Hey, you lovely readers, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Fuck it took a while. But I think it turned out rather well. I hope you enjoy, and just want to point out, I'm a dialogue heavy writer. I focus more on emotions, rather than fight scenes. If I did an action story it would be more akin to Ellie and Sera hiding behind a rock talking while someone else killed all the bad guys. Not good at action, but I always try my best. So enjoy lovely readers!
Disclaimer: Yeah, don't own Dragon Age, or Yuuki, or Mothers Rosario.
-Hope and Destruction-
Days before final battle-
Ellie sighed. It had been a long meeting, but they finally had a plan on how to deal with Corypheus. She was tired, and haggard. First dealing with Morrigan, her mother, and Keiran in the fade, and then the War Room debates. She just wanted to lay down, and rest.
She opened her door, bringing a hand to her hair and sighing, she ended up messing her hair up, out of its usual style of being parted down the middle, but she could care less at this point. She closed her eyes, and heard something. Someone was crying.
Ellie opened her eyes and looked around. Finding the source of the noise to be the elf sitting on her bed, with her knees to her chest. She hadn't noticed Ellie yet, and just continued to cry. Ellie gave her a sad look and walked over to her bed.
"Sera? Are you alright?" Ellie asked, Sera glared up at her, stopping her crying for the moment.
"What? No. I'm not, I'm scared! I hate it, I hate Coryphyshit! I hate that stupid mark on your hand too! Love you though, hate all this, hate that I love you sometimes, yeah? It's all too fucking complicated, and I hate complicated!" Sera cried, Ellie frowned.
"I understand Sera, I don't like any of this either, I just want it to end." Ellie told her, sitting next to her, Sera shook her head.
"Not if you die! It won't be worth it if you die! Do you know what I'd do, after making them pay? I'd kill myself, I can't imagine my life without you, I won't!" Sera yelled, Ellie frowned.
"I won't die." Ellie reassured her, Sera shook her head.
"Can't promise that, Varric said you can't make it out alive, yeah? Makes sense, big scary tevinter God monster with a Dragon, or a small little elf with a green thing on her face? No, don't want to think about that shite." Sera muttered, burying her head again. Ellie frowned.
"What if you're beside me?" Ellie asked, Sera frowned.
"Hate that sometimes. You are so sweet, can't think of any place I'd rather be, but I don't want to see Corypheshit, or that Dragon. Don't want to follow you, too scary, fucked up part is that I would follow you anywhere." Sera said, Ellie smiled.
"I understand if you don't want to come. It's going to be dangerous." Ellie muttered, falling back on the bed, Sera shook her head.
"Stupidest thing you've said yet, stupider than all that shite about me being an elf like you. I'm not like you, but I like you, fuck, I love you..." Sera muttered, Ellie smiled.
"You sure say that a lot Sera." Ellie said, Sera glared down at her.
"Of course I do! This is serious Shiny, I'm serious here, but are you? I don't want this to end, I couldn't take it..." Sera said, Ellie leaned up, close to her face.
"Of course I am Sera, I love you." Ellie said firmly, Sera frowned.
"Would you still feel that way if I wasn't an Elf? If I were a Dwarf, or a Human, or a... Woof, Qunari. Cause I'd love you no matter what, especially if you were a big sexy qunari yeah?" Sera said, Ellie looked down. She knew Sera had a preference, she hoped it was just primal, and not something more.
"Sera, I love you. Not that you're an Elf. If you recall I don't like Elfy things. Never have, I mean the forest was nice and all, but I couldn't be myself." Ellie muttered, Sera tilted her head.
"What do you mean? Who else could you be?" Sera asked, Ellie smiled sadly at her.
"A female elf, who loves other females, not exactly a 'true' elf. Despite being Dalish. True elves are supposed to help the population, because apparently they're all dying. I've never been attracted to males, so I'm not a true elf. I do like the ears however." Ellie told Sera, reaching to massage an ear, Sera purred.
"Creepy how it does that to me yeah, makes me purr like a kitten, like your little kitten, make me keep doing that yeah? Feels good, wonder if you can purr, and how loud I can make it." Sera said, before grabbing one of Ellie's ears, she ended up squeezing it, Ellie screamed.
"That hurt!" Ellie cried, Sera frowned and kissed her ear, nibbling on it slightly. Ellie shut her eyes.
"Shh, Shiny, I can make it all better..." Sera said. Ellie melted into her lovers embrace.
-Hope and Destruction-
Present Time-
"Leliana, I- what are you doing?" Josephine asked the Spymaster, who was currently in her quarters, grabbing certain things, and discarding others.
