A/N: This story will be authored by two of us here on fanfic... Cara Sterling and myself. I am so fortunate after more than a year of friendship and writing together to finally have met this lovely lady in person - which is doubly awesome because we live thousands of miles apart. During our visit, we couldn't help it; we roughed out a brand new AU story for our favorite characters. The story will be posted to my own profile, but chapters will be written either together or individually and signed. Enjoy. Thanks for reading. :-)

~Prologue~

Blood.

The essence of all—the life force that empowered everything. Without it, there'd be nothing. It was the first lesson Uldred had imprinted upon her; the first real thought he'd imparted to her. Blood was power, and where there was power there were mages. This was her element, the one thing she could offer that few others could. It seemed only fitting that it should be her.

Lex Amell lifted her gaze from the rubbled rooftop and stared down the winged beast before her. Savage intent burned within its slitted depths, and for a brief moment, she was sure that the dragon had curled a lip. Whetted fangs flashed, its forked tongue tasting the ash-ridden air.

A silent challenge rose between them as both gathered their strengths. One hand closed around her stave while the other freed a small blade from the cuff of her leather bracer. If this was to be her end, she refused to fall without a fight. There was far too much riding on this battle: the lives of those she loved, the country of the only home she'd ever known—regardless of how she'd been treated—and the very throne. The darkspawn had stolen victory once before, and only by the Maker's will had the king and his brother survived. Should the worst come to pass, she doubted they would be so lucky again. All atop Fort Drakon would fall, and the world with it.

Far too much weight for two people to bear, and with that thought, her eyes arced over the rooftop, settling on the paltry group of those she dared call friend. Crumpled and unconscious lay Cousland, his wounds currently being tended to by Wynne as Alistair and Cailan hovered over him. Not moments ago, a horde of shrieks and darkspawn had flooded the roof and though they'd done their best, it hadn't been enough. Not only had Cousland fallen, but so had Oghren, their own personal reaver.

Time slowed as Lex turned back toward the archdemon. The final battle had come, and with the attention focused on her two fallen comrades, few seemed aware that she stood off to the side, preparing for it. This was it, and though she knew she would never leave this rooftop alive, it didn't give her pause. She would sacrifice her life and ohso much more—for him, she would do anything. All that mattered was his survival. Hers wasn't even a thought. Riordan had delivered the distressing news to them. Only a Grey Warden could slay the archdemon—and in the midst, forfeit their life.

And only one Grey Warden was left standing.

The Maker had taken choice away from her. She was all that remained standing, and she would do this. White-knuckled, she drew to her full height, refusing to allow herself one final glance for fear it would rob her of determination.

"Lex!"

She faltered at the sound of his voice; she would have known it anywhere. But now was not the time to hesitate. With a shuddering breath, she squared her shoulders and steeled her nerves. No matter how hard he called for her, she would not waver. She couldn't.

Ignoring the terror thickening his voice, she pushed forward. There was no time for goodbyes, and honestly, she hadn't the courage for such a thing.

"Lex! Wait!"

Shaking her head, she launched forward, her staff brandished as she attacked. Her spells came freely, flowing with a strength she'd never felt, as though the Maker Himself empowered her. The war cry of the archdemon drowned out his voice, offering her a momentary reprieve. This was what she needed to focus on, not him. This was her duty—something he greatly understood, there was no denying that.

Even if Cousland hadn't fallen, he was a noble, and she a blood mage. The world had more use of him than her, and in this moment, she was willing to admit it. With death bearing down on her, it seemed foolish to argue it any longer. This was her destiny, she simply hadn't seen it before this moment.

Lex summoned every ounce of strength remaining and released her assault, a torrent of fire raining down from the sky. The beast's shriek spurred her forward, lifting her hopes beyond immeasurable. Ice, arcane, earth—she lost track of all she cast, focusing instead on the gaze of the archdemon, studying its movements to interpret where it would strike next.

A sharp whistle whipped her around, and at the last moment, she threw herself to the slate, her eyes squeezed shut as its barbed tail sliced clean where once she'd stood.

"Maker, Lex!" his voice came again, wavering with a fear she'd never heard from him before.

Cursing, she launched to her feet and dashed back into the fight. She had to end this and quickly, before any more of her companions entered the battle. She refused to lose any of them—only one would die here today, and there was no doubt in her mind who it would be.

Without hesitation, she brought her hidden blade down on her other wrist. The pain was instantaneous, but she watched with smug satisfaction as her blood welled. She'd made a promise once, to stop the blood magic, but what did that promise mean now? It was the only source of power she possessed to end this once and for all, and rightnow before she lost her nerve.

Power surged through her veins, and she drew in an unsteady breath, struggling to tamp back the sudden rush. A small struggle, but one she was accustomed to, and for once there were no whispers, no calls or promises from the demons. It was as though the Fade itself stood silently by, bearing witness to the inevitable outcome.

With a triumphant cry, Lex released the pent up energy in a storm unlike anything she'd ever conjured. The air shifted crimson, the power undeniable. Taming it, she threw all she had at the creature. Its howl of pain was encouraging, and she watched as panic consumed the archdemon, its slitted eyes flying wide. Both knew who would come out the victor.

Armor clattered behind her—the approach of her companions. Grunting with exhaustion, she held the spell in place, feeling as every vessel within the archdemon burst. It wasn't enough—who knew the damage a frightened dragon could cause. Holding the spell in place, she spun on her heel and before she could be stopped, wrenched free the blade of the man she loved.

"Lex—"

No hesitation. Give no thought, have no doubt. She stretched to her tiptoes and grazed her lips against his one final time. When his arm snaked around her waist, she tore free and turned, racing toward the archdemon. No doubt, no thought.

Her breath came softly, her steps fluid, and to the cries of the one she cherished most, she dropped and slid beneath the archdemon, the silver edge of his blade tearing open the dragon's neck.

Blood rained down on her, matting her hair, coating her skin, the blessed heat remarkable. The power she could obtain from such a source, but she was given no chance. Lunging to her feet, she released a great cry and drove the blade through its skull, pinning it to the rooftop.

Light.

That was all she could see. For a moment, she wondered if this was the Maker's side, if death had come so quickly, when suddenly pain racked her body.

It was unlike anything she'd ever suffered, and before she could stop herself, her head fell back and she let out a pained scream. Hot pokers tore at her flesh as her blood boiled and her bones ached. It was all she could think of—the sheer agony.

How she wished it would end, that death would take her. And though she loosed a piteous whimper, her lips did curve when finally she felt the air spike. This was it, the final moments, and mere seconds passed before the world erupted with chaos. The pain lessened, the light dimmed, but air sailed through her ears as she flew backward, freed at last of the archdemon's final hold.

She never hit the ground.

~Cara Sterling