"Lixa, you sure about this?"
Elixabette Surana didn't even spare her old friend a glance, "Derek, with what we've been hearing, plus with the others disappearing, one of us should go. All this happening, it doesn't seem like a coincidence. Moreover, the Conclave will impact everyone. And as the 'official' Hero of Ferelden and the commander of our merry band of misfits, it should be me. Also, people haven't seen us in years. Perhaps we should avoid giving everyone heart attacks by all of us appearing at once."
Derek Amell just sighed. She was right and he knew it, but that didn't mean he had to be happy about it. "I don't see why you have to go alone. I'm a mage too, why can't I accompany you?" Derek lowered his voice, despite the fact that they were surrounded by their friends. "What if your leg gives you trouble? And no one to back you up."
"My leg will be fine. It hasn't given out in over a year."
"Yeah, but the last time you caught a flail to the face."
Lixa touched the scars which ran from her left ear down her jaw to her chin. "I'll be fine. Besides, you need to control these idiots while I'm gone. Otherwise they're liable to blow up Haven or some such thing." Lixa finished readying her supplies and stood, looking over their little camp just outside of Haven. None of them liked being back. Even ten years after the Blight, they still disliked the village which had harboured a dragon cult and tried to kill them.
"We would never do such a thing! Isn't that right, my fine dwarven friend?" Zevran exclaimed from the other side of the camp as he drank with Oghren. "We just might set a few small fires. After getting drunk and having a rowdy orgy, of course."
"Keep your pants on, you perverted elf!" Oghren yelled as he scrambled away from Zevran, "I have a wife and daughter!"
Zevran snorted, "That's never stopped me before."
"Why is Oghren yelling?" Theron Mahariel asked as he jumped down from a tree. "If he doesn't stop our camp will not remain hidden for long."
"Zev was just coming on to Oghren," Derek told Theron, who cocked an eyebrow and looked at his lover.
"Zev, are you trying to make me jealous?" Theron deadpanned, concealing a wicked smirk.
"Of Oghren? You honestly have nothing to worry about my dear. I'd much rather come on to you," Zevran purred as he wrapped his arms around his beloved hunter, "Or perhaps, inside you."
"You're leaving me here? In charge of this? Please take me with you," Derek begged Lixa, who was barely containing her laughter.
"Too bad! It'll be easier for only one of us to sneak in. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Lixa's head hurt. More so than after the Harrowing, and the Joining, and even more than the morning after she had a drinking contest with Oghren. She slowly opened her eyes, huffing in confusion when she saw the barred door. She was a prisoner.
"Oh fucking Fade!" Her left hand glowed and crackled with a rather ominous green light and sent excruciating pain up her arm.
As Lixa tried to examine her hand (which was a challenge due to being chained), the door to her cell banged open. In walked two women, whom Lixa supposed were going to interrogate her. One was openly hostile, wearing the armor of the Seekers of Truth. This, Lixa realized, was Cassandra Pentaghast, Right Hand of the Divine.
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The Conclave is destroyed, everyone who attended is dead. Except for you." Cassandra managed to sound relatively calm, but she looked ready to eviscerate Lixa.
"You honestly believe I'm responsible?" Lixa glared at the Seeker. "I've survived situations I shouldn't have before. Explain how this automatically makes me guilty."
"Explain this!" Cassandra grabbed Lixa's left hand, just as the mark started glowing again.
"Ah. I…can't. I have no idea what it is or how it got there."
"You can't!?" Cassandra was pulled away by the other woman before she could throttle her prisoner. Lixa only now truly looked at her other interrogator…and gasped. It may have been a few years since they last saw each other, but she would never forget the face of one of her closest friends and companions. Leliana.
Leliana came over. "What do you remember?" Was Lixa imagining it, or could she not meet her eyes?
"I was running, there were…things chasing me. I-I was inside the Fade? And there was a woman…"
"A woman?" Leliana's eyebrows shot up, and finally made eye contact. Lixa could see doubt and hope warring in her old friend's eyes.