"Packing. My time with the Inquisition is at an end Josie, I just want to be with my Love. I don't care about anything else." Leliana told her earnestly, Josephine frowned at her.
"Are you sure? I mean, I understand your urgency, but the Inquisition still needs you." Josephine said, Leliana shook her head.
"No, it doesn't. Not anymore, Corypheus is dead, the Divine's murder has been solved, everything is like it was before, but this time I won't leave her side. I told you before Josie, once this was over I would not leave her again. We both want a life of peace, in our love, nothing else. She is no longer a Warden, and no longer carries the taint, we are free to live the rest of our lives together." Leliana explained, Josephine frowned.
"I was hoping you had changed your mind, but... I shouldn't have, you never have in the past. Who will take over for you, the Inquisition needs a person to run it's spy network." Josephine said, Leliana frowned.
"I do not know, I would have trusted this position to Harding, but she seems unfit, like she would rather follow than lead... I will wait until Kairi is back until I leave, regardless." Leliana said, Josephine frowned.
"Sadly, I have anticipated this... I actually have someone here who could take over with ease. She is ready, willing and able. I believed you should screen her for the position personally however, would you like me to bring her in?" Josephine asked, Leliana shook her head.
"I will address her in my tower, best not let her see my... Personal things." Leliana said, referring to the many gifts Kairi had given her, scattered around the room. There was a lot of them, Kairi was very sweet.
"Very good, I will send her up then, but she can be a little... Strange at times, just be prepared for any reaction." Josephine said, walking out of the room, Leliana frowned, and pulled out a necklace with a heart, she put it around her neck, and left the room. Feeling slightly better with her necklace securely around her neck.
-Hope and Destruction-
"It looks... Different from what I remember." Kairi said, Harding shrugged.
"It's certainly gotten bigger." Harding said, Sera snorted, and Dorian smirked.
"I've heard that one before." He said, Sera laughed out loud.
"Right, yeah! Funny words, not that I like that, much prefer myself the Inquisitor, or a sexy qunari, maybe both..." Sera muttered, Ellie sighed, and glared back at her.
"Sera, I thought we talked about this?" Ellie asked, Sera frowned.
"Sorry if I like a little strength to my woman, instead of a bony little elf." Sera said, Ellie looked forward with a frown, blinking several times as her eyes burned. Cassandra noticed, and glared at Sera.
"That is enough Sera, I will hear no more of it." Cassandra snapped, the elf shrugged. Kairi moved forward, next to Cassandra.
"Are you the right-hand?" Kairi asked, Cassandra nodded.
"I am, why, what did Leliana tell you?" Cassandra asked, Kairi smiled.
"She spoke highly of you, saying how you helped to keep the Divine safe, I'm glad you're here, most people haven't known Leliana for too long, I hope you helped her through this hard time." Kairi said, Cassandra nodded.
"Of course, it was a difficult time for all of us, but thanks to the Inquisitor, we pulled through. We honestly would have all died without her. But, I cannot help but wonder, if we had found you, maybe she would not have been ripped away from her life to be here." Cassandra said, Ellie frowned.
"Wasn't taking me away from much, I was a pariah. The Keeper sent me away to make sure I couldn't corrupt any of the new girls, and boy, I sure would have. In a heart beat." Ellie said, with a smirk, Sera glared up at her, and shook her head.
"You tried to find me? Leliana told me she would ensure I would remain hidden." Kairi said, Cassandra shook her head.
"Oh She did?" Cassandra asked, her anger growing, Kairi nodded.
"Was I not supposed to tell you that? You seem angry, and Leliana said you could be rather frightening, and explosive." Kairi said, Cassandra scoffed at her.
"I am not explosive! I react according to the actions around me!" Cassandra defended, Kairi shrugged, and skipped forward to the boats that would take them to the castle, she frowned.
"We really have to take boats? Lame, I've got a better idea, blast from the past, come on!" Kairi exclaimed, energetically as she ran off towards a nearby windmill. The others just stared after her. Ellie remembering Leliana's warning took off after her, Sera followed her, Dorain followed them, Harding looked unsure up at Cassandra. She sighed.
"At least you are smart enough to stay with me, come on." Cassandra said, getting in the boat, Harding shrugged.
"Honestly, I'm just not as fast as them. Bad because I'm supposed to be a scout, but I'm fast with a bow!" Harding exclaimed, getting in the boat, Cassandra shook her head with a small smile.
Kairi had arrived at the familiar windmill with a large smile on her face. Ellie and the others caught up to her.
"Why did you do that?" Ellie asked, Kairi smiled mischiveously at her, ever since coming to Redcliff she had been feeling more like her old self.
