Hello guys,
I am ogmios86 and TOGETHER FOREVER is my first story at all. I was so anxious for DAI that I decided to write my take on it concerning the reunion between our favourite bard and the Warden. Reasons for his disappearance mentioned at the end of DA2, redhead's reaction to it and much more you will find in this story.
I am planning circa 10 chapters for this story. This is not a canon but I badly wish this plot would be in DAI. This story should end on November 19th. I am sure you all know the reason why.:D
Please bear in mind that English is not my first language. I did my best though. If some generous soul is willing to be my corrector, please PM me. I have already written a few more chapters.
I posted two chapters together, other ones will be posted one by one.
BTW my Warden is non-canon Cousland. However you can chose whoever you want. They are interchangeable.
Thanks in advance for potential reviews.
Enjoy.
-ooo-
Redcliffe Castle, Mage - Templar Conflict, 9:41 Dragon
The Inquisitor and her small squad made a beeline for the gate of the main hall in Redcliffe Castle. After heavy fighting they were able to reach their destination - the HQ of mage Alexius.
This Tevinter Magister was in command of the Venatori, a cult worshipping the mortal enemy of the Inquisition named the Elder One. It seemed that Alexius controlled even demons from the Fade, at least partially, who fought alongside his troops.
Bulk of the forces located in the castle were deployed to face a small band of diverse characters. Against all odds the team was able to fight their way through the castle to their target. Though their progress did not come without cost.
Inquisitor Aria Trevelyan turned her head and sighed. On her left she was observing a skillful elven archer Sera who was limping slowly. Supporting her, with his hand locked on her left side, was a massive Qunari Iron Bull.
"What about that idea of tossing, Bull? Now, it's probably the only way I can cause some mayhem." Sera teased jovially despite the situation they were in.
"Told you." The mercenary replied with a straight face, his only eye never stopped scanning their surroundings for potential threats.
"However now it will cost you." He continued their little chat barely hidding his smirk behind a somber facade.
"Yeah? What do you want?" Sera couriously inquired.
"When we get out of here, you convince Varric that he should try it as well." Bull smugly replied. "And a few rounds of ale." He hastily added.
These two act like children all the time. Why am I not surprised?
Aria rolled her eyes and stopped listening their banter. She focused on her fellow mage Dorian who had been walking beside her in complete silence for some time. Despite being uninjured during their struggle through the building, he was running low on mana. Lyrium and health potions along with their other supplies were almost depleted. Additionally his mood was deteriorating fast after they had learned that their foe was Alexius. Her friend revealed that the Magister had been his mentor once.
"Are you all right? I know you cared for him." The Inquisitor silently whispered to an exTevinter mage next to her.
"Once he was a man to whom I compared all others." He responded unhappily. "Sad, isn't it?"
Before Aria could respond to his inquiry he continued. It seemed he made his mind about the issue. "Don't worry Lady Trevelyan, I will do what needs to be done. Personal matters are unimportant when we face extinction."
Unsure how to respond to his rather pessimistic view of the world they were in, she reached and slightly squeezed his arm hoping to show her support in his predicament. His small smile proved that her gesture was appreciated.
The Inquisitor knew that none of them were in a particularly good shape but who truly worried her was her new advisor in espionage.
Sister Nightingale had been recommended by Cassandra Pentaghast as an extremely capable spy master. There were flying wild rummors in the headquarters of the Inquisition in Haven about her past. Aria had heard such stories herself. About the involvement of a mentioned spy in many world changing events. The violent uprising in the Circle Tower in Val Royeaux, the destruction of Kirkwall or the killing of archdemon Urthemiel in the Fifth Blight were only small portions of them. The source had never confirmed them though. Sister was a very private person. Hardly anybody even knew her real name. The Inquisitor doubted that anyone beside Seeker Pentaghast knew a true identity of a mysterious woman.
The woman who right now, as pale as walls of the White Spire in Orlais, was slowly trailing behind their group. Iron Bull had managed to get her out of the cell in Radcliffe Castle. However weeks of torture left the spy master battered and weak. It was a testament of her will that she continued despite that.
It was my damned fault.
Trevelyan bit her lip hard. She was the one who had sent Sister Nightingale to spy on situation in the west of Ferelden around Redcliffe. The Inquisitor assumed that in that area had been operating only token forces of the Venatori and instead of sending Commander Pentaghast with an army, she had sent the spy, who had been captured after the attempt to gather intel from the castle.
I am lucky she was even alive when we got here.
While they were able to get to this point, she was aware that getting out of the castle would be another matter altogether. Even as they progressed through the castle they knew Alexius had sent for reinforcement. They had to get in, defeat the Magister, close the rift in the Fade and got out as quickly as possible.
