All right, here we are, chapter three! I'm sorry to say it's going to be a while before chapter four because my keep aappaently didn't transfer my world state ccorrectly, so I have to restart the game.
Joy.
(At least I have time since I'm sick today)
Anyway, please give me a review guys, please i love reviews!
Enjoy!
Commander
It's always nice when the first thing that you see—despite the downpour all around—is a dragon flying uncomfortably close by. I'm not sure what I'm more worried about—the fact I saw it, or the fact I don't know where it went.
Don't worry—I'll be sure to keep clear of angry dragons. I don't exactly want to deal with any of those right now.
As I'm sure you've noticed—since I sent this message with him—we've received new recruits. I've seen Iron Bull and his Chargers in action now and fought beside them—I know they'll make a great contribution to the Inquisition.
(Though I feel so tiny standing by him—I already felt small standing by you, but Iron Bull! I'll never feel small around you again!)
While Iron Bull returns with the Chargers, we are going to deal a group called the Blades of Hessarian that have been giving our men trouble and see if we can curb some of them to fighting for a better cause. I'm going to try and avoid more bloodshed by challenging their leader according to their customs to take control. I'll have to tell you how this goes once I return. After that we'll start looking for signs of the Wardens.
Hopefully we won't be here long—I dare say this drenching rain is colder than the snow at Haven.
Amariel Lavellan
Again, the way that Amariel phrased her letter made Cullen smile despite the dangers she mentioned. A dragon was troublesome, though her promise to avoid it put his mind at ease.
He had been surprised when Iron Bull approached him with the letter. After Kirkwall, he didn't have the best experience with Quinari, but he was professional enough not to immediately react badly. Iron Bull had simply grinned at his reaction and easily explained who he was and why he was here, followed by an immediate request to know where Josephine was so they could get things set up. Cullen had pointed him in the right direction, then spent his time reading the letter before putting it with the other one and delivering the report part of it himself.
At the same time, he made a mental note to have a hot meal ready for Amariel whenever she did arrive. Any soldier knew how miserable life was in conditions of a constant downpour.
Amariel's return this time was less troublesome, thankfully. She arrived a few days after Iron Bull, dry after the long ride and looking at ease instead of haggard as she had returning from the Mire. Without even thinking about it, Cullen approached their group and offered Amariel a hand to help her down before she got the chance to dismount. She smiled at him, placing her nimble hand within his.
"I dare say, Commander, that if this continues I'm going to start expecting you to greet me every time I return from a trip," Amariel stated lightly as he lowered her to the ground. Cullen chuckled.
"I would say you started it with all your frequent visits," he returned effortlessly. "How was the remainder of your trip?"
Amariel took her horse's reins, leading him into his pen. "I'm glad I chose to challenge the Blade's leader instead of charging in blindly—apparently, no one liked him, and I wasn't the first to challenge him, just the first to win. They emphasized that they're loyal to me now and, by default, the Inquisition, so we have recruited more agents. I did see the dragon again, but from a distance—and fighting a giant, no less. It was…interesting to say the least. We set up three camps there, so we have a strong foothold along that coast, and we found signs of the Grey Wardens…but they've moved on. They were looking for someone, but they didn't say who specifically."
"So besides the dragon and the Blade Leader confrontation, a relatively quiet excursion," Cullen remarked, falling into step beside her as they made their way towards the edge of the recruit training area. Cullen could feel Blackwall, Solas, and Cassandra watching them while the three unpacked their things—Amariel tended to only bring what she had on her—and Iron Bull was watching them from where he'd set up camp.
Apparently there was no such thing as privacy here at Haven. At least they could talk where their conversations weren't overheard.
"Yes, it was—I'm glad to be out of the rain, that's certain."
"I'm sure you are."
Amariel glanced back towards Iron Bull, casually waving her hand in his direction. "So, what do you think of our new recruits, since they've been here for a few days now?"
"I'm glad to have Bull's men with us. The Chargers are professionals, despite evidence to the contrary," Cullen said diplomatically. "And you're right, he is off-puttingly large, even for a Quinari in, my opinion."
Amariel chuckled. "Be glad you're not my size…so, how are the recruits shaping up?"
"They're…coming along. I don't have to educate them on what a shield's for, anymore," Cullen said with a sigh. Amariel laughed, causing Cullen to gain a slight sense of victory.
"Yes, that is helpful. Still, you're a fine Commander, and you teach them well—so don't be too hard on yourself," Amariel told him with a smile, one Cullen returned with a respectful bow of his head.
"Thank you, Herald," Cullen said humbly. They stood in companionable silence for a few moments, and Cullen ended up having the idle thought that he'd never seen Amariel with her hair down, and he wondered how long her hair really was if it made such an intricate braid and bun.
"I'm going to Redcliffe next, to speak with the mages and see what they want," Amariel finally said. "While I'm down there I'll see to getting the refugees some supplies against the cold, so you won't have to worry about it."
"Just be careful when you go to Redcliffe—mages can be unpredictable," Cullen cautioned.
"I know—I've been listening to your lectures," Amariel said, giving him a small half smile. "I'll be sure to write daily letters—perhaps I'll borrow one of Leliana's birds…"
"That would bring me some comfort," Cullen admitted.
"Then I will keep you well informed on our movements, Commander—every time something happens."
Cullen nodded, ignoring his sense of relief before he nodded back towards Haven. "Word of your arrival has probably already spread—perhaps you should get your rest and quiet while you can, before we have our war meeting."
"I see you've already taken on the role of the one who gets to worry about me keeping my strength up," Amariel mused. "But yes, I suppose some rest and a hot meal would be nice."
"Until the war meeting then, My Lady," Cullen said respectfully, already taking a step towards the camp.
"Until then, Commander Cullen," Amariel said softly before she walked away. Cullen barely heard her, but he felt the warmth from hearing her speak his name aloud.
He was unaffected by the cold after that.
When they entered the war room later, the first thing Amariel did was smile at Cullen, which he returned. There were no words exchanged between them in front of the other three, though Cullen was sure that the other women noticed. In order to make sure there wasn't a chance for someone to comment on the exchange, Cullen immediately moved forward with his reports.
