That's one big demon.
I ducked and weaved around and through the Pride demons legs, jumping, hacking and slashing at its skin. Others fought around me; Cassandra stabbing it with her sword and blocking attacks with her shield, Varric shooting the demons weak spots, Solas sending icy spirals and bolts of energy at the demon, and the soldiers firing arrows and attacking the extra smaller demons.
The demon let out a haunting laugh and brought forth some kind of magic, whipping at us with it. I ducked and rolled to the side, ending up under the Breach. I thrust out my hand and connected my mark to the Breach. It crackled and spat and I struggled to stay connected. The demon roared and fell to the ground, Cassandra climbing off it with a vicious expression.
"Now!" Solas yelled to me.
I threw myself to my feet and pushed deeper into the Breach, using all my strength. My knees became shaky and legs felt like jelly. My arms burned and I felt light headed. I pushed myself to my limits and felt the Breach snap and close. Then my dizziness overtook and I collapsed.
The first thing I noticed when I woke was that my hand and wrist felt weird. I flexed my hand and wrist, moving them so I could maybe feel what was wrong. Nope. I opened my eyes and looked around the room. A small simple cabin; bed, desks, bookshelves, cupboards. And an elf? She was walking in with a crate in her hands and as she looked up at me, I quickly sat up and she dropped her crate, stuttering.
"Oh! I didn't know you were awake, I swear!" She said.
I pushed my dark curls out of my face, "Its fine. Where am I?"
She dropped to her knees and bowed, "I beg your forgiveness and your blessing. I am but a humble servant. You're back in Haven, my lady."
I stretched my legs over the side bed the bed and looked at her on the floor. While my family only had a few servants at home, Orlais had many more and I had been there enough to become used to them.
"What happened?" I asked.
"They say you saved us. The Breach stopped growing, just like the mark on your hand. It's all anyone has talked about for the last three days." She looked up at me hesitantly.
I stood and inspected my hand. Faint green outlines of swirling patterns covered my hand to wrist and glowed when I concentrated on it.
"So we're safe? Now that I've closed the Breach?"
"The Breach is still in the sky, but that's what they say. I'm certain Lay Cassandra would want to know you've awakened. She said, 'At once'." The elf rose to her feet and stared backing away.
"And where is she?" I cocked my head at her.
"In the Chantry, with the Lord Chancellor. 'At once', she said." The elf girl turned and ran from the cabin.
I shook my head pitifully and turned to the chest on the floor that was stuffed with clothes. I rifled through it, picking out leather pants and cotton shirt, then layering over holsters, shoulder and body armour and then pulled on my gloves and boots.
Sheathing the daggers that had been laid out on the table, I quickly tied up my hair in a knot on top of my head. Stepping out of the cabin, I saw people lined up along the pathways with their hands fisted over their hearts. I looked at them cautiously as I passed, trying to figure out why they were doing this. Some of them were even kneeling down to me, which was basically bowing.
I reached the Chantry and pushed open the huge doors, with more than a bit of effort. Down the hall were two voices arguing. One was definitely Cassandra and the other was…Chancellor Roderick? Yes, the man from the Chantry that I met on the way to the Breach. Complete asshole.
"Have you gone completely mad? She should be taken to Val Royeaux immediately, to be tried by whomever becomes the Divine." The chancellor yelled.
"I do not believe she is guilty." Cassandra said calmly.
"The prisoner failed Seeker. The Breach is still in the sky. For all you know, she intended it this way." He pushed.
"I do not believe that." Cassandra said firmly.
"That is not for you to decide. Your duty is to serve the Chantry." Roderick pursued.
"My duty is to serve the principles on which the Chantry was founded, chancellor, as is yours." Cassandra said with finality.
The yelling was still going on by the time I reached the door, so when I threw open the door and marched in, all eyes were on me.
Chancellor Roderick barely missed a beat though, "Chain her. I want her prepared for travel to the capital for trial." He ordered the Templars at the door.
They shifted as Cassandra spoke, "Disregard that, and leave us."
They left and the chancellor turned to Cassandra, "You walk a dangerous line, Seeker."
"The Breach is stable, but is still a threat. I will not ignore it." Cassandra said menacingly.
"Are you serious? I just risked my life to close that thing and you're still suspicious that I caused it? Are you daft?" I asked the chancellor, mystified of how he thinks that I would start something just to try and kill myself.
"You yet live from all your efforts. A convenient result, insofar as you're concerned." He narrowed his eyes at me.
I gaped at him and became furious, "You are a Chantry brother. Why are you here arguing with your superiors and leaders? Aren't you supposed to be out helping our soldiers and refugees? You were not important enough to be at the Conclave and will never become anything of status. Give up now, chancellor, before you make more of a fool of yourself and everyone ends up hating you more than they already do."
It was his turn to gape. Cassandra made a face of approval and continued talking to him, "Have a care, chancellor. The Breach is not the only threat we face."
Leliana stepped in, "Someone was behind the explosion at the Conclave. Some Most Holy did not expect. Perhaps they died with the others-or have allies that yet live."
"I am a suspect?!" Roderick said, shocked.
"You, and many others." She replied.
"But not the prisoner." Chancellor Roderick stated.
"Lady Trevelyan to you." I replied haughtily.