Cassandra took Leliana aside, "Go to the forward camp Leliana. I will take the prisoner to the rift." Lixa was unchained from the floor and hauled outside. And then she stopped, staring at the sky.
"What is that?"
"We call it the 'Breach'. It's a massive rift between our world and the world of demons. It's not the only such rift, but it is the largest. And growing larger with each passing hour. All were caused by the explosion at the Conclave."
Lixa stared. "No ordinary explosion could sunder the Veil so completely."
Cassandra just stared back at her, "Well, this one did."
Just then, the mark on Lixa's hand acted up, and she dropped to her knees in pain. Cassandra crouched beside her.
"Every 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."
"Then I better do whatever I can to help. Whatever it takes."
Cassandra gazed at Lixa like she couldn't believe her eyes. "Thank you."
Cassandra walked Lixa through Haven. Lixa was almost glad for the Seeker's presence; it meant no villagers could do something stupid.
"The people of Haven mourn the Most Holy. They are calling for the blood of her murderer –"
"And they believe me to be guilty. Well, it's hardly the first time the people of Haven have been less than welcoming to me." Lixa shrugged.
"I – what? How can you not care that an entire village wants you dead?" Cassandra stopped, looking incredulously at Lixa.
"Ten years ago, my companions and I entered this village. And rather soon half the village came charging out of their homes and tried to kill us. Later we discovered that the Temple of Sacred Ashes and the village were housing a dragon cult and worshipping a high dragon as Andraste reborn. We fought our way through the village and Temple before getting to the top of the mountain, where we found and killed the fucking dragon. All in all, not a very good day." She felt a sudden pang of fear for her fellow Wardens. If they were found and recognized, the villagers might not restrain themselves. She'd rather not have to kill the people of Haven. Again.
"You're…the Hero of Ferelden! You came to Haven to find the Sacred Ashes to cure the Arl of Redcliffe."
Lixa sighed, "Yes."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "You disappeared several years ago. Why show your face here? And why now?"
"I heard about the Conclave. The outcome would affect everyone, not just the rebels. And after recent events, I thought I should sneak in. I did not expect for it to end like this." Lixa gazed sorrowfully at the Breach.
Cassandra was silent for a moment, then continued walking. "Come along. Your mark must be tested on something smaller than the Breach."
Cassandra and Lixa made it out of Haven without bloodshed and started up the path towards the Temple. Lixa could see what looked like rocks plummeting towards the ground from the Breach. Every time the Breach acted up and expanded, so did her mark. In spite of the pain, Lixa managed to keep running with Cassandra.
Of course, one of those rocks had to land in their path. And explode. Cassandra and Lixa were thrown from the bridge they were on and tumbled to the frozen river below. And obviously shades would rise up from the fragments. Cassandra sprang up, yelling, "Demons! Stay behind me!"
Cassandra charged off into battle, oblivious to the shade rising behind her. Lixa looked around, wanting a staff in case the shade drew too close for her spells. Finally spotting one, she dove for it, rolling out of the way of the shade's claws. She jumped up, driving the staff into the ground, ice immediately encasing the shade. A good whack with the staff later, and the shade shattered.
"Drop your weapon!"
Lixa didn't roll her eyes, but it required great effort. "Fine. Not like I truly need it."
"…wait." Cassandra sheathed her sword. "You may not be defenceless, but you should have a staff. I should try to remember that you came willingly."
"My thanks."
Cassandra and Lixa continued on quickly. Soon, the sound of battle reached their ears. Cassandra ran up the hill, leaving Lixa to try and catch up. Her leg was throbbing from the running, but holding steady.
"Stupid humans and their stupid long legs," Lixa panted as she reached the top. And was immediately assaulted by shades and the sight of a rift glowing green in mid-air. How lovely.
