2

By now, the rain had began to fall much heavier than before, drenching the entire group in water as they trudged through the muddy grounds to search for the fortress. While Corrine ignored, or tried to ignore, the rain as it pelted down on her, most of the group were having trouble with trying to do so.

ISABELA: Maker's breath, I'm getting mud in my boots!

MERRILL: You're lucky. I'm not wearing any shoes.

SEBASTIAN: How much further till we find the fortress? It should be close enough by now.

The group took a halt the moment Corrine stopped in her trail and turned back to the group, taking out the map that was now soaked from the rain. She tried her best to make out what the rain had done to the map's legitability of use.

CORRINE: The map is a little messy, but we shouldn't be too far from the fortress. Probably by another mile.

Corrine folded the map and placed it back in her wet pockets. She proceeded to usher the group to move along with her as they went further into the forest. Eventually, they caught sight of a rather large and proud building in good standing compared to the harsh weather they were experiencing.

FENRIS: Over there! Isn't that the fortress?

The group walked up a little closer and stopped once they could get a clear view of the building before them. The building was indeed a fortress with high stone walls standing at 50 ft. and a Grey Warden banner placed perfectly at the entrance of the fortress.

LILITH: That's a Grey Warden symbol! This fortress belonged to the Grey Wardens?

CORRINE: If it did, I'm curious as to why no one talks about it.

FENRIS: Regardless, we found the fortress, but I hear no chatter coming from within and I see no one in sight.

That was when everyone noticed exactly what Fenris had stated: the fortress appeared to be empty. The entrance was open, so they could get a clear view of the inside. They look through the entrance and saw that no one was inside.

MERRILL: Do you think they're all indoors? Probably sheltering from the rain?

Fenris shook his head.

FENRIS: No. Even if it was raining, there would be a few outside manning the interior or there would be guards protecting the entrance. Not all of them would risk being ambushed if their enemies were clever.

AVELINE: Fenris is right. There should be a few outside, but there are none. Something's off and I don't like it.

Most of the group found themselves agreeing with Aveline as they thought about it more. This entire scenario did not make sense at all. Why would a group of slavers, as they have deduced to be given the barrier they passed, hide out from the rain instead of manning the interior or having groups to do so? Plus, no normal fortress that had been taken would be kept this quiet. There would usually be chatter amongst the slavers or bandits discussing on various subjects, some regarding plans to kidnap or ambush people or some that were a little more personal. They would try to be silent, but too many voices speaking at once would eventually reach hearing from a distance.

Another flash of lightning was followed by the heavy sound of thunder that caused Merrill and Bethany to jump by surprise.

CORRINE: We should go inside and see where everyone is before we can do anything, but I am getting the vague impression that this fortress may be empty.

ANDERS: You think it's possible?

ISABELA: Would there be any reason to doubt? There's no one inside the fortress. Plus, the storm is getting worse. We should head inside and find shelter.

Following on Isabela's suggestion, the group walked towards the entrance as another flash of lightning and heavy roar of thunder boomed the atmosphere. They walked inside the fortress to find that it was far more larger than it appeared to be. The interior of the fortress was wide and covered with stone with partial sprouts of grass springing through the cracks of the stone floor. In front of them, there were two staircases that led to two walkways that connected all the way to the front entrance. There was a middle staircase in between the two they had seen that splitted in between a large door and stopped at the top, where a large bell was shown hanging from the ceiling of the interior it was held in. The bell seemed to have caught Corrine's attention as she walked closer to examine it.

CORRINE: What is with that bell? Does anyone know?

AVELINE: I honestly do not know.

ALISA: It could be used as an alarm. You know, to warn a group about incoming enemies and to prepare for battle? It's not uncommon, you know. I think the Hero of Ferelden and King Alistair did the same thing when the darkspawn attacked Ostagar.

Aveline turned to Alisa with a surprised look that highlighted a memory that she had forgotten before.

AVELINE: You're right! There was a bell that had rung so Teyrn Loghain could bring his troops in to help the Grey Wardens against the darkspawn.