"We started sending soldiers along the road you secured in the Fallow Mire. I want to pass along their considerable gratitude for being spared treks across the Frostbacks. Our Healers seem happier as well," Cullen stated.
"I'm glad it's being put to good use—it was, admittedly, a nightmare to clear," Amariel said with a sigh. "What about you, Josephine, what did you find as a result of Sera's…riddle?"
"It proved quite rewarding—documents detailing how a Lord sabotaged a rival's marriage. Scandalous and useful in applying our influence," Josephine stated with a small, half smile.
At least Sera can turn her tricks to more productive matters, Cullen couldn't help but think.
Amariel then noticed one of the newer markers on the table, pointing to it curiously. "What's this?"
"Iron Bull informed us of a fight for a successor in Lydes that we may want to try and influence. One of their three candidates could be a valuable ally to the Inquisition, but the other two have to be removed from play first," Leliana informed her. "There is Caralina, the capable cousin who isn't particularly interested in personally overseeing Lydes—she's already a Duchess elsewhere; Monette, the niave and easily influenced daughter I do not believe would be as useful as her other two; and the brother Jean-Gaspard, who would be difficult to control and may be more of a threat than anything else."
"So we're going to try and get one of them on the throne?" Amariel asked.
"That would be the idea, yes," Leliana stated. "Monette would do better in the Chantry than in the Game. I can see that she is encouraged to take vows."
"I can destroy Caralina's marriage with four words and the proper glove left on the proper table," Josephine suggested.
"Jean-Gaspard is a chevalier and a capable military leader. If we want him removed, I daresay we might recruit him for ourselves," Cullen ventured to say. Amariel leaned back, considering their words. To Cullen, Jean-Gaspard was the obvious threat if he took the throne, and he sincerely hoped Amariel would take his offer.
"Commander Cullen…if we were to recruit him and he was placed under your command, are you confident you can keep him there?" Amariel asked, meeting his gaze.
"I am, Lady Lavellan," Cullen said, straightening.
"Then we'll take Jean-Gaspard from the game now so Caralina has a better chance later—I'll leave that in your capable hands," Amariel said with a nod.
"All right."
"What of this?" Amariel asked, pointing to a marker on the Ferelden side of the table.
"There is a vigil being held in Highever in remembrance of Justinia, and we've been invited to attend," Josephine informed her.
"I know Teyrn Cousland, and I knew Justinia. I can't attend, but I could write to him," Leliana suggested.
"We should send a diplomatic attaché and some of the Templars who knew the Divine," Josephine countered. Amariel was quick to agree.
"We should have a physical presence there, to show our sincerity. Josehpine, go ahead and send the attaché."
There was nothing else on the map at the moment, so Amariel nodded. "All right—I will set off for the Hinterlands, then, to see what the mages are offering us," Amariel promised, straightening. "It shouldn't take long if nothing…unexpected happens."
"Don't jinx yourself," Cullen remarked.
"Well, if I have, then I'll work with it," Amariel said with a smile. "Shall we part ways for now, then?"
"I will begin making the arrangements for the attache, Lady Lavellan," Josephine promised.
"And I'll reach out to Jean-Gaspard," Cullen added.
"Let us get to work then," Amariel approved, and while everyone else filtered out of the room Amariel pulled Leliana aside. "I'd like to borrow one of your birds while I'm journeying to Redcliffe…" Cullen heard her say, and then he was out of earshot.
Commander Cullen
Here you are, your first unofficial report from me, just as I promised.
We've hardly been here a day and already we've sealed two rifts and located supplies for the refugees. While one of the rifts means no more in the outskirts of the Hinterlands, I'm afraid we're still short on supplies for the refugees. One spot still eludes me, but I'm going to find it before we head to Redcliffe since Redcliffe is on the other side of the Hinterlands.
I have to go now—the horse is getting antsy and is ready to move out. I'll write to you again once I've found the rest of the supplies.
Amariel Lavellan
Cullen didn't reply to that report—there wasn't much to reply to, it would only be a one line letter expressing his gratitude that things were going according to plan. He kept it in mind though, sharing her progress with his fellow Councilors and waiting patiently for the next update.
Commander Cullen
I found it! We just scoured the same rocky plain for a few hours, but I found it! We're bringing the supplies to the Crossroads, and then we're off to Redcliffe. I promise to write daily from there, to put your mind at ease. I'm just glad Leliana agreed to lend one of her birds to me, otherwise I'd feel bad for the scouts traveling to deliver these messages.
Also, I notice that the area is much safer now—people aren't as afraid to camp out in the open, and we rarely run into trouble from rogue mages or Templars. It's quieter here, and I enjoy it.
Oh, and we cleared Dwarfson's Pass of rifts as well.
Amariel Lavellan
Cullen couldn't help but smile as he read the letter, enjoying her casual and lighthearted tone and happy to hear that she had officially tended to all the needs of the refugees at the Crossroads. One less thing to worry about, and more people in dire need given the assistance they required.
The next letter, however, though short, did earn a letter in return, and Cullen also sent some of his men to deliver some carefully selected supplies to Amariel and her men.
Commander Cullen
Have to find another way to Redcliffe. Walked right into a dragon on our initial planned route, plus all the little dragons were swarming the valley. Hope I don't develop a track record with this. Will write when we find another way to Redcliffe.
Amariel Lavellan
Lady Lavellan
I know you were coming from the other side of the Hinterlands, but perhaps you should take Redcliffe Road instead of cutting through the valley you initially planned on going through. Dragons are not creatures to be treated lightly, and I would prefer if you avoided them at all costs. I'd rather your trip to Redcliffe take a little longer and you arrive safely than you end up in the sights of a dragon. Other than that, I commend you on the excellent work you've done in the Hinterlands, and hope that you find the answers you seek in Redcliffe once you arrive.
Commander Cullen
Commander Cullen
Thank you for the supplies you sent with some of your men. I'll admit they startled me, since all was quiet and deserted until I turned a corner and they were there. I greatly appreciate the assistance, however.
We managed to make it to Redcliffe without having to poke at any dragons, but ended up finding…something far more troublesome.
Yes, more troublesome than a fire breathing dragon soaring overhead.