As she killed shades, Lixa took stock of those she was fighting with. There was Cassandra and several soldiers, a dwarf who very much so resembled Varric Tethras – he used a crossbow. It was definitely Varric – and a bald elf who grabbed her hand, shouting, "Hurry! Before more come through!" and proceeded to somehow use the mark to seal the rift.
Lixa snatched her hand back. "What did you do?"
"I did nothing. The credit is yours." The elf nodded to her hand.
"So…the mark is definitely of the same magic as the rifts, if it can be used to seal them," Lixa murmured, examining her hand.
"A rather astute observation. I made a similar hypothesis myself. And you have proven me correct." He smiled as he said that, seemingly pleased by her logic.
"Hey Shiny. Good to see you again!" Varric gave Lixa a shit-eating grin as he sauntered over to her.
"Must you continue to call me that, Varric? It lacks creativity, anyone can see my hair and think of the same name," Lixa said with a long-suffering sigh.
"True, but now not only do you have platinum hair, but your hand glows green! Double points!" Varric's eyes widened as he took in the scars on her jaw. "Uh, what happened to your face?"
"Flail." Lixa managed to look both emotionless and extremely uncomfortable.
"If I may interject, what is your name?" The other elf cut in.
"My apologies. I should have introduced myself. Elixabette Surana, Warden Commander-"
"And Hero of Ferelden! Never forget that!" Varric called out, interrupting Lixa.
"I never suspected I would walk with such august company. I am Solas. I'm glad to see you still live." Solas actually gave Lixa a slight bow.
"What he means is, 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept.'" Varric chuckled.
"Oh? You have my thanks," Lixa said, bowing her head to Solas.
Cassandra came over to the three of them, wrinkling her nose at Varric when he winked at her. "Are you done?" Cassandra gestured for them all to continue walking, "We must get to the forward camp."
The four of them ran on, Cassandra leading their little group.
"So, you are the Hero of Ferelden? Did you not vanish a couple of years ago?" Solas questioned.
"Not just you, but several of your friends disappeared too." Varric added, sensing a story. "I know someone who would love to hear where you've been."
"I must admit, I'm curious as well." Apparently Cassandra's distaste for Varric wasn't enough to keep here from joining the conversation. "Also, who is Varric talking about?"
Lixa glanced around at her three companions, all of whom were gazing at her, curiosity frank on their faces.
"Yes. We did."
Cassandra, Solas, and Varric exchanged fleeting looks at the icy finality in her voice, before apparently deciding that they were not that curious after all.
The group remained silent after that. Some demons, a rift and a little while later they approached the gates to the forward camp. As they entered, the sounds of arguing drifted over to them; some man called Chancellor Roderick was advocating for Lixa's removal to Val Royeaux and execution while Leliana staunchly refused. Lixa succeeded in catching Leliana' eye long enough to give her a small smile, which was returned. Leliana, at least, seemed to have solidified her belief in Lixa's innocence. Much to Lixa's surprise, Cassandra defied this Chancellor as well.
"I order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution!" Lixa mentally smirked, imagining guards trying to subdue her. This Grand Chancellor clearly did not know who she was, or who he was talking to.
"'Order me?' You're nothing more than a glorified clerk, a bureaucrat, and you're trying to order me?!" Cassandra's temper flared up. If the man possessed any sense, he would back down.
"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry!" The idiot yelled, face getting more and more flushed. Lixa determined Chancellor Roderick did not possess any sense.
"We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor. As you well know." Leliana piped up again, clearly not wanting Cassandra to maim the bastard.
"Well, the Most Holy is dead. A replacement needs to be elected, and then we can follow her orders on the matter!" Roderick practically screamed, face having bypassed mere red and turned puce.
Lixa had had enough. "Isn't dealing with the Breach the more pressing issue?" She asked in what Derek called her 'commander' voice – serious with no patience for stupidity. She crossed her arms and stared down the Chancellor. Who apparently did not comprehend what her tone of voice meant.