ALISA: And you saw how that went...

AVELINE: No need to bring it up now. He paid for his crimes and that's enough for me.

Seeing that the woman and the girl were slightly changing the subject, Sebastian proceeded to go back to what they were discussing.

SEBASTIAN: I have heard such mechanisms being used in armies, but have never thought to actually bear witness to it. But why isn't it being rung?

Everyone found themselves not answering yet another question. It wasn't good to be this clueless, but the answers they were looking for were not coming in. Another flash of lightning and heavy roar of thunder was made, causing Merrill to grab hold of Isabela's arm.

MERRILL: *yelps* Mythal, can we please go inside? I can't deal anymore of this without worrying about being struck by lightning!

Aveline turned to Corrine.

AVELINE: Merrill's right. We need to go inside the fortress.

BETHANY: But what if we get attacked inside?

FENRIS: I'm beginning to doubt that we are dealing with enemies. If there's no one, we might as well take refuge inside the fortress.

CORRINE: Let's take the middle path to that door.

Corrine pointed to the middle entrance of the inside of the fortress and ushered everyone to follow along. They approached the staircase, walked up, and stopped at the center area to the door. Corrine opened the door and walked in first while everyone else followed. Once inside, the fortress was heavily dark, which lit up whenever a flash of lightning illuminated the sky for a brief moment.

MERRILL: It's a good thing we came indoors. It's not safe to be outside during a thunderstorm.

LILITH: We should try to light up the hallway so we wouldn't be walking around in the dark. However, 'tis not a problem.

Lilith focused in her magical energy, her mana swirling in pools as she concentrated. She brought her arms to a fold and once her mana reached its pique, she stretched her arms forward as a great wind swept over everyone and the hallway. In doing so, the torches in the hallway lit up with flames at the tip, bringing light into the hallway.

As the light swooped into the hallway, the group saw that the walls were also made of stone and the floor had a lush red carpet that stretched far through the hallway. There two ends to the hallway, each leading to a different hallway. The windows each held a hexagonal shape, as the group now noticed, though Fenris claimed he noticed it earlier. The group could also see that the walkways contained barrels and several flag posts that were standing strong as the cruel weather pounded the fortress.

CORRINE: Let's see if there's anyone inside the fortress.

MERRILL: Right. But first we need to dry off. No reason in walking around wet with mud on our shoes... or Fenris and my case, feet. Allow me to dry us off.

Merrill swung her upper body with her arms reaching to the air, proceeding to swoop across the floor. She brought her arms back to the air, brought them in, and pushed them back, allowing a great wind to circle around the group. As the wind blew through them, the dampness of water on their clothes was dried away, as well as the mud on their shoes, though the mud trails were still on the carpet.

CORRINE: And your usefulness never ceases to amaze me, Merrill.

Merrill blushed slightly at Corrine's kind yet humorous comment, though it wasn't meant for flirting.

CORRINE: Alright. Let's see if there are slavers hiding in the fortress.

BETHANY: And if there are not any slavers?

CORRINE: Then we ask the mayor exactly why he gave us a round-around... and if we're still getting paid.

VARRIC: Sounds fair to me. Let's have a look around.

Following his suggestion, the group proceeded to move forward to search the fortress for any sign of Tevinter slavers or anyone who was causing trouble for the people in Lastion. As they left from the main hallway, a figure cloaked in heavy shadow emerged from the wall and stood exactly where they were standing. It did not hold a face and it's body was mostly in a wraith-like state, but it watched as the group turned the corner. Once they were away from its line of sight, it proceeded to turn to the wall and walk right through the wall.

...

It took them an hour worth of a search till they finally realized that there were no enemies within the surrounding area. For the most part, which was the entire part, the fortress was completely empty. Every corner they turned, every room they entered, and every level travelled, there was no signs of any other people, except for themselves. For just about the entire search, whatever they did find were silver and a couple of items they could use for when they return to Kirkwall.

They stopped at the second hallway that was located on the third level of the fortress. There were three levels and each level was wider than the other. Behind the front interior of the fortress was the rear interior that had a collosal tower standing in the middle of the grounds. They were surprised that something as large as the tower was present in the fortress, but that was beyond their case.

