The news of Tevinter's involvement was not well received. Leliana almost immediately began sending ravens in every direction. Cullen hadn't taken his hand off his sword hilt since the word 'magister' was mentioned. And Josephine spilled a bit of ink.

Maxwell was looking at Josephine curiously. "Tell me how you came to work for the Inquisition again."

"I'd been considering leaving my post in Antiva for a new challenge when Leliana recruited me," said Josefina she scribble down on her notepad. "There's such unrest in Thedas, and the Inquisition seems a promising method to stop it. It's to everyone's benefit if we prevent the mage-templar conflict from spreading further."

"So was it the prospect of stability that drew you here?"

"The full impact of the mage rebellion has yet to be felt. And that was before the death of the Divine. The violence must be curbed before we see it turn to full-scale war."

Maxwell nodded. "I can only imagine the bloodshed if it escalates further."

"I'm afraid history holds many examples of what will happen if it does," said Josephine sadly.

"How do you and Leliana know each other?" Maxwell frowned.

"We move through similar circles in Orlais," said Josephine. "I believe we actually met in Val Royeaux. Leliana was quite an accomplished player of the Game by then.

Maxwell frowned. "What exactly do you mean when you say 'the Game'?"

Josephine looked at him and realised her mistake. "Ah. Forgive me. 'The Game' refers to the slow duels of influence among the noble and powerful of Orlais. It's a rather lighthearted name for the matter, but Orlesians are fond of playful touches."

He then entered into a light-hearted discussion about her family and discover that her family founded the first trade routes to Rivian. They had one cent entire fleet across the Waking Sea, but something went wrong though she did not go into great detail.

"I'd swear our families have met before," Maxwell frowned.

"Perhaps," Josephine shrugged. "Everyone of distinction in the Free Marches attends Lady Trevelyan's summer balls."

"Great-aunt Lucille did love a party," Maxwell sighed.

Josephine frowned as she looked up at him. "I don't recall seeing you at any of them."

Maxwell rubbed the back of his head. "I was less than sterling company when I was younger."

Josephine chuckled. "'Modest in temper, bold in deed'."

Maxwell looked at her surprised. "You know the Trevelyan family motto?"

"Heraldry is a passion of mine," Josephine shrugged.

"Can I ask you something, Varric?" said Ellana

He looked up to see the Dalish mage, and grinned. "You want to talk about me? I'm flattered. Also, inclined towards extravagant lies."

She rolled her eyes. "I've read your Tales of the Champion, and I have a few questions."

Varric sighed. "That's a pretty common reaction. Go ahead."

"There's no way Hawke really could have killed the Arishok," said Ellana. "It would have started a war with the Qunari."

"I was told later that the Qunari disavowed his actions," Varric explained. "Apparently, the Arishok didn't get permission before he attacked Kirkwall, and the Qun didn't want another Exalted March. When they finally sent a ship to haul the wrecked dreadnought away, they just said, 'We will never speak of this again.' As far as I can tell, that's the Qun's version of an apology."

"Where are the rest of Hawke's associates now?"

"Merrill decided to look after the elves left homeless by the fighting. She's done a pretty good job of keeping them away from the mages and templars so far. I guess she has plenty of practice avoiding stupid human battles with her old Dalish clan. Fenris has kept himself busy, hunting down the Tervinter slavers who came south to prey on the refugees. I'm not sure exactly where he is at the moment. You can usually follow the trail of corpses, though. Isabela went back to the Raiders. She calling herself an admiral now. I don't know if she's actually in charge or just has a really big hat. Might be the same thing, honestly. Sebastian went back to Starkhaven. I'm sure he's boring all sorts of people there. Hawke's little brother was off on some Warden Business near the Anderfels border last I knew. Aveline is still guard-captain. I'm pretty sure Kirkwall would fall into the sea if she quit her job."

"And what of Hawke himself?"

"No idea, he just vanished without a trace, but I am more than confident that he still alive somewhere," said Varric.

Soon Maxwell and the rest of his guard appeared in the war room and found everyone arguing once again.

"We don't have the manpower to take the castle!" said Cullen slicing a hand through the air. "Either we find another way in, or give up this nonsense and go get the templars!"

Cassandra shook her head. "Redcliffe is in the hands of a Magister. This cannot be allowed to stand."

Josephine gestured to Maxwell. "The letter from Alexius asked for the Herald of Andraste by name. It's an obvious trap."

"Isn't that kind of him?" Maxwell smiled. "What does Alexius say about me?"

Leliana then smiled herself. "He so complimentary that we are certain you want to kill you."

"Not this again." Josephine's pen stabbed the air.

"Redcliffe Castle is one of the most defensible fortresses in Ferelden." Cullen's voice held the impatient tones of someone who had repeated himself multiple times. "It has repelled thousands of assaults." He turned his gaze to Maxwell. "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."

"And if we don't even try to meet Alexius, we lose the mages and leave a hostile foreign power on our doorstep!" Leliana's own voice was frustrated.