"You brought this on us in the first place!" Lixa could only roll her eyes and wonder why the Chantry let a moron like this achieve a position of authority. Apparently she mumbled that out loud, for she heard Varric and Solas snickering quietly behind her.
"Call a retreat Seeker. Your position here is hopeless."
"We can stop this before it's too late."
Roderick seemed like he was about to argue so Lixa, having had enough of this inane man, said, "Agreed. If the soldiers charge as a distraction, we can go through the mountains to the Temple. If there is a possibility of stopping the Breach spreading, we must try."
Cassandra and Leliana looked at her, surprised and grateful respectively. Cassandra blinked, then nodded, indicating they should be on their way. As they left the forward camp, Roderick called out to Cassandra, "On your own head be the consequences, Seeker."
Lixa called back to the Chancellor, "Seeing as it's my execution which is up for debate, I believe you'll find any consequences rest on my head, and mine alone." Turning to Cassandra, she muttered, "Ignore him. He's a pissant." Cassandra huffed a laugh before growing silent.
After a long silence as the four of them trekked up the mountain path, Varric spoke, "So, why'd you claim responsibility for whatever happens? That seems like a good way to face premature execution."
Lixa smiled grimly, "I'm the one with a glowing green mark on my hand. It's technically up to me to try and close the Breach. If it goes wrong, he'll say it's my fault. If it goes right, he'll still be saying I was responsible for the explosion in the first place. So I may as well be responsible for any consequences, seeing as I'm guilty in his eyes no matter what. Better me than a woman who is trying to do the right thing and save future lives." Varric appeared both awed and amused by her logic, while Cassandra looked as if she didn't know what to think.
"Besides, people love blaming Grey Wardens for things gone wrong." Lixa kept walking, but her shoulders had grown tense.
Solas' eyebrows shot up, Cassandra looked surprised and remorseful, and Varric just seemed sad. It wasn't what Lixa said which caused them to react in such a manner, but rather her tone. Instead of sounding bitter like the three of them would have expected, Lixa sounded unbearably sad and tired. Before any of them could formulate a response, Lixa ran ahead slightly and started climbing a ladder. Varric looked at the other two, shrugged, and followed her.
"Where does this path lead through?" She called down, clearly eager to change the subject.
Cassandra, who followed Varric up the ladder, answered, "Through an old mining complex."
Lixa groaned, "Lovely. There's never giant spiders or other unpleasant things in mines."
Varric laughed, "What? Not a fan of spiders?"
"Not ones twice my size."
Solas chuckled, "Imagine being Varric. Spiders are even larger compared to him."
Lixa giggled in response. "True. At least I'm not Varric."
Varric attempted to glare at Solas, which was a challenge, seeing as Cassandra was between the two of them. "Screw you Chuckles!" Varric resumed climbing the ladder. "Heh, at least I got a decent view here though. Hey Shiny, can those pants get any tighter?"
"Careful, or I'll push you off," she called in a sickeningly sweet voice. "And yes. These aren't even that tight." With that, Lixa climbed off the ladder and walked into the mine.
Fortunately for Lixa, there were no spiders in the mine. Unfortunately for everybody, there were demons. Luckily, not too many, so they were not delayed overly long. As they stepped from the mine back into the sunshine, Solas noticed the corpses littering the ground afore them.
"Your scouts, Cassandra?"
Cassandra started shaking her head as she looked at the bodies. "That cannot be all of them."
"Maybe the rest are holed up ahead," Varric commented.
Cassandra did not reply, instead focusing on the path ahead searching for signs of her scouts. Lixa led the way forward, gingerly stepping around the fallen scouts. Everyone remained silent while they walked on, so Lixa heard the sound she had already come to associate with rifts before it was visible. She picked up speed, running around the bend in the path. Ahead of her was indeed a rift, but the demons were not the only beings there. What appeared to be the rest of the scouts were fighting the demons and shades as they poured from the rift. Cassandra surged forward upon seeing them, Lixa right behind her while Solas and Varric stood back to attack from a distance. The staff Lixa had found had a lovely blade attached to it and she wanted to put it to good use.