"During the Blight, me, Alistair, Leliana, and Morrigan snuck into the castle through the Windmill. Path should still be open." Kairi said, Ellie nodded.
"Leliana did say she knew a secret path into the castle, this must be what she meant." Ellie said, Kairi smiled.
"Course it was, I'm always on her mind, as she is mine... Lets go!" Kairi yelled, running into the windmill, the others followed.
Once they got into the castle, they heard someone yelling.
"Where is the Inquisitor?" They heard Alistair yell, Kairi and the others moved quick, watching the scene.
"They'll be here! Be patient!" Cassandra yelled, Alistair rolled his eyes.
"I am being patient! You think I'm not being patient, I have my patient pants on today!" Alistair yelled, Kairi shook her head, and moved forward silently, until she was behind him.
"Attack hug!" She yelled as she jumped on his back, he yelled and fell down. Kairi landed on top of him, with a smile.
"You came swooping in out of nowhere! Swooping is bad Kairi!" He yelled, before blinking and looking at her. "Kairi!" He yelled they both stood up, and he spun his old friend around, laughing joyfully.
"Ali, put me down!" Kairi complained, Alistair smiled, and put her down. Kairi dusted herself off.
"Leliana would kill you if she saw me manhandled like that... She might have, there aren't any black birds here right?" Kairi asked, Harding shook her head.
"I was to be her correspondence. No birds, just me!" Harding said happily, Kairi nodded.
"What are you doing here?" Alistair asked curiously, Kairi looked to Ellie.
"Came with Ellie, or the Inquisitor. Wait, that's not what I meant, I didn't come with her, I came with- you know what I'm just gonna shut up now." Kairi muttered, blushing terribly, Alistair just smiled and looked at Ellie, who was amused by the two.
"Ah, the Inquisitor, I really am sorry for our last meeting, I had... A lot to deal with recently, and you caught me on a bad day, normally, I'm cheerful, handsome, and witty." Alistair said, Kairi rolled her eyes.
"Sure Al, way to sound like a true arrogant king." Kairi muttered, Alistair shook his head.
"I was trying to sound like I know what I'm doing on a daily basis." He muttered, Kairi shook her head.
"Can we get these negotiations under way please?" Cassandra asked, Alistair smiled.
"Way I see it, there's not much to negotiate, just sign the papers, and you'll have my support. I personally don't care if you sign them, but certain people demand it." Alistair muttered, Ellie stepped forward.
"Give me the papers, after Corypheus I just want to relax if that's alright." Ellie said, Alistair smiled.
"Of course! I felt the same way after old Archie attacked Denerim..." Alistair muttered, Kairi rolled her eyes.
"So, just sign all these?" Ellie asked, looking at the large stack of papers. Alistair nodded.
"Yes. Sign here, here, initial here, here, and here. Sign there, also there, and another right there. Three more signatures on this page, and the last pages just sign once." Alistair said, as he pointed to various places in the stack, he handed it to Ellie, and she nearly fell down. "They demanded I memorize that..." Alistair muttered.
"Oh, Ali, there's something I need to talk to you about, it's about the taint." Kairi said, Alistair frowned and nodded gravely.
"Alright. You sign those, we'll be talking of imminent death over there." Alistair said, walking away with Kairi. Once they were out of ear shot they turned to each other.
"Let me say, you look different." Kairi said, Alistair nodded.
"Don't we all?" He asked, Kairi smiled.
"Anyway, I... I don't have the taint anymore. No trace of it left in my blood." Kairi said, Alistair looked at her wide eyed.
"How? That's amazing, but how?" Alistair asked, Kairi smiled and pulled out a vial.
"This. You should take it when you get home, to be safe. There's also a physical aspect of it, here's the instructions." Kairi said, handing a scroll to Alistair along with the vial. "I figured a King wouldn't want to die from the Calling early. Don't know if it clears that fertility issue up, I won't have kids anyway, well, me and Leliana were planning on adopting a few, but that's beside the point." Ellie said, he smiled broadly at her.
"I'm glad you two are still together, and congratulations on the whole kids thing." Alistair said, Kairi smiled at him.
"Thanks Ali, but be sure to take that. I care about you, we both do. I wouldn't have come all this way if I didn't, and Leliana wouldn't have let me." Kairi said, Alistair nodded.
"I plan on it, don't worry Kairi. But how are you feeling honestly, and when did you get back?" Alistair asked, Kairi smiled at him.
"I'm fine, be happier if I was with Leliana at the moment, but things will be perfect soon... Oh, but I got back in Ferelden about a week ago... Also, another thing. The last thing, also, the most troubling thing..." Kairi muttered, Alistair gave her a curious look.