There was a rift in front of Redcliffe—we thought nothing of it until…when we engaged the demons…time itself seemed to be altered by this rift. Something is not right here…we don't know what, yet, but we will find out, I promise you that.
Furthermore, when we arrived, we were informed no one was expecting us, which is odd. I know I spoke to Fiona, she should be expecting us.
And yes, I remember that since I'm at Redcliffe I'm required to write every day. Hopefully there will be an update of progress every time.
Amariel Lavellan
This particular report worried him, and he immediately brought it before the others. Had Amariel truly walked into a trap as some of them suspected? And if a rift could effect time itself in the immediate vicinity, what else could it do? What else were they up against?
He sent Amariel a simple reply.
Lady Lavellan
Be cautious. If things become too dangerous, I strongly recommend that you return to Haven at once so we can collectively decide what to do next. You're too valuable to risk. Mind your step, and be careful where you place your trust.
Commander Cullen
Commander Cullen
I'll start with the simple stuff. We've gained another agent for the inquisition—a smuggler.
The strange stuff that's giving me a headache:
Fionna swears she's never met us, that she hasn't been to Val Royeaux since before the Conclave, and the mages somehow ended up making a rather unpopular alliance with Tevinter. A Tevinter named Alexius has the mages under his control. I offered to negotiate with him to see if the mages are still an option for an alliance. His son, Felix…collapsed as a feint to pass a note to me, warning that I was in danger and asking to meet me in the Chantry. I also heard that Alexius forced everyone Tranquil and not a mage out of the castle, and all Tranquil are being driven from the city. The Tranquil who informed me of this joined our cause, so we have another agent.
We—cautiously—made our way to the Chantry and met a rather interesting fellow. Dorian Pavus, a mage—a Tevinter mage, but not a magister—and the one who wanted to warn us. He threw a lot of us at once, but in a nutshell…
He says that Alexius used magic to distort time itself so he could claim the mages out from under us, before we could even enter into talks. He says the magic Alexius is using is unstable—I could have told anyone that—and that more rifts that distort time like the one outside of Redcliffe will start to appear, and that this magic could unravel the world. It's a lot to take on faith, but I can also tell that Dorian is being honest. He even admitted that Alexius was once his mentor, and that Dorian was assisting him with the concept before he left Alexius. He doesn't know why Alexius is tearing apart time itself to put the mages underneath him, though Felix (Who is assisting Dorian) says he's working with a group called the Venatori, and they're trying to get to me. Dorian had to leave after this explanation, though he said he'd keep in touch.
We're returning to Haven immediately. Things just got much more complicated.
Amariel Lavellan
His reply?
Lady Lavellan
This is better discussed at the war table in Haven. We are awaiting your return and a full, detailed report. You are correct, things are now more complicated, and we must make our decision now.
Commander Cullen
Amariel and the other three arrived at a full sprint to Haven, and Cullen swiftly approached her, helping her down and handing the horse off to a soldier to put in the stable. He was about to go straight to business but paused when he realized she was wearing something…different.
"You got new armor," he noted. Amariel nodded, leading him forward.
"Yes, there was some masterwork armor there I couldn't pass on, especially knowing things are about to get more complicated."
Cullen grimaced. "You're right, they are. Are you still convinced we should consider the mages?"
"I wasn't convinced before this, I was still in the air. Now…Cullen, we can't ignore this," Amariel stated, coming to a halt right in front of the Haven Gate. Cullen took a moment to revel in the fact that she called him by name, without his title, before he responded.
"This proves that the mages are too much of a risk to side with—they're magic is tearing apart time. Can we really afford to get involved with that?" Cullen pointed out.
"Can we afford not to? Do you really want an enemy that can warp time, Commander?" Amariel returned. "And furthermore, it's not the mages in Redcliffe that are warping time, it's this Alexius. He's the one posing a threat, and I do not think we can afford not to step in now."
Cullen was about to argue for the Templars again, but Amariel cut him off. "Cullen, I know you want to side with the Templars, I know you want their support, and I do believe that there are still good people among the Templars, but this is the immediate and more troublesome threat, and I understand that if we go forward with this then we are officially siding with the mages. I understand that you don't trust them entirely, but we must step in. We already have to seal a hole in the breach, let's not have to deal with fighting someone who can warp time as well."
Cullen stepped back, resting his hand upon his sword as always. "You are our tiebreaker. And whatever decision you choose to make…I will respect it, and stand with you on it. You have my word," he eventually said in measured words. To his surprise, Amariel gently touched his arm in a gesture of comfort, something that caused him to feel hot and cold all at once.
"Thank you, Cullen. Your opinion matters to me, and I don't want you to feel like you're not being heard. I wish there was a way to have both, but like you said, we must come to a decision now…and I believe this is the decision we have to make. But the Inquisition's doors are still open to any Templar who wishes to help—you have my word on that."
Cullen cleared his throat, and Amariel stepped away, letting her hand drop back to her side. "We should go discuss this with the others—I'm sure they have their own opinions in this matter."
Amariel nodded, taking the lead. "I agree. Let's gather the others."
Amariel was first inside, Cullen close behind her, and they immediately took up positions around the table. Leliana and Josephine came next, with Cassandra arriving last to stand beside Amariel.
"I know we're all thinking of what's going on at Redcliffe, but I want to know what's happened since I've been gone first," Amariel said calmly.
"Jean-Gaspard agreed to join our forced and will soon be arriving with his men, Lady Lavellan," Cullen told her promptly.
"Our presence at the Divine's vigil was greatly appreciated, and we've recived a donation of arms for our soldiers as a result," Josephine said simply.
"That's good to hear, Josephine," Amariel replied.
"The Alamarri Runes have finally given up more of their secrets," Leliana pointed in. "They point to the northern coast of Ferelden, and I would like permission to search the area for the secrets it could yield."
"Of course, Leliana—I'm sure you'll find something valuable there," Amariel assured her. "Oh, and Josephine, I remember that terrible Lord that wanted our help expunging elves and mages and refugees from his lands—would you kindly send him a letter of refusal?"
"At once," Josephine agreed.
"What of the events in Lydes?" Amariel asked.