Lixa drew as close to the rift as she could during the fight. Once the last demon was cut down, Lixa threw her hand up and used the mark to seal the rift.
"Sealed, as before. You are becoming quite proficient at this."
"Let's hope it works on the big one."
Cassandra checked over the remaining scouts. Once she was satisfied they would live, she sent them back through the mine. After the scouts had left, Lixa turned towards the path.
"Come on. Let's get to the Temple."
Lixa stepped gingerly around the charred corpses which littered what was left of the Temple. She sighed, "It's a shame about the Temple. It was so beautifully preserved. Magic practically flowing through the walls. The mountain surrounding the Temple seemed to have a high amount of lyrium veins."
"When were you here?"
"How could you know about the lyrium?"
Solas and Varric spoke at the same time, both looking at Lixa quizzically.
"I was here during the Blight. I could sense the magic, and a companion of mine was from Orzammar. Apparently he could sense the lyrium."
"Really? I can't sense lyrium." Varric appeared put-out by this information.
"Maybe because you were born on the surface? Supposedly surface dwarves lose their Stone-sense." Lixa sounded thoughtful.
Varric didn't respond; instead he chose to avoid kicking a flaming skull. The group walked slowly on, very aware of what they might be stepping on. As they moved further into the Temple, the peculiar sound of rifts could be heard, getting louder with each step. Lixa stopped at a balcony, which overlooked the massive crater where the Conclave had stood. Above the crater was the Breach.
"Shit." Lixa could only gape at the massive, ominous rift.
Varric chuckled, but there was no humour to it. "Well said."
"You made it! Thank the Maker!" Lixa turned around at Leliana's voice. She looked relieved to see them, but it was not the time for reunions.
"Leliana, have your men take up positions around the Temple."
Leliana's men dispersed, and she joined the four of them as they made their way around, trying to find a way down to the crater. As they moved around the ruins, Lixa caught sight of something which caused her heart plummet.
"That's red lyrium Seeker!"
"I know what it is Varric."
"But, what's it doing here?" Varric was confused and very upset at this development.
"Possibly the magic which caused the explosion drew it up from the mountain? There was plenty to draw from, fairly close to the surface. I'm not sure how it became red lyrium though…" Lixa trailed off, staring at the sinister crystals.
Solas chimed in then, "Perhaps the magic which drew upon it also corrupted it? It was no ordinary magic that which created the Breach, after all."
"Either way, don't touch it. That stuff's evil." Varric shuddered, then poked Lixa in the back to get her moving again. "Come on Shiny. You're needed elsewhere."
Lixa rolled her eyes at the moniker, but obliged him. She carefully tread around the red lyrium, continuing past the malignant growths until they found stairs. They descended softly, walking to stand under the Breach.
"The Breach is already partially sealed. To properly close it, you must open it, then seal it fully." Solas calmly explained. "When you open it, it will attract attention."
"That means demons! Stand ready everyone!" Cassandra ordered. Once everyone was in place, she looked over at Lixa. "On your order."
Lixa raised her marked hand, stared at Cassandra, and nodded. The air around them erupted with green light as Lixa opened the Breach before a roar was heard: a Pride demon. Archers opened fire, mages raised their staves, and warriors rushed the demon. Lixa was staying out of the thick of it this time, trying to disrupt the Breach. Unfortunately, the demon noticed her, but she didn't notice its whip in time. Lixa was flung aside, convulsing from the electricity which ran along the whip. Varric saw her hit the Temple wall and slide down. He ran over to her, grabbing a health potion from his belt and opening it. The moment he was crouched beside her, he poured the potion down her throat.