ANDERS: We searched this fortress high and low and there is no sign of anyone inside!

ISABELA: I know! I can't believe I stole two daggers for some pointless search in an empty castle!

Aveline turned to Isabela with a look of merit, probably for her admitting to have stolen the daggers from the shop.

ALISA: Why in Andraste's grace would the mayor send us on a blank trip? It better not be because he was "bored".

VARRIC: I know one thing; we were set up for a blank trip.

BETHANY: But why would the mayor lie about the fortress?

Corrine shrugged her shoulders.

CORRINE: I don't know. Maybe he wanted something to talk about?

FENRIS: I would very much like to know what he would tell!

At this point, everyone was pretty much irritated and seriously pissed off. What was the reason for Mayor Tremmon to send the group to an empty fortress? Why would he make a ruse about it? Before anyone could suggest leaving the fortress, that was when Aveline thought about something and spoke up.

AVELINE: Wait! This still doesn't explain the barrier!

The group stopped complaining and turned to Aveline as her words flew from her mouth. They remembered the barrier and what was irritation was now replaced with confusion.

SEBASTIAN: Right! We still have no clue about that barrier!

FENRIS: We believe that some magister may have formed the barrier, but if they are not here, then why did we walk into it?

Those words played like a sour note to a tune that had toned down the ears of its audience and rid them of whatever hope they had of listening to a beautiful song. Why was the barrier still active?

Corrine turned to Lilith.

CORRINE: Lilith. Do you know anything about this?

Lilith shrugged.

LILITH: I do not know. If anything, we should've found the magister responsible for the barrier. If they were dead, then the barrier would disappear the moment the magister's life was taken because it does not have a host to keep it sustained. However, if no magister created the barrier, then why is it here? ...I believe it may be the work of a demon or the magister is hiding somewhere that we have not seen.

ISABELA: But we've checked practically everywhere! We even went back outside to some of the rooms that we felt we needed to check and all we found were coin, items, and some junk that we could sell to a merchant for low pay.

It was then that Lilith turned her attention to the tower outside, eyebrows arched in suspicion as she focused onto the collosal monument.

LILITH: Except for that tower.

ALISA: Of course we didn't. We didn't know how to unlock the door and we didn't find a key anywhere. I even bent two nice lockpicks just to unlock the door!

CORRINE: Oh don't be like that, Alisa. You still have three more left.

Alisa turned to her older sister and flashed a humorous yet warm smile.

ALISA: I guess so. Still, it's going to take me ages to make two new lockpicks, but that's beside the point. We can't get inside the tower because it's locked. We even had Aveline and Fenris try and knock the door down, but it wouldn't budge, nor did the wood crack, and Aveline's practically a battering ram!

FENRIS: She's right. That door was made of wood, but it felt like I was trying to knock down a metal door.

Lilith turned back to the tower and looked back at Corrine with an assertive look on her face.

LILITH: I believe that our best option is to go back to that tower and see what else we can do. None of us worked our magic on it. 'Tis perhaps we can break down the door with our magic?

ANDERS: As much as I hate to admit, Lilith has a point. Let's see if one of us mages can break down that door with our magic.

BETHANY: I don't know exactly how much help I can be, but it's worth a shot. I even learned Stone's Fist, so I should be able to knock down the door.

MERRILL: Perhaps I can apply Walking Bomb on the door? Or maybe use blood magic to make the door easier to remove. I don't know if it will work but I'll give it a try.

With the plan set in mind, the group came to a consenus and made their way to the door over at their far right. However, it didn't take but two steps before the group heard a strange, loud creaking noise booming through the air. They halted and looked around in confusion, searching for the source of the noise.

CORRINE: What is that noise?

As they looked around, Sebastian turned to the wall, specifically at the far side of the fortress and gasped upon the realization.

SEBASTIAN: The main door!