-ooo-
In the main hall of Redcliffe Castle stood by the fireplace Alexius contemplating his past acts. Next to him was cowering a pathetic form of a man reminding more a ghoul than any human being.
The Inquisitor cleared her throat and put on a confident facade on her face that she wasn't quite feeling.
"Alexius, it's time to answer for your crimes." She stated icily.
Without turning around he answered. "And here you are. Finally. I knew you would appear again. Not that it would be now but I knew I hadn't destroyed you. My final failure."
Aria noticed Sister had diseappeared to the shadows using Master Stealth and was grateful for distraction Dorian provided.
"Was it worth it? Everything you did to the world, to yourself." The mage bitterly demanded.
Alexius, in almost resigned tone, said. "It doesn't matter now. All we can do is wait to the end."
"It does matter. I will undo it." The Inquisitor interjected confidently.
"How many times have I tried? Past cannot be undone. All that I fought for, all that I betrayed and what I have wrought. Ruin and death. There is nothing else. The Elder One comes for me, you, for us all." Tevinter Magister still continued in his monologue unaware that the master spy had been crawling the entire time behind the back of his companion.
She grabbed ghoul's arm and pointed one of her knives to his neck. Alexius panicked and Dorian realized in that moment that the person was in fact a son of Alexius - Felix. However everyone could see that he had been corrupted by dark magic.
"That's Felix? Maker's breath. Alexius, what have you done?" Dorian verbally attacked his former mentor.
Alexius whispered. "He would have died Dorian. I saved him." Then turned to Sister Nightingale pleading. "Please. Don't hurt my son. I will do anything you ask."
We still need that artefact.
The Inquisitor jumped in. "Hand over the amulet and we let him go." She didn't miss narrow eyes of the Sister and dread settled in her stomach.
The Venatori leader caught that as well and quickly negotiated. "Let him go and I swear you get what you want."
"I want the world back." The rogue responded with a frosty glare that chilled air in the room. With simple move she quickly slit Felix's throat.
"Nooo!" Alexius growled and casted Stonefist knocking the master spy out of the view.
Everyone else prepared for the fight and engaged Dorian's old mentor. Despite his ability to summon demons from the Fade, he was soon overhelmed by combined efforts of the team. Sera ensured that her arrow was buried right in his heart.
Dorian knelt next to his ex-mentor searching for the artifact that was needed for closure of enormous rifts in the veil. He joined Lady Trevelyan after that.
"He wanted to die, didn't he? All those lies he told himself, the justifications. He lost Felix long ago. Didn't even notice." Dorian contemplated soberly.
"Doesn't matter. This is the same amulet he used before. I think it's the same one we made in Minrathous. That's a relief. Give me an hour to work out spell he used and I should be able to reopen rift." Mage explained.
The master spy interrupted him. "An hour? That's impossible. You must go now." Suddenly an entire castle began shaking violently. "The Elder One." Sister whispered.
Sera was frightened and mumbling something, Iron Bull took charge of a situation. "We will head up front. Keep them of your tail." With that being said he and Sera departed the room.
Orlesian nodded and instructed. "Cast your spell. You have as much time as I have arrows." Then she closed the gate and locked herself with a pair of mages inside the great hall.
Dorian was casting rapidly, emulating his old mentor's spell. Outside the locked doors were heard loud signs of a battle. Then only silence prevailed. Suddenly extremely powerful blows started hammering the creaking gate. The doors coudn't hold forever and were breached. Demons and the Venatori reinforcements were pouring through the hole in. The Inquisitor caught a sight of Sera and Iron Bull laying down on the floor where superiority of the enemy knocked them down.
Sister was praying quietly and preparing her dragonthorn bow. "Though darkness closes I am shielded by a flame." She was sending clouds of arrows to the thick line of enemies. "Andraste guide me, Maker take me to your side." Suddenly her praying was disturbed. An arrow shot her precisely to her right shoulder. She continued fighting with her bow in a melee combat but it was obvious she would be overhelmed soon.
The Inquisitor moved to help her, but was stopped by Dorian. "You move and we all die. You are connected to the spell. Without you we won't be able to close the rift here." Just in time the spell was completed and a huge rift hanging over Redcliffe Castle was collapsing into a vortex of the Fade.
Orlesian was overhelmed in that moment and restrained by Venatori soldier who was looking directly at the Inquisitor and taunting her. Aria was overpowered with a searing pain in her left hand as the rift interacted with a mark on her palm. She collapsed to her knees screaming in anguish. Dorian looked like he would fall as well after the creation of an extremely complex spell.
The situation was desperate. Surrounded by enemies with no way to escape.
-ooo-