"Even if we could assault the keep, it would be for not." Josephine pointed the end of her pen at Leliana. "An 'Orlesian' Inquisition's army marching into Ferelden would provoke a war. Our hands are tied."

"The magister—"

"Has outplayed us." Cullen interrupted Cassandra.

Maxwell then slammed his hand on the war table and everyone turned to him. "My sister and the magister's son, Felix, told me Alexius is a cult that's obsessed with me. I doubt they'll graciously receive our apologies and go about their business."

Leliana nodded. "They will remain a threat, and a powerful one, unless we act."

Cassandra nodded. "We cannot accept defeat now. There must be a solution."

"Other than the main gate, there's got to be another way into the castle. A sewer?" said Adaar. "A water course? Something?"

"There's nothing I know of that would work," Cullen said.

"Wait a minute," said Ellana looking up and then turned to Leliana. "Didn't you and the wardens managed to enter into Redcliffe Castle when it was under siege by undead?"

"Yes." Leliana's face broke into a smile. "There is a secret passage into the castle, an escape route for the family. It's too narrow for our troops, but we could send agents through."

"Too risky." Cullen gestured. "Those agents will be discovered well before they reach the magister."

"That's why we need a distraction." Leliana turned to Maxwell. "Perhaps the envoy Alexius wants so badly?"

"Focus their attention on Trevelyan while we take out the Tevinters. It's risky, but it could work." Cullen nodded, though he didn't sound particularly enthusiastic about the idea.

"It also seems like the only option," said Erdic.

Then suddenly the doors open behind them and they saw Dorian entering. "Fortunately, you'll have help."

A runner then appear and look to Cullen an apologetic look. "This man says he has information about the magister and his methods, Commander." Cullen nodded, and the runner backed away.

Dorian looked pleased at his dramatic entrance. "Your spies will never get past Alexius's magic without my help. So if you're going after him, I'm coming along."

"Where's Evelyn?" Maxwell asked worriedly.

"Keep an eye out on Alexius and the mages," said Dorian reassuringly. "Don't worry, she's not in any danger."

Cullen still looked troubled about the plan and turned to Maxwell. "This plan puts you in the most danger. We can't, in good conscience, order you to do this." He glanced down at the map, then back to him. "We can still go after the templars if you'd rather not play the bait. It's up to you."

"If these Venatori are responsible for the Breach, it's far too dangerous to just let them have the mages," said Maxwell. "Besides, my sister is there and I refuse to let her die and I'm not foolish enough to go there alone. Along with my guard, Cassandra, Solas and Iron Bull will be with me."

Once they were all sorted they made their way to Redcliff Castle. Behind Maxwell was his guard along with Cassandra, Solas and Iron Bull. They were soon approached by a blonde haired man in a fine tunic.

"The Magister's invitation was for Master Trevelyan alone. The rest will wait here," he said.

Maxwell looked at him quite firmly. "They have to accompany me. You wouldn't deprive me of attaches, would you?"

They had a brief staring contest, which he apparently won. A moment later, he was leading them into the great hall and he was announcing him. "My lord magister, the agents of the Inquisition have arrived."

Magister Alexius spoke with the same overdone cheer as earlier. "My friend. It's so good to see you again." He narrowed his eyes just slightly when he saw he wasn't alone. "And your associates, of course. I'm sure we can work out some arrangement that is equitable to all parties."

Fiona stepped out of an alcove. "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." The patronising tone of his voice grated.

Maxwell spoke up. "If the Grand Enchanter wants to be part of these talks, then I welcome her as a guest of the Inquisition."

"Thank you."

Alexius inclined his head in a nod of acceptance, and then seated himself in the Arl's throne. "The Inquisition needs mages to close the Breach, and I have them. So, what shall you offer in exchange?"

"Actually, I hope you could tell me about these 'Venatori' I'm hearing so much about." He saw his eyes widen at his words.

His hands folded as he stared at him. "Now how could you know about that?"

"I told him," said Felix.

"Felix, what have you done?" The magister actually looked gutted.

Ellana smirked. "We made sure to disarm your trap before we came in. I hope you don't mind."

"I have yet to see your cleverness, I'm afraid," said Alexius narrowing his eyes and then stood up. "You walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark—a gift you don't even understand—and think you're in control?" He was all but frothing. "You're nothing but a mistake."

"What do you know about the Divine's death?" Maxwell asked.

He waved a hand. "It was the Elder One's moment, and you and your guard were unworthy even to stand in his presence!"

"Father, listen to yourself!" Felix stared. "Do you know what you sound like?"

"He sounds exactly like the sort of villainous cliché everyone expects us to be," said Dorian as he and Evelyn appeared.

"Dorian." Alexius's voice was flat. "I gave you a chance to be 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."

"That's who you serve? The one who killed the Divine? Is he a mage?" Evelyn asked.

"Soon he will become a god." Magister Alexius stared down at them from in front of the throne. "He will make the world bow to mages once more. We will rule from the Boeric Ocean to the Frozen Seas."