Those words played like an ill omen as everyone's blood ran cold as ice. In a rush, they ran from the hallway they were in to the front hallway from where they entered inside the fortress. As they approached the main hallway, Corrine looked out the window to see that Sebastian's assumption was proven true. The main door was closing!

They rushed to the front door and opened it too late to see the main entrance gate close with a loud shut. Corrine closed the door behind her with a worried look on her face.

CORRINE: The main gate is closed. It's probably locked as well!

Confusion ran rampant amongst the group as they tried to piece together the likely possibilities for why the main door would close. However, as fate would have it, unexplained mysteries led to a state of panic; physically calm, but not verbally.

ISABELA: Okay! This is getting way too abnormal! Who would close the main gate?! There was no one in the fortress!

FENRIS: Perhaps there is someone here and he has decided to trap us like rats.

ANDERS: It could also be the work of a demon. Maybe the demon decided to trap us here and feast on our life forces!

Isabela turned to Anders with a worried yet annoyed look reading clear on her face.

ISABELA: That's not making it any better!

Then suddenly, a sound reverberated through the halls. Actually, there were more than one, but all played the same tone and harmony as the other. The sounds were ghastly wails that played tunes of a macabre melody and each tune surrounded Corrine and her allies as they formed a circle, eyes panning from left to right and up and down to spot whatever was making the noise.

CORRINE: Can any of you mages sense a spirit or a demon?

As if fate was coordinating the strings of misfortune, the mages shook their heads.

ANDERS: No. I... don't feel the presence of a spirit.

MERRILL: Neither can I! This is not good!

A wind blew, blowing out the flames on the torches that lit the hallway for them, turning everyone into pitch, black darkness. Isabela shrieked.

ISABELA: *shrieks*

VARRIC: Holy shit! What's going on here?!

SEBASTIAN: H-Hey! Someone's touching me!

FENRIS: I would like to know who pinched my bottom.

BETHANY: I don't like this! I really don't like this!

LILITH: What kind of paranormal activity is this? Is it ghosts?

Suddenly, the wind blew back and lit the torches to illuminate the hallway as lightning flashed once again. Everyone scanned the area, completely alarmed and startled by what had just occurred. What was that?

CORRINE: Is everyone alright?

AVELINE: I am okay, but... what was that?

ANDERS: It felt as though there were... spirits around us, but I did not sense them!

ISABELA: Wait! Do you think there are... ghosts?

The answer was really hard to find at the moment, but what happened had everyone practically on their toes. Something about this fortress was far from pleasant and ordinary. Not only were they locked inside the fortress, but some supernatural event had just occurred that the group could not explain. However, it seemed their problems would only get worse.

It was then that Corrine noticed that her back felt a little light. Confused, she reached a hand to her back and felt nothing but air in her grasp. She gasped in pure astonishment as she realized that her daggers were gone!

CORRINE: Hold on! Didn't I bring weapons before coming here?!

When everyone heard that, they also noticed that their weapons were missing as well. The calm state of panic was starting to wear off.

FENRIS: What happened to our weapons?!

SEBASTIAN: Wait! Do you think one of those spirits or ghosts took them from us during the encounter?

VARRIC: Wait, Choir Boy! Are you saying some damn ghost or spirit took Bianca? ... Oh! They better hope I do not find them! No one touches my baby!

AVELINE: That was quite the sneaky front! Taking our weapons and leaving us helpless!

However, what was said next really brought fear upon the group. Lilith found herself standing there in pure confusion as she casted her eyes down to her palms, constantly flicking them and rubbing her temples. This caught Corrine's attention.

CORRINE: What's the matter? You seem distressed.

Lilith heard Corrine and stopped her acts, glancing over to Corrine with astonished eyes painting most of her face.

LILITH: I... I can't feel my mana.

The others looked at her in confusion.

FENRIS: What do you mean, Lilith?

Distress continued to color her face as she looked back down at her palms.

LILITH: What I mean is... I can't feel anything. It's almost as if my connection to Fade has been servered and my mana has been suspended. ... I-I think I can't use my magic.

Hearts practically stopped the moment Lilith uttered those words from her mouth. Lilith was saying that she was powerless!