Her pale green eyes opened, focussing on Varric. He smiled, leaning down further to pull her up. "Don't do that again, okay? He'll be pissed if anything happens to you."
Lixa mock pouted. "Aw Varric. You only care about my wellbeing out of concern for your own safety."
"Yep. Most definitely." With that, Varric winked and rejoined the battle. Lixa followed suit, this time keeping track of that fucking whip. She disrupted the Breach, stunning the demon and giving them the opportunity they needed. They pressed their advantage, literally bringing the demon to its knees before killing it. Lixa threw her hand out, pouring everything she had into closing the Breach. There was an explosion of green light, then…
Lixa woke suddenly, sitting bolt upright in a strange bed. Her head was fuzzy, and it took her a moment to realize she was only wearing her smalls. Looking around the unfamiliar hut, she spotted her robes across the room, neatly folded on top of a chest, her staff leaning against it. Before she could get up, the door opened and a young elven woman entered, who promptly dropped everything she was carrying when she noticed that Lixa was awake.
"Oh! I-I'm sorry ser!" The woman flung herself to her knees as she rambled. "I didn't know you were awake! I need to tell the Seeker; she said she wanted to know immediately when you woke up!"
"Wha-"
"Immediately, she said!" With that, the woman turned and ran from the room. That was…odd. Lixa stood up, carefully moving to the chest. As she picked up her robes, she looked into the chest. And put her robes back down again in order to grab the ones from inside the chest. She smirked as she held them up against herself. The robes were very revealing, to the point of being scandalous.
Lixa's smirk grew into a smug smile as she knotted the cords along her arms. It was remarkably comfy, and she could feel the enchantments woven through the fabric and embedded in the leather. Despite baring her midriff, Lixa knew the robes would be excellent armor. She braided her long hair as quickly as possible, grabbed her staff and exited the house, intent on finding Cassandra or Leliana.
Lixa walked quickly and quietly through Haven to the Chantry, trying to avoid drawing attention. She slipped inside, hurrying towards the back room.
"Chain her! I want her prepared for travel to the capital for trial!"
"Disregard that! And leave us!"
"Seeker! You defy me!"
Cassandra moved forward threateningly. "The Breach is stable, but still a threat. I will not ignore it."
"I did everything I could to close the Breach. It almost killed me. At least the Breach is stabilized, as is my mark."
"Yet you live. A convenient result, insofar as you're concerned." Lixa rolled her eyes upon hearing the Chancellor's remark.
"Have a care, Chancellor. The Breach is not the only threat we face."
Leliana moved around the table as well. "Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave, someone Most Holy did not expect. They may have died with the others, or have allies who yet live."
Chancellor Roderick was outraged. "I am a suspect!?"
"You, and many others!"
"But NOT the prisoner!"
"I heard the voices at the Temple. Most Holy called out to her for help."
"So the explosion, the Breach, the mark on her hand – all a coincidence?"
"Providence. The Maker sent her to us in our hour of need."
Lixa stared at Cassandra. "I really don't think I'm any kind of chosen one…"
"No matter what you are, or what you believe, you were exactly what we needed when we needed it."
Leliana moved over and put her hand on Lixa's shoulder. "The Breach remains, and your mark is our only hope of closing it."
Cassandra slammed a large book on the table in front of the Chancellor. "You know what this is Chancellor?"
Roderick shook his head, gazing warily at the book.
"A writ from the Divine, granting us the authority to act. As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn." Cassandra advanced towards Roderick, him retreating for every step she took. "We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order. With or without your approval." Roderick sneered at the women before storming from the room.
Leliana sighed. "This is the Divine's directive: rebuild the Inquisition of old. Find those who will stand against the chaos. We aren't ready. We have no leader, no numbers, and now no Chantry support."
"But we have no choice: we must act now. With you at our side." Cassandra turned to Lixa with her hand outstretched. "Help us fix this, before it's too late."
Lixa shook the Seeker's hand. "I will."