"Caralina or Monette will almost certainly be the next Duchess of Lydes. Caralina has sent agents to cause a scandal, judging that Monette does not have the skill to avoid such snares. Monette has relied upon Mother Renette, her mentor in the Chantry, for advice upon how to strengthen her claim to the Duchy, and the revered mother, in an attempt to protect Monette, has sent mercenaries to threaten Caralina's life," Josephine informed her.
"My men can stop the mercenaries and give Caralina's agents a clear path to Monette. I know you said that you would prefer Caralina to end up the Duchess," Cullen stepped in.
"Thank you, Commander Cullen, it would be much appreciated," Amariel said with a sigh. "Now that that's settled…I believe we must speak of Redcliffe."
One would think Amariel had admitted to blowing up the Conclave with the immediate clash of opinions that followed. At least no one was shouting. They might as well have been with how tense the air was and curt and brief their words could be.
"We don't have the manpower to take the castle, either we find another way in or give up this nonsense and go and get the Templars," Cullen snapped at Cassandra as Amariel tuned back in.
"Redcliffe is in the hands of a Magister—this cannot be allowed to stand," Cassandra said flatly.
"The letter from Alexius asked for the Herald of Andraste by name. It's an obvious trap," Josephine argued.
"So we've heard from magister Alexius: I expected as much," Amariel said with a sigh, leaning forward and bracing herself against the table, brow furrowed in thought.
"And yet some of us want to sit and do nothing," Leliana stated sourly.
"Not this again," Josephine sighed.
"Redcliffe Castle is one of the most defensible fortresses in Ferelden—it has repelled thousands of assaults," Cullen said firmly, now turning to Amariel and speaking in a slightly gentler but still firm voice that surprised Amariel, with how much emotion she could see in his gaze at that moment. "If you go in there, you'll die, and we'll lose the only means we have of closing these rifts. I won't allow it."
Thankfully Leliana stepped in before Amariel could recover her wits in time to properly reply. "And if we don't even try to meet Alexius we lose the mages and leave a hostile foreign power on our doorstep."
"Even if we could assault the keep, it would be for naught," Josephine cut in, turning her attention to Amariel. "An Orlesian Inquisition's army marching into Ferelden would provoke a war. Our hands are tied!"
"The magister—" Cassandra started to say, but Cullen cut her off.
"Has outplayed us."
"We can't just give up—there has to be something we can do," Amariel argued right back, straightening.
"We cannot accept defeat now. There must be a solution," Cassandra agreed, taking her side.
"Other than the main gate there's got to be another way into the castle—A sewer, a water way, anything?"
"There's nothing I know of that would work," Cullen said with a shake of his head.
"Wait," Leliana suddenly said. "There is a secret passage into the castle—an escape route for family. It's too narrow for our troops, but we could send agents through."
"Too risky," Cullen said instantly. "Those agents will be discovered well before they reach the magister."
"That's why we need a distraction," Leliana replied simply. "Perhaps the envoy Alexius wants so badly."
"Focus their attention on Lavellan while we take out the Tavinters…it's risky, but it could work," Cullen ceded.
Suddenly the door swung open and a new voice joined them as someone barged inside. "Fortunately, you'll have help."
Amariel spun around in surprise. "Dorian?" she exclaimed as the man came to stand beside her.
"This man says he has information about the magister and his methods, Commander," the scout that was trailing behind Dorian said. Amariel sent Dorian a small smile that he returned, then held up her hand in a gesture of peace.
"It's all right, he's with me—just a little late in arriving," Amariel amended. "This is Dorian Pavus—he's the one who alerted me to this danger in the first place at Redcliffe."
Cullen met her gaze, then allowed him to remain with a small incline of his head, which dismissed the scout.
"Your spies will never get past Alexius's magic without my help. So if you're going after him, I'm coming along," Dorian said in a simple, smug voice. Cullen turned his attention back to Amariel.
"The plan puts you in the most danger. We can't in good conscience order you to do this. We can still go after the Templars if you'd rather not play the bait, it's up to you," Cullen said quietly. Amariel held his gaze, and she could see in his eyes he already knew her decision. They had already had this conversation at the gates.
"When do we leave?"
"Announce us," Amariel said firmly as she approached the Tevinters within Redcliffe Castle, confident despite her precarious position.
"The magister's invitation was for Mistress Lavellan and no one else. You lot wait here," the Tevinter in front replied.
"Where I go, they go," Amariel stated in a voice that left no room for debate. The Tevinters exchanged a few glances, but then stepped aside, allowing Amariel to venture forth a few steps behind a fair haired young man.
"My Lord Magister; the agents of the Inquisition have arrived," the young man announced as Amariel, Blackwall, and Cassandra all stepped forward.
"My friend—it's so good to see you again…and your associates, of course," Alexius said, the picture of friendly host. "I'm sure we can work out some sort of arrangement that is equitable to all parties."
Fiona stepped forward from the side of the room then. "Are we mages to have no voice in deciding our fate?"
"Fiona you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you did not trust me with their lives," Alexius chided her. Amariel did her best not to bristle and to remain diplomatic.
"If the Grand Enchanter wants to be part of these talks than I welcome her as a guest of the Inquisition," Amariel said smoothly. Fiona gave Amariel a small bow.
"Thank you," she said sincerely.
Amariel ignored whatever look Alexius was giving her, watching Fiona take up a position beside Cassandra while Alexius sat down.
"The Inquisition needs mages to close the breach, and I have them. So, what shall you offer in exchange?" Alexius asked.
Stall, you need to stall, as much as you hate these elusive games.
"The Inquisition has many backers among the Orlesian nobility. I'm sure we can find suitable compensation," Amariel said smoothly.
"I'm not sure what the Orlesian nobility have to offer that I don't already possess," Alexius returned rather harshly.
Felix, next to the throne, turned to his father. "She knows everything, Father."
"Felix…what have you done?" Alexius asked the young man in a hushed whisper.
"Your son is concerned that you're involved in something terrible," Amariel tried to say gently. Alexius only replied with harshness.
"So speaks the thief! Do you think you can turn my son against me?"
Alexius stood, his anger mounting. "You walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark, a gift you don't even understand, and think you're in control?"