"You can't bring my people into this!" Fiona protested.

Dorian stepped forward. "Alexius, this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen! Why would you support this?"

Out of the corner of his eye Maxwell saw several of Alexius' guards toppling over, Leliana agents had finally got into position.

Felix laid a hand on his father's shoulder. "Stop it, Father. Give up the Venatori. Let the southern mages fight the Breach, and let's go home."

Alexius turned towards Felix, despair on his face. "No. 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…" Alexius turned away.

"I'm going to die." Felix shook his head. "You need to accept that."

Alexius whirled around. "Seize them, Venatori! The Elder One demands this man and his guards' lives!"

The only people who emerged were dressed in Inquisition armour. "Your men are dead, Alexius." Maxwell held up a hand.

"You…" He took a step towards him, "are a mistake! You should never have existed!"

He then extended his hand and held an amulet. He then began to charge energy around it.

"No!" Dorian yelled stepping in front of him and used his staff to send a surge of energy.

Ellana did the same and the two spells hit the amulet and next thing they knew they were upholding some kind of vortex.

Seconds later they appear out of thin air and landed hard on the stone floor which was full of water.

"Blood of the Elder One!" said a voice.

Maxwell looked up and discovered that he was in some sort of prison. A quick look around revealed Dorian and Ellana next to him but no one else. And two heavily armoured men moving towards them.

"Where'd they come from?" One of the men asked as he drew his weapon to attack.

Maxwell quickly drew his daggers and blocked the sword of one of the men and then kicked him in the chest before Ellana blasted him with a bolt of lightning. Dorian was battling the other man and created a small fireball that sent the man flying across the room.

Once the battle was done they to take in the new surroundings, which were unusual. There were strange red crystals appearing out of the ground, in fact they look similar to the ones that he found at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

Dorian tapped his chin. "Displacement? Interesting!" He gestured. "It's probably not what Alexius intended. The rift must have moved us…" He looked around. "To what? The closest confluence of arcane energy?"

The armour the dead men were wearing was nothing he'd seen before. He bent, and started going through their belt pouches. One was carrying a key.

"The last thing I remember, we were in the castle hall," said Ellana.

"Let's see. If we're still in the castle, it isn't…" Dorian blinked. "Oh! Of course! It's not simply where—it's when!" He tapped his fingers against the palm of his other hand. "Alexius used the amulet as a focus. It moved us through time!"

Maxwell quickly looked up. "Did we go forward in time or back, and how far?"

"Those are excellent questions." He gestured at him. "We'll have to find out, won't we? Let's look around, see where the rift took us. Then we can figure out how to get back… if we can."

The cell door stuck slightly. Maxwell had to wiggle the key to get it to open. "What was Alexius trying to do?"

Dorian and Ellana followed him through the dungeon. "I believe his original plan was to remove you and your guard from time completely. If that happened, you and the others would never have been at the Temple of Sacred Ashes or mangled his Elder One's plan. I think your surprise in the castle hall made him reckless. He tossed us into the rift before he was ready. We countered it, the magic went wild, and here we are. Make sense?"

Maxwell looked up and down a hallway and chose his direction arbitrarily. "It just seems so insane."

"I don't even want to think about what this will do to the fabric of the world." Dorian poked the butt of his staff through some debris on the floor. "We didn't 'travel' through time so much as punch a hole through it and toss it in the privy." He touched his shoulder in what he likely intended as a reassuring fashion. "But don't worry. I'm here. I'll protect you."

Ellana looked deeply concerned as she looked back at the prison they just exited from. "There were others in the hall. Could they have been drawn through the rift?"

"I doubt it was large enough to bring the whole room through." Dorian considered a moment. "Alexius wouldn't risk catching himself or Felix in it. They're probably still where, and when, we left them. In some sense, anyway."

They came to a metal bridge that was guarded by three men in the same armour as the ones earlier. Maxwell, Ellana and Dorian exchanged a look, then hit the guards simultaneously. The guards never knew what hit them.

"Alexius mentioned an 'Elder One' in the hall. Do you know who he was talking about?" Maxwell asked.

"Leader of the Venatori, I suspect." Dorian's voice showed his distaste. "Some magister aspiring to godhood. It's the same old tune. 'Let's play with magic we don't understand. It will make us incredibly powerful!' Evidently it doesn't matter if you rip apart the fabric of time in the process."

"You have a plan to get us back, I hope," said Ellana hopefully.

"I have some thoughts on that," said Dorian. "They're lovely thoughts, like little jewels."

They found Fiona in a cell, the red lyrium growing out of her. When she saw them, Fiona's eyes widened.

"You're… alive? How?" she stared weakly. "I saw you… disappear… into the rift."

Maxwell just stared at her. "Fiona, is that really you?"

"What's left… of me," said Fiona.

"Can you tell us the date?" said Dorian anxiously. "It's very important."

"Havestmere… 9:42 Dragon."

"Nine forty-two?" Dorian