"What is it?" He asked, Kairi sighed.
"I had a dream, a vision, like in the Blight, but it was different. There was a man, with a cold, and uncaring voice. Truly frightening. He seemed to command lightning, but he had a sword. He said that he would succeed where Corypheus failed... If you hear a truly heartless voice like his... You'll know, execute him on the spot. I suspect he is not a figment of my imagination, and that he can succeed." Kairi said, Alistair frowned.
"If this has got you this worried we must be facing the true end of the world... I will notify my guardsmen. Thank you, and if you are ever in trouble, or Leliana, come to Denerim. We will protect you, I promise." Alistair said, Kairi smiled at him.
"Thank you. Now, we should get back." Kairi said, Alistair nodded, and they returned to the throne room. Ellie had finished signing the papers.
"Doom and gloom over with?" She asked, Kairi smiled.
"I sure hope so. Are we done, I really want to get back to Leliana." Kairi said, with an excited tone.
"You sound like an obedient puppy." Dorian commented, Kairi glared at him.
"I'm sorry, if my complete and utter adoration for the love of my life is a problem for you. I just want to get back to the one person in this world who matters most." Kairi said, Dorian put up his hands in mock defense.
"I apologise. Though you should consider distancing yourself, a little doubt never hurt." Dorian said, Kairi glared at him.
"I would never doubt Leliana, or any shade of my complete love for her." Kairi snapped, Dorian rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't trying to criticize, just be realistic."
"Me and Leliana have been together for ten fucking years, how are we not in complete true love, there is no reason to doubt it, so back off." Kairi snapped, before she stormed off. Alistair frowned after her, before looking at Dorian.
"She's always been fiercely defensive of her relationship with Leliana, don't take it personally. She's even bit my head off a few times." Alistair said, Dorian shrugged.
"It's unhealthy for a person to have that kind of devotion to any cause." He said, Cassandra glared at him.
"What is unhealthy about Love, and devotion to your lover?" Cassandra asked, with a glare, Dorian frowned.
"Getting too close can kill you if they're killed." Dorian muttered, glancing at Ellie, who glared at him.
"Got a problem?" Ellie asked, Dorian rolled his eyes.
"Not at all, let us get moving please, I am sorry... This castle brings out the worst in me, unhealthy memories about the world being torn asunder." Dorian said, Ellie nodded, recalling their time in the future.
"Well, if that is all I needed to do, we will leave." Ellie said, Alistair smiled at her.
"You should come to Denerim some time, I'd gladly welcome you, maybe even throw a large parade throughout town." Alistair said, Ellie smiled.
"We just might your highness." Ellie said before turning and walking away, Sera skipped to her side.
"I hope your fingers aren't too tired from all that signing you had to do." Sera said, Ellie smiled at her.
"I would never be too tired for that." Ellie said, Sera giggled.
"Better not be, would be a real shame." Sera said, they left the castle and entered Redcliff village. Kairi was sitting atop a building waiting for them.
"How did you get up there?" Ellie asked, Kairi smiled.
"I'm resourceful." She answered lazily. Ellie nodded.
"Well, we're leaving now..." Ellie muttered awkwardly, Kairi shook her head.
"Not yet, there's some people blocking the gates. They are probably waiting for you. Probably assassins." Kairi explained. Ellie nodded.
"Then lets go take care of them. I think you should stay back though..." Ellie suggested, Kairi laughed out loud, and leaped down, landing nimbly on her feet.
"Fat chance, I've been dying for a fight. Lets go." Kairi said, before rushing off, with a large smile on her face, she loved fighting. The others chased her, but she was faster than all of them.
She arrived at the entrance and stopped, to stare at the men blocking that gate. There were eleven total, she smiled, and drew her sword.
"Look at this bitch, she's that washed up hero right? The old Hero of Ferelden?" One of the men laughed, Kairi glared at him.
"Washed up? Please!" Kairi said before rushing forward, faster than they could see, she impaled one man. Glaring at another, before she tore through the man to stab the other in the throat. She moved quickly, one move leading to another, as she killed all eleven men with ease. The others saw the entire thing, but couldn't move fast enough to help.
Kairi smiled and waved her sword, around, before holding it in front of her, she turned her head and smiled.
"That moves called Mothers Rosario, I learned it from a swordswoman named Yuuki." Kairi informed the group, about her eleven strike combo.
"That was the fastest swordsmanship I have ever seen... I have heard the stories, but nothing that matches that..." Cassandra said in complete awe, Kairi smiled proudly and sheathed her sword.
"I use a style that has died out. Well, almost died out. There are few who can use a sword while keeping their speed as I do." Kairi explained. Ellie tilted her head.