Amariel didn't back down—stepped forward even—and Alexius sneered. "You're nothing but a mistake!"
Now Amariel allowed herself to bristle. "If you know so much, enlighten me: tell me what this mark on my hand is for."
"It belongs to your betters—you wouldn't even begin to understand its purpose," Alexius sneered.
"Father, listen to yourself, do you know what you sound like?" Felix pled.
Suddenly a new voice spoke from the shadows, and Dorian emerged, coming to stand beside Amariel. "He sounds exactly like the sort of villainous cliché everyone expects us to be."
"Dorian: I gave you a chance to be a part of this. You turned me down. The Elder One has power you would not believe—he will raise the Imperium from its own ashes…"
Amariel glanced slightly at Dorian at Alexius' words, but she didn't trust the man any less for it—in fact, she felt it strengthened her trust. "That's who you serve? The one who killed the Divine? Is he a mage?"
"Soon he will become a god! He will make the world bow to mages one more! We will rule from the boric ocean to the frozen seas
"You can't involve my people in this!" Fiona protested in angry horror.
"Alexius, this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen!" Dorian stated as he stepped up. "Why would you support this?"
"Stop it, Father! Give up the Venatori," Felix insisted. "Let the southern mages fight the breach, and let's go home."
"No," Alexius said pitifully, turning to Felix. "It's the only way, Felix. He can save you!"
"Save me?"
"There is a way. The Elder One promised if I undo the mistake at the temple…"
"I'm going to die. You need to accept that!"
"Sieze them, Venatori!" Alexius suddenly said in a loud voice, jabbing a finger at Amariel and her group. "The Elder One demands this woman's life!"
There came the sudden chorus of knives sheathing in bodies, and Amariel smiled when she turned to find the scouts had made it through, and had killed the guards at the perfect moment.
Leliana trained her men as well as Cullen trained his.
Becoming serious again, Amariel turned back to Alexius.
"Your men are dead, Alexius," Amariel stated, waiting for his surrender. The man seethed.
"You…are a mistake! You should never have resisted!"
Alexius called an amulet to his hands, and to Amariel's utter bemusement Dorian literally threw himself in front of Amariel.
"No!" he cried desperately, shooting some form of magic right at Alexius' chest, confounding the man. A blast still came from the amulet, there was a flash of dark green…
And then the castle was gone.
"Blood of The Elder One!"
"Where'd they come from?"
Amariel pushed herself up, confused as to how she ended up elbows deep on all fours in a flooded room.
It was stepping through the Fade all over again.
A crackle of electric magic caught Amariel off guard, and she turned to see Dorian standing in front of her as a shield until she got her bearings. Noticing that they had two guards rushing them—the two that must have been the source of the exclamations—Amariel struggled to her feet and drew her swords, stepping around Dorian to embed her blade into the closest guard while Dorian cracked his staff hard enough against the head of the other guard to knock him out entirely.
"Displacement?" Dorian wondered out loud as Amariel cautiously approached him. "Interesting! It's probably not what Alexius intended. The rift must have moved us…to what? The closest confluence of arcane energy?"
"The last thing I remember we were in the castle hall," Amariel said with worry as Dorian crouched down beside one of the fallen guards, handing the guard's key to Amariel.
"Let's see…if we're still in the castle, it isn't…oh! Of course! It's not simply where, it's when!"
Amariel blinked at him. He wasn't seriously suggesting that…
"Alexius used the Amulet as a focus! It moved us through time!"
He was.
"That doesn't sound good," Amariel quipped.
"It sounds terrible depending on when we are and what happened while we were away. Let's look around, see where the rift took us. Then we can figure out how to get back…if we can."
"You have a plan how to get us back, I suppose," Amariel said dubiously. Dorian flashed her a dazzling smile.
"I have some thoughts on that. They're lovely thoughts—like little jewels."
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Amariel snorted, then decided to calm down enough to look for clues.
She had the key to the cell door since Dorian had fished it off of the guard, and while she unlocked the door she looked around at the giant amounts of red lyrium that seemed to be growing out of everything.
Quietly, the pair crept out of the cell and down the hall, up a flight of stairs as well. Dorian kept his staff at the ready to blast anyone that jumped out at them, and Amariel kept one hand on one of her daggers.
She'd rather they were ready for anything.
At the top of the first flight of stairs, the hall went two ways, so Amariel took the left, up that flight of stairs and through the door.
There was a massive spread of red lyrium blocking most of the hall, though Amariel and Dorian managed to shimmy around the lyrium and make their way through the cell door that led to another passageway.
It was a dead end.
"All right, we'll go the other way," Amariel muttered, feeling a deep unease she couldn't explain settle within her.
She feared what she would find the deeper into this castle she went.
Along they went through a maze of dark, blood splattered and bone scattered halls caked in red lyrium that caused more of a glow than the small fires from the above chandeliers. Then, after a few turns ushered on by a series of dead ends, they came to more…active cells. There stood a familiar name Amariel couldn't remember the name of, though she knew he'd been one of the mages she'd met in Redcliffe.
"Andraste blest me, Andraste blest me…my tears are my sins, my sins, my sins…Andraste guide me Andraste guide me…" The man sang in a broken tone.
"Hello, do you remember me?" Amariel asked, though the man only continued with his song.
"Leave him…we'll get no answers from him," Dorian said softly, touching her arm to lead her away reluctantly, further down the hall. Amariel's dread and unexplained fear only grew.
They opened the door to a main hall—not the main hall, just the main hall of the prisons, it would seem—and were immediately forced to deal with two guards. Hoping that Dorian could handle the one on the right, Amariel took off towards the left, quickly taking care of him with a deflection of his sword with one dagger before digging her other right into his exposed shoulder.
They'd caught the guards off guard—good.
On the other side, Dorian managed to electrocute the guard he'd been fighting into submission, but a third from around the corner was quickly descending upon the unsuspecting mage, and Amariel raced across the room to put herself between the two, catching the guard's blade with both of her own before it could cleave Dorian in two, who whipped around and froze him with some ice magic. Amariel decided to make sure the guard wouldn't return and slashed her blades as hard as she could into the frozen man, causing the ice to splinter—and the man as well.