He glared at me before Cassandra spoke, "I heard the voices in the Temple. The Divine called out to her for help."
"So her survival, that thing on her hand-all a coincidence?"
"Providence. That Maker sent Lady Trevelyan to us in our darkest hour." Cassandra looked at me with softness in her eyes.
I looked at her sceptically, "So I'm the chosen one now? When was I going too informed of this?"
"We will have that conversation later. For now, I will not pretend you weren't exactly what we needed when we needed it." Cassandra turned to the bookcase behind her.
"The Breach remains, and your mark is still our only hope of closing it." Leliana added.
"This is not for you to decide." The chancellor said stubbornly.
Cassandra slammed a thick book down on the table, "You know what this is chancellor. A writ from the Divine, granting us the authority to act. As of this moment, I declare the Inquisition reborn." She took menacing steps toward the chancellor as he spoke, "We will close the Breach, we will find those responsible, and we will restore order. With or without your approval."
The chancellor simply looked at us all with loathing in his eyes before walking out silently. Cassandra shook her head and walked back to the book while Leliana spoke to me, "This is the Divine's directive: rebuild the Inquisition of old. Find those who will stand against the chaos," she sighed, "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 looked at me with those eyes again.
I frowned, "What is this 'Inquisition of Old'?"
"It preceded the Chantry; people who banded together to restore order in a world gone mad." Leliana said.
"After, they laid down their banner and formed the Templar Order. But the Templars have lost their way. We need those who can do what must be done united under a single banner once more." Cassandra added.
"So we've lost all Chantry support?" Leliana nodded, "Well, shit. What if I want to go home?" I said cautiously.
"You can go, if you wish." Leliana said slowly.
"You should know that while some believe you chosen, many believe you are guilty. The Inquisition can only protect you if you are with us." Cassandra said.
"We can also help you. You are young, and I am sorry you have been dragged into this, but we will be here to help you." Leliana said kindly.
"It will not be easy if you stay, but you cannot pretend this has not changed you." Cassandra implored.
I sighed, "You're right. Modest in temper, bold in deed. Father would kill me himself if I left now. I suppose I must stay," I held my hand out, "Though I hope you know I'm going to mess this up. Badly."
Cassandra took my hand and smiled lightly, "I doubt anyone could not make mistakes with a responsibility like yours."
We shook, and I became a part of the Inquisition.
"So, now that Cassandra's out of earshot, are you holding up alright? This is a lot to take on for someone your age. I mean, you go from being the most wanted criminal in Thedas to joining the armies of the faithful. Most people would have spread that out over more than one day." Varric said as we sat side by side at his campfire, while he sipped on a mug of ale.
"I mean, aside from the fact that this is total bullshit and that it should never have happened, I am actually doing okay. Sore and confused, a little scared, but okay." I smiled and laughed at him.
He grinned back, "Everyone is expecting so much of you and you're only, what, seventeen?"
I nodded, "Though I am eighteen in a few months' time, not that it matters much. Everyone still sees me as a child."
"Don't worry about it sweetheart. Nobody knows what they're doing here. We've been sitting here for days now, staring at the Breach and watching demons and Maker-knows-what fall out of it. 'Bad for morale' wold be an understatement. I still can't believe anyone was in there and lived." He took his head then drank more ale.
I looked down and fiddled with my boot buckles while I talked, "My uncle and two cousins were in there with me. I have no doubts about them dying. It just hurts to know that I was the one that lived, when any one of them could have done this so much better than me. My uncle, Jeremy, he would have known exactly what to do. He was such a powerful, capable man. I don't know how well father would be dealing with his loss. My oldest cousin, Annabel, well you would have loved her Varric. She can tell the most amazing stories and drink you under the table. Smart though, nothing got past her. Then Samuel is two years older than me. He was going to become a Templar, a good one too. He had so much potential," I looked at him sadly, "I don't know why Andraste or the Maker chose me, because the only thing I'm certain of right now is that we need to close the Breach. And I'll do anything to stop those who will get in our way."
He studied me with soft eyes before he spoke in a softer voice, "I'm pretty sure that's exactly why you're the chosen one, Alys."
Father,
I'm sorry I haven't written sooner. Everything has been crazy since the explosion at the Conclave. First, I want to let you know I'm safe. I am with the Inquisition, in Ferelden. They are looking after me, mostly because I have become 'The Herald of Andraste'. I've made a few friends and I trust the people I work with. It's good what they're doing here; trying to restore peace, close the Breach, basically fix the world and I'm helping them. I hope you're proud of me, because I think this is what I'm meant to do.
Secondly, in case you didn't already know, Uncle Jeremy, Annabel and Samuel died during the explosion. I'm sorry. I had no idea that it was going to happen, and if I did, I would have saved them.
Lastly, please don't send anyone here to collect me. Not Maxwell, or Evelyn, or Jacobi. Please don't come yourself either. I truly am as happy as I can be, not to mention safe, what with all the soldiers around me constantly. We need to call off this engagement with Cyril as well. I do not think it is fair to keep him waiting for me when I won't be with him anytime soon. I know it took you forever to arrange that, but it is not going to work out now.
I love you all and I miss you terribly. Wish me luck.
Alys Amelia Rosaline Trevelyan