Today was the day they would approach the Breach. They all marched through the mountains in unison, towards the hole in the sky. Night had fell before they reached their destination. Cullen rallied the mages onto higher ground. They worked in unison with the Herald and her companions. And in a brief moment, their powers came together and burst to the sky. The green light was gone, a hole left in the sky. Everyone cheered. They had succeeded in their plan, maybe, just maybe, recruiting the mages was ideal. Happiness struck the people in Haven and plans were made to commemorate the special occasion.

For Cullen, there was much work to be done. Varric had however, stole the Commander's attention. It was hard to hear while the bards were playing and people were dancing. But something else caught the Commander's attention in the distance. An army. At least a hundred coming from the mountainside. Varric was trying to talk to him as he jet off.

"Sound the alarm! NOW!" He exclaimed to the soldier who was guarding the bell on top a high tower.

The bell was loud and prominent. All the dancing and music stopped instantly.

"Forces approaching! To arms!" Cullen yelled to the townspeople. He looked around and ran. Looking for any sign of the advisors and the Herald.

Cullen managed to find Cassandra, who seemed to be filled with adrenaline. "Cullen?" She yelled.

"One watchguard reporting. It's a massive force, the bulk over the mountain." He pointed to the mountain's highest peak and saw soldiers marching through the snow.

"Under what banner?" Josephine asked.

"None." Cullen replied.

"None?" Josephine repeated, confused.

Cullen was looking at the Herald, who was now deep in thought. They heard profuse banging on the door. Spells?

"I can't come in unless you open!" A voice of a young man pleaded to come in.

Opening the doors, they came across a pale young man. With daggers and a hat far too big for his head.

"The templars come to kill you." The young man said, something was odd about him.

"Templars?" Cullen repeated, unsheathing his sword and running towards the young man. The young man jumped two steps behind. "Is this the Order's response to our talks with the mages? Attacking blindly!" He looked between the Herald and the young man now before them.

"The Red Templars went to the Elder One," The young man began, "you know him? He knows you...you took his mages...there!" He pointed at the mountain tops and saw at least a hundred figures, glowing red in the distance.

"I know that man..." Cullen said solemnly about a glowing figure next to a man of towering height. "But this Elder One...:"

"He is very angry that you took his mages." The young man said, now looking towards the Red Templars.

The Herald looked over at Cullen. "Cullen! Give me a plan! Anything!"

"Haven is no fortress. If we must withstand this monster, we must control the battle." He said now looking at the trebuchets. "Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can." He spun around, sword in hand and starting pacing. "Mages! You have sanction to engage them! That Red Templar is Samson, he will not make it easy. Inquisition! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!" He swung his sword high up into the air, their permission to retaliate.

The mages and soldiers cheered in unison, ready for battle. They ran down the battlements awaiting the enemies. Adrenaline pumping from their blood. The Herald and her companions took off into the distance. Cullen stayed behind his soldiers near the trebuchets, firing at will into the distance. They however, closed the gap. Dead bodies lain on the floor, soldiers, templars and mages had cleared a path to the ongoing battle. Cullen gathered as many townspeople as he could into the Chantry. Probably the only safe place for the moment and headed back down to Haven's entrance to find and gather more survivors. An eerie quiet sprung on Haven, quite unnatural. Time was either moving slow or too fast, he couldn't tell.

Making his way back to the watchtower, he saw the Herald returning with her companions. The doors needed to be shut from oncoming attacks. He ushered them inside quickly. "Move it! Quickly!" He yelled. He shut the doors and above him .a dragon so immense swooping over Haven. Growling into the darkness. "We need everyone back to the Chantry! It's the only building that might hold against that beast! He pointed to the sky and shook his head in disbelief, he looked at the Herald. "At this point, just make them work for it." He helped injured and limping soldiers back into the Chantry. The Herald nodded and fought off the Red Templars who made their way into town. Cullen looked back for half a moment, hoping she would come back.

What seemed like a minute, passed by. The Herald came by with the young man who they had just met helping up Chancellor Roderick, who looked seriously wounded.
"Herald," Cullen came running towards them, "our position is not good. That dragon stole any time you might have earned us."

The young man laid down Chancellor Roderick on a chair. "I've seen an archdemon.I was in the Fade, but it looked like that.

"I don't care what it looks like, its cut a path for that army. They'll kill everyone in Haven." Cullen said, now annoyed.

"The Elder One doesn't care about the village. He only wants the Herald." The young man said, his tone quite odd and irregular.

"I'd give myself to save Haven, if I must." The Herald said. Everyone looked up at her surprised. Cullen was left speechless.

"He wants to kill you, nobody else matters but he will crush them, kill them anyway. I don't like him." The young man shook his head.

"Cullen lifted his arms in confusion. "You don't like-?" He thought he was just wasting his time talking to the man and switched his attention to the Herald, sighing. "Herald, there are no tactics to make this survivable." The tone in his voice was mournful. "The only thing that slowed them was the avalanche. We can turn the remaining trebuchets, cause one last slide." He said seriously.

"We're overrun," the Herald began to shake her head, "to hit the enemy we'd bury Haven."

"We're dying...but we can decide how. Many don't get that choice." Cullen's face went blank, more pale than usual.

A small injured voice came from their left. "There is a path," Chancellor Roderick was trying to speak, "you wouldn't know it unless you made the Summer Pilgrimage as I have. The people can escape through the escape route, I will take them.

"What about it, Cullen? Will it work?" The Herald looked back at him, hoping the plan was sound.

"Possibly...if he shows us the path.." How would the Herald make it out alive...she can't...not now… "But what of your escape?" He waiting for an answer, a hopeful answer. But instead, she looked away. Maker, is this where he loses her.. Cullen's face went from hopeful to serious. "Perhaps you will surprise it, find a way…" He became angry. He didn't want this to be the last time he saw her. He turned around and gathered the troops. "Inquisition, follow Chancellor Roderick, through the Chantry, move!"

Cullen pointed at two soldiers headed outdoors, "They'll load the trebuchets, keep the Elder One's attention until we are above the treeline."

The Herald had begun to walk away from Cullen, he grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her back. And stared at her in the eyes. "If we are to have a chance, if you are to have a chance. Let that thing here you.

She stared at Cullen's hand which was still gripping her wrist and looked back up at him."I will come back."

"Is that a promise?" His voice softened, as did his grip.

"I certainly hope so." She smiled wryly, hurt in her voice. Those words, didn't comfort him as much as he hoped. He saw her go back into the depths of chaos. Alone. He practically sent her to her death. If she didn't come back, he would be to blame. Not sure, if he could handle another disappointment.