A gruesome way to die…but it was kill or be killed right now, in this mysterious time they didn't understand.
"Thanks for that," Dorian said in a cheerful voice only ruined by his slight heavy breathing.
"Don't mention it," Amariel said. "Let's just both get out of here in one piece—agreed?"
"That is a bargain I'm willing to make," Dorian mused, and the two of them made their way to the left hand corridor of cells.
Maybe here they would find answers.
Down the hall to it's far end, down even deeper into the dungeons, all Amariel and Dorian found were empty cells, one after another.
Until they came across one that was framed by red lyrium, the floor practically red lyrium…
And its occupant trapped in red lyrium.
Fiona.
"You're alive," Fiona whispered disbelievingly. "I saw you…disappear…into the rift!"
"What is the date?" Amariel said with a tremble to her voice. "I need to know how much time has passed."
"Nine forty-two…dragon."
"Nine forty-two?" Dorian echoed in surprise. "Then we've missed an entire year!"
"We have to get out of here—go back in time," Amariel stated, looking between them.
"Please stop this from happening," Fiona whispered. "Alexius…serves The Elder One…more powerful…than the Maker…no one…challenges him and lives!"
"That magister is going to regret he didn't just kill me," Amariel seethed in a low tone of voice.
"Our only hope is to find the amulet that Alexius used to send us here. If it still exists, I can use it to reopen the rift at the exact spot we left…maybe," Dorian added after a heartbeat's hesitation.
"Good," Fiona breathed.
"I said maybe. It might also turn us into paste
"You must try. Your spymaster, Leliana…she is here. Find her. Quickly, before The Elder One learns you're here!" Fiona rasped.
As much as she hated to leave her, Amariel could tell that she could do nothing for the poor woman, and she pulled herself away. "We will fix this…you have my word," Amariel said softly before she forced herself to move back through the corridor."
Now fearful of what she would find, Amariel made her way to the right side cells, feeling her heartbeat increase when the first thing she saw as she opened the door was red lyrium.
Andraste preserve her…she prayed she wouldn't see another horror story such as with Fiona.
Down they went, far below once more, searching the lower cells on the left side first. At the far end in the lowest corners of the left side cells, Amariel spotted Blackwall.
At least he was still alive. And she was relieved to see he was still standing.
Though he didn't look well at all. In fact, he had this red lyrium like aura around him, and it worried her. Once she got close enough, however, that became the least of her concerns.
"Andraste have mercy…you shouldn't be here—the dead should rest in peace!" Blackwall exclaimed shakily, backing away.
"It's really me and I'm definitely not dead, Blackwall," Amariel tried to sooth him, though it didn't work—he only seemed even more freaked out.
"I was there—I saw you fall! Alexius' spell left nothing but ash!" Blackwall whispered.
"You skipped over too much—look at the poor man!" Dorian chided her before turning to Blackwall. "Alexius's spell didn't kill us, it sent us forward in time, that's how we survived."
"Forward in time? I don't understand…" Blackwall said with a shake of his head.
"if we get to alexius we can go back to the moment we left and stop all this from happening
"Maybe I've just gone mad, but if what you said is true, then this…everything I've been through, everything about this nightmare, is a mistake?" Blackwall said, stepping forward with anger coloring his tone.
"I should have been here, but we'll set things right
"Now I know I've gone mad. To set all this right? You can't imagine the things that happened after you died. The Elder One had the Orlesian Empress killed, and in the chaos that followed, his demon army invaded. The Inquisition was crushed. Anyone who refused to convert was killed. There's nothing left out there…"
A shiver went down Amariel's spine as she tried to process what he was saying, and at the same time, a name came to the cusp of her lips.
Cullen. What of Cullen?
But she stopped herself. "Let's make Alexius pay for what he's done," Amariel said firmly.
"Fine by me," Blackwall said with a nod, stepping out of the cell once they'd opened it so he could join them.
As they made their way across the hall adjacent to Blackwall's hall, Amariel heard another welcome voice.
Cassandra, reciting the Chant of Light.
"You've returned to us…" Cassandra said slowly as her eyes fell upon Amariel and Dorian. Blackwall stayed by the door. "Can it be? Has Andraste given us another chance? Maker forgive me, I failed you, I failed everyone! The end must truly be upon us if the dead return to life."
Amariel sighed. "I'm not back from the dead Cassandra I just got…well…it's hard to explain…" Amariel finished weakly.
"I was there! The magister obliterated you with a gesture!" Cassandra said in disbelief.
Dorian sighed. "Alexius sent us forward in time. If we find him, we may be able to return to the present."
"Go back in time? Then…can you make it so that none of this ever took place?" Cassandra asked seriously.
"If Dorian is right and can actually reverse the spell…than yes," Amariel said gently.
"None of this will happen? Andraste, please let that be true," Cassandra said, and with that they broke her out of the cell and Cassandra rejoined their party.
Now to find Leliana…and anyone else they managed to find.
They only went up one flight of stairs when Amariel's eyes fell upon the cells they hadn't explored yet, the upper cells on the right hand side. Amariel and Dorian had plunged right into the lower cells, but these…
Something in her gut screamed at Amariel to turn around, not to look, to run in the opposite direction and focus on getting out of there instead of seeing what was behind the door.
However, instead of listening to it, Amariel stepped forward as if in a trance, and carefully opened the door.
These cells were perfectly intact, and there wasn't much lyrium in here…but there was no sound, no possessions or anything in this room, other than the scuttle of the roaches upon the floor, a few of which crunched under Amariel's foot.
Why was she here? What had drawn her to this room?
Amariel slowly made her way to the end of the small room, searching the first two cells on the left and right, the cell on the right in the back…
Amariel froze when she saw the last cell, the cell in the back left that housed one prisoner, a prisoner who lay unmoving on the floor.
Her legs must have given out, because Dorian had to catch her, to support her as she stumbled forward until her hands were upon the cell door and she was fighting the lock, trying to get the door to open. Something within it was broken, and if she couldn't get it open one way she would get it another.
"Dorian, can you freeze this lock so I can break it? Or blast it or something, anything to get it open!" Amariel demanded.