Confused, the other mages tried to use their magic, but the moment they attempted, horror played clear on their faces. Lilith wasn't the only mage of the group experiencing this issue.

ANDERS: Maker's breath! She's right! I-I can't feel my mana! It's almost as if I've been made Tranquil! I can't even feel Justice inside of me!

BETHANY: This is not good! I can't cast spells!

MERRILL: By Mythal, my magic... it's gone as well! How?! Why?!

The mages had begun to panic as they realized that their only tool to help them in their time of need was gone. However, they weren't the only ones facing the issue of being powerless. Fenris extended his hand, forming it into a fist. When nothing happened, he too started to panic.

FENRIS: I-I can't use the lyrium in my body! I still have the marks, but... I can't use it. What foul magic is being used here?

LILITH: I... have no clue. I've heard of templars being able to depower mages temporarily should they revel in chaos and I know spells that a mage can use to purge another mage's own spellcasting abilities for a temporary time, but to erase our magic without making us Tranquil and to remove the lyrium-infusion within Fenris? ...

Lilith turned to Corrine with a horrified look on her face that she wasn't familiar with. The fact that the unfamiliarity was so strong made Corrine very alarmed.

LILITH: Corrine, something is not right! I don't even know a demon or spirit capable of removing a mage's connection to the Fade or even suctioning Fenris' lyrium!

MERRILL: I get the feeling we're prey for a magister far more powerful than us or a demon with power beyond our comprehension! Either way, we are in danger!

As those words finished their cruel melody, another booming sound reverberated the hallway, but this time, it wasn't the wails of a ghost or the sound of thunder. The sound was actually a roar, a rather monstrous roar. Following it were heavy footsteps that grew heavier with each step it took, causing the ground to tremble by the might of its approach. The footsteps were coming from behind them and they all turned in anticipation to see what was approaching.

ISABELA: Please tell me those are slavers!

Fear had stricken Isabela in a way that none of the others knew it would, but now wasn't the time for judgement. At this moment, everyone was in fear of what was going on, even the usually calm and collected Fenris found himself unable to stop his heavy breathing. They're weapons were gone, the mages could not use their magic, Fenris could not use the lyrium in his body, and Anders could not feel Justice in his head. At this moment, Isabela wasn't the only one who was afraid.

ALISA: I get the feeling those are not slavers! I'm also getting the feeling that it's larger than a group of them!

Finally, glowing yellow eyes appeared from the shadows as the torches went out again.

ISABELA: Oh Maker, not now! *whimpers*

Another flash of lightning illuminated the hallways as the group saw the beast before them. The beast appeared to be a lycanthrope, but was certainly taller and wider than a normal one. It's fur was colored black and red with large, sharp black claws that seemed strong and sharp enough to cut a boulder in two with a perfect slice, not an edge sticking out. It's teeth bared bright and white, yet sharp enough to tear through the bodies of a hundred men if tempted, with black saliva drooling from its mouth. It stood on hind legs, but its standing resemblance was a near perfect copy of a human. Long, black spikes stuck out of its arms, legs, and back with each holding a red colored tip. Its snarl was menacing and monstrous as its gazed over to the group.

Everyone backed away in fear as the torches were lit once again to give the beast more visibility.

CORRINE: Please tell me that's the guard dog!

FENRIS: Is it a werewolf?! It looks like a one, but its form is... unusual!

The beast let out a powerful and frightening roar that caused the party to fall to the ground in pure fear. Without a second's hesitation, the beast lunged directly at the group!

A/N: And now is the real action! I said this story was going to be short, but I can't make short stories to save a life anymore. I used to, but now I can't. However, I will keep the number of chapters as short as I can. So we got to see the beast before our very eyes. I was thinking of making the beast somewhat similar to the Varterral in Merrill's quest Mirror Image, but I decided to take some inspiration from the Nature of the Beast quest from Dragon Age: Origins, especially since it is my favorite main quest in the game. In the next chapter, there will be some f!HawkexFenris flirting. Stay tuned! Review!