"Are you trained like a rogue?" Ellie asked, Kairi nodded.
"Yeah. In the old style though, when I began training rogues could do almost anything... You though, you're stuck with that bow, or maybe some daggers if you prefer. Sucks to be you..." Kairi trailed off, looking around the others looked at her strangely.
No one could react fast enough to what happened next. One second Kairi was standing there, and the next there was a blade stuck in her ribs as she fell to the ground. They looked around but saw no one.
"What just happened?" Cassandra yelled drawing her sword, and shield. Ellie ran forward, Sera followed her. Kairi was on the ground writhing in pure agony as the blood drained from her.
"Make it stop! Please! It hurts, it burns!" Kairi yelled as She failed around, Dorian ran up to her.
"She's been poisoned." Dorian said softly, Ellie looked to him horrified.
"Can you save her?" Ellie asked, Dorian looked unsure.
"I have potions, but unless she gets that poison out, there's nothing that will save her." Dorian muttered sadly, Ellie stared at the hero.
"In my bag I have a solvent for poison! Get it please!" Kairi yelled, her voice sounding strained, and panicked. Ellie reached into her bag and pulled out a vial with a bright blue liquid in it. She had never seen anything like it before.
"Is this it?" Ellie asked, holding the potion in front of her face, Kairi looked at it and nodded.
"Just pour it on the wound... Hurry please..." Kairi muttered, before she passed out. Ellie poured the liquid on the wound after pulling the knife out. The would healed shut, and Kairi writhed on the ground for a few minutes before a silver liquid dripped from her open mouth.
"I will take her." Cassandra said, she had sheathed her sword, and was watching Kairi writhe on the ground. She picked her up, Dorian put his finger to the silver liquid and examined it, before placing some in a vial.
"I will examine this once we get back to Skyhold. Never seen anything like it before." Dorian muttered, Sera rolled her eyes.
"A person almost died, and you're worried about some stupid killing liquid?" Sera asked, Dorian nodded.
"Lets just get back to Skyhold. Something tells me Leliana won't be happy about this..." Cassandra said, Ellie looked down.
-Hope and Destruction-
Skyhold-
"What happened to her? I swear I am going to kill you, and whoever did this, I warned you!" Leliana yelled, she currently had Ellie pinned against a wall, with a dagger to her throat.
"I couldn't stop it Leliana! It all happened too fast!"
"I don't care! I warned you! She is my love, and the fact that she faced any pain while she was under your watch... Is unforgivable. Leave, I do not wish to see you again." Leliana said, as she shoved Ellie away, glaring at her. Ellie stumbled away, and passed Cassandra, who was on her way to visit Leliana.
Cassandra looked at Leliana who was sitting at her desk, staring down at it. Cassandra glared at her, and slammed her hand on the desk, Leliana just looked at her, with a glare.
"What do you want? You were there, no? Why did you not protect her?" Leliana asked, Cassandra glared at her.
"Leliana, you lied to me. You've been lying this entire time. You knew where she was all along."
"No, I didn't. I told you she was gone, and she was. Where exactly she was, I did not know, only that she was out of our reach."
"You had Harding deliver messages to her!"
"Once I found out where she was, the Inquisitor was here. You didn't need her, and I would not bring her into this. She deserves peace, something you cannot offer, you failed to protect her. How dare you accuse me of lying, of all people I did not expect this from you." Leliana said, Cassandra frowned.
"I apologize. I know how you must have felt. You were trying to protect the one you love." Cassandra said, Leliana frowned and looked at her desk.
"I'm leaving Cassandra. I already have a replacement. She is capable." Leliana said, Cassandra looked at her in surprise.
"Who is she?" Cassandra asked, Leliana handed her a paper, explaining the woman's background.
"I must go, excuse me." Leliana said, before rushing out of her office, and towards her bed chambers. She opened the door to see Kairi lying on the bed, fast asleep. Leliana walked over to the bed, and sat next to her. Moving some hair from her face. Kairi would usually smile, but she didn't, she only shivered. Leliana frowned as tears came to her eyes, she laid down to stare at Kairi's pained face.
"I hate seeing you like this..." Leliana whispered, before pressing closer to her, and wrapping an arm around her. She kissed Kairi like it would be the last time she would be able to...
Hope you enjoyed guys! And Happy Holidays! I don't know when the next update will come, but I will try to make it soon guys. Again, hope you enjoyed, and feel free to tell me your thoughts. Also, Korrasami is a fucking thing. Happy about that. Progressive right! Holy dick in my eye socket when I heard that I was happy. I'll stop rambling now... Later beautiful readers!