"I…yes," Dorian managed to say, blasting the door open with a simple spell. Amariel rushed inside as soon as it was possible, dropping to her knees in the filth beside the broken, unconscious form of Cullen Rutherford. He hadn't even stirred at the sound of the door being blasted open.
Cullen was only a shadow of his former self. He was thin with sallow skin, eyes sunken, his only piece of clothing the torn and battered trousers, usually carefully kept hair hanging well past his ears and a small, ragged beard where there should have only been stubble. His skin sported several different kinds of injuries, and there was hardly an unmarked spot of skin. He was hardly breathing, just as he hardly moved. Torture was evident from his state of being, and Amariel dreaded to know what his state would be if she could possibly get him to wake.
With trembling hands Amariel hefted his too-light form, one that had diminished to be about her size not counting the height, into her lap, placing one hand to his cheek. He was cold as death to the touch, but he wasn't dead.
Not yet, some wicked part of her brain taunted her.
"Cullen," Amariel whispered. "Cullen, please, wake up!" Outside the cell, the others backed away to give her privacy, though Dorian remained close enough she had a reminder that they were on a time limit.
He did not stir, and Amariel began to gently rub at his cheek, jaw, and neck. "Cullen, you need to wake up!" she said a little louder and firmer. A small spark seemed to go through him, and his head turned slightly away from her palm, eyelids flickering as some croaked but unintelligible words made it past his caked lips.
Seeing she was getting somewhere, Amariel threaded fingers through his filthy hair, supporting his head. "Stay with me, Cullen, come on…" Amariel pled.
"We must move on, My Lady," came Blackwall's voice behind her, but Amariel stalwartly ignored him. Cullen's eyelids flickered, his unseeing eyes starting to move to her. Just a little more…
Amariel softened her attempts, making her motions soothing once more. "Cullen…I'm here, wake up, you're safe…" Amariel stated quietly.
Finally, his eyes, though they were only cracked open, focused on her, the brilliant amber now dulled to a nigh-lifeless color. "A…Amar…iel…" his raw, hollow voice barely whispered to the woman before him. His eyes slid closed again. "No…Im…possible…Just like…the Circle…"
"Cullen, I'm really here," Amariel said fervently. "I didn't die—I told you in my letters Alexius was controlling time. He accidentally sent us forward in time that day—we've just arrived. I'm really here!"
Cullen's eyes cracked open again. "Never…told any…one…about the…let…ters. Still…can't…be…lieve it."
Amariel felt tears starting to shimmer in her eyes, cupping his cheek gently in her palm and letting the tips of her fingers run through his hair. "I'm here, Cullen. This is real…you're safe. I'll get you out of—"
"No…"
Amariel stared at him. "Cullen…"
"Won't…make it," Cullen said, his barely-there voice becoming distant. "Real…or…not…this is…the per…fect…way…to…die…"
"Cullen, don't say that, you'll be fine…" Amariel tried to say, though she found her throat closing, resolve shaking.
"Ama...ri…el…Know…I…" Cullen tried to say, but his words and head grew heavy, and his last sigh of life slipped past his lips before he could form his next word.
Something in Amariel cracked as Cullen went limp in her arms and she simply sat there, tears streaming down her face silently but freely as her brain reeled and struggled to process what was happening to her. Someone gently touched her arm, trying to snap her out of it, but she didn't respond, and they tried to shake her to get her attention. Again, she didn't respond, simply stayed stalwart by Cullen, refusing to move.
The hand disappeared, and suddenly there was another face across from her, gazing at her intently but with pained sympathy.
Dorian.
"We have to go…" he said, his words seeming to come through a fog. "We have to go so this never happens. To them, to him, to anyone," Dorian emphasized.
Right…Cullen…Cullen could still be saved, everyone could still be saved. But she had to leave this Cullen first. Mutely, Amariel nodded, though she struggled to put Cullen down—she couldn't, not on her own. So Dorian reached out and gently pulled the man from her arms, her hold on the broken dead man lingering until he was too far from reach, at which point she subconsciously wiped away her tears.
Yes…they had to move forward…for everyone's sakes.
Staring down at Cullen for a few more long moments, Amariel managed to turn away. The other two weren't looking her in the eyes.
"We need to find Leliana…and get us back," Amariel said quietly. No one said anything, but no one argued, so they all left and made their way to the main hall of the prisons once more so they could search the last branch for their answers and their way out.
When they came into the main hall where four guards awaited them, Amariel didn't even think—she threw herself at the guards in a blind rage, her blades moving too fast for her own mind to register what she was doing. Dorian pelted them with spells of his own behind her, and when two soldiers had fallen Cassandra and Blackwall raided the bodies for the weapons and shields. By then, Amariel and Dorian had already handled the guards, and they were ready to move forward.
Again, no one said anything. They only moved in solemn silence searching for Leliana.
Eventually, the sound of shouted answers, sarcastic replies, and cries of pain reached their ears, and the group hurried their step, barging inside the room where the noises were coming from to see a sallow skinned Leliana that nearly looked as bad as Cullen had strung up with a torturer before her. She looked beyond the man to the door, then suddenly wrapped her arms around the guard, snapping his neck.
"You're alive…" Leliana whispered as Amariel unchained her and helped her down.
"We never died in the first place. Alexius miscalculated," Amariel stated solemnly, her tone holding an edge of deadly coldness that hadn't been their previously.
"Then it will be his last mistake," Leliana said just as coldly. "Do you have weapons?"
Amariel nodded, and Leliana turned to fish a bow and arrows from a large trunk in the corner. "Good. The magister's probably in his chambers."
Dorian, who was lingering by the doorway, stepped up. "You…aren't curious how we got here?"
"No," Leliana said flatly.
"Alexius sent us into the future. This, his victory, his Elder One—it was never meant to be," Dorian explained anyway.
"I need to find Alexius and reverse the spell," Amariel finished.
"If we can get back to our present time, we can prevent this future from ever happening."
"And mages always wonder why people fear them. No one should have this power," Leliana said in a deathly serious voice.
"Its dangerous and unpredictable. Before the breach, nothing we did—" Dorian started to say, though he was quickly cut off by an angry Leliana.
