hinterlands near Redcliffe," Leliana informed Amariel.
"Look for other opportunities to expand the Inquisition's influence while you're there," Cullen added seriously. Maker knew they were going to need it.
"We need agents to extend our reach beyond this valley, and you're better suited than anyone to recruit them," Leliana finished.
"I'll keep my eyes open," Amariel promised.
"In the meantime let's think of other options. I won't leave this all to the Herald," Cassandra stated, placing a scouting marker where the Hinterlands were on the war table before they all collectively left the war room.
As Amariel left ahead of him, Cullen allowed himself to watch her do so, his curiosity of the woman officially piqued.