"Enough! This is all pretend to you, some future you hope will never exist! I suffered, the whole world suffered. It was real."
"It is real to me, Leliana," Amariel said with a cold glint in her eyes. "And I'm never going to forget any of this—never."
Before Leliana could try to argue with her, Amariel turned and led the group out of the torture chamber, Cullen's death at the front of her mind.
It took much running around to get to Alexius—he'd devised some sort of lock on the door that required red lyrium shards that the group had to hunt down, pieces that were scattered across the castle. It was trying, but it was worth it if they were going to get at Alexius.
As they entered the throne room, Alexius didn't even turn, didn't even give them any kind of acknowledgement. Amariel didn't know what to feel—she felt too much to know for certain.
To her surprise, it was her pain that rose to the surface.
"Look at what you've done, Alexius—all this suffering! And for what…" Amariel stated, her voice echoing around the room.
"For my chantry for my son but it means nothing now I knew that you would appear again, not that it would be now, but I knew I hadn't destroyed you. My final failure…" Alexius said in a soft voice. Dorian was the one to speak next.
"Was it worth it, everything that you did to the world, to yourself?" Dorian asked angrily.
"It doesn't matter now. All we can do is wait for the end," Alexius stated, sounding like a broken man.
"It does matter," Amariel said vehemently. "I will undo this!"
"How many times have I tried the past cannot be undone…All that I fought for, all that I betrayed and what have I wrought? Ruin and death, there is nothing else. The Elder One comes; for you, for me, for us all."
Just then, Leliana, who no one had been watching, appeared behind the ragged person at Alexius' side, hefting him up and putting a blade to the person's throat.
"Felix!" Alexius exclaimed.
"That's Felix? Maker's breath, Alexius, what have you done?" Dorian demanded angrily.
"He would have died, Dorian! I saved him…" Alexius said pathetically before turning to Leliana. "Please, don't hurt my son. I'll do anything you ask."
Amariel felt her heart skip a beat. If Leliana didn't let Felix go, there would be a blood bath they didn't have time for—they needed to get out while they had the chance. "Leliana, let Felix go: he's innocent."
"No one is innocent," Leliana hissed before slitting Felix's throat.
"No…" Alexius whispered. Then, in a blind rage, he roared. "No!"
And so, as Leliana flew through the air with a blast of magic from Alexius, the battle began.
Amariel, Blackwall, and Cassandra all charged Alexius while Dorian stayed back, peppering Alexius from a distance and working to protect the others. Blackwall used his shield to protect Amariel from a blast of fire that Alexius sent at her while Cassandra charged to bash him with her shield. She was stopped short for a few moments when Alexius created a wall of us in front of her, though Dorian blasted it to smithereens with a well placed fireball. Alexius had backed away by then and, to Amariel'a frustration, opened a rift within the room before shielding himself. They were forced to turn their attention to the demons now pouring through the rift, though Dorian did lend some of his attention to weakening Alexius' shield.
As soon as she had the chance, Amariel stepped up and shoved her hand to the rift, focusing on closing it while Blackwall kept her shielded. Cassandra covered Leliana, who put arrow after arrow into the demons around them. The rift closed with a shockwave that shattered Alexius' shield, and all five of them instantly converged upon Alexius, the man throwing spell after spell at them to keep them off of him.
It was Blackwall that took the man's life, landing the fatal blow to Alexius' chest while keeping Amariel covered with his shield. As soon as the man was dead, Dorian made his way to him, kneeling down beside his fallen form.
"He wanted to die, didn't he? All those lies he told himself, the justifications…he lost Felix long ago and didn't even notice. Oh, Alexius."
As angry as she was with Alexius…Dorian's words brought her compassion back, even if it was a flickering flame at the moment. "This Alexius was too far gone, but the Alexius in our time might still be reasoned with," Amariel pointed out. Dorian could hold to that, just as Amariel was holding to the fact that everyone was still alive in their time.
"I suppose that's true," Dorian mused before he got to work. "This is the same amulet he used before. I think it's the same one we made in Minrathos. That's a relief. Give me an hour to work out the spell he used, and I should be able to reopen the rift."
Leliana ran up to them, her face serious. "An hour? That's impossible! You must go now."
Up above them, outside the castle, the sound of a dragon screech pierced the air, and the ground and castle shook and began to drop rocks.
"The Elder One," Leliana breathed.
"There's a reason they won," Blackwall said grimly. He looked to Cassandra, and the two had a moment of silent communication before Cassandra nodded, and Blackwall turned back to face everyone. "We'll go on ahead, take out as many as we can. Leliana, you're the last line of defense—give them what you've got…"
Amariel sucked in a sharp breath, emotions rising high enough she thought she might faint. "I can't let you kill yourselves for me—there must be another way!"
"Look at us, we're already dead," Leliana said solemnly. "The only way we live is if this day never comes. Cast your spell—you have as much time as I have arrows."
Amariel reluctantly watched them go, Blackwall and Cassandra walking out the door while Leliana stood planted before it, arrow knocked and ready for whatever came through, whenever it came through. Dorian worked his magic, and Amariel stood torn two feet from him, casting her gaze back to Leliana.
There was the sound of bodies hitting the doors, and Amariel felt her heart stop beating. Down closer to the door, Leliana started to chant softly.
"Though darkness closes I am shielded by flame," Leliana whispered, drawing her bow. The door was kicked open, and Leliana began to let lose her arrows even as Blackwall's body lifelessly hit the floor inside. "Andraste guide me, Maker, take me to your side!"
Leliana let loose a few more arrows, then cried out in pain as an arrow lodged in her shoulder. Amariel started forward, her entire being screaming at her not to just stand there as Leliana ran out of arrows and began fighting with her bow. Dorian seized her arm, holding her back.
"You move and we all die!" he shouted at her, and Amariel was pulled back to what he was doing, Dorian now rushing to finish the spell. She looked back, locking gazes with Leliana as she was pulled into the grasp of a demon and…
A desperate sound of agony ripped through Amariel, but Dorian was finished. He grabbed Amariel's arm again, and before she could register what was happening, they had stepped through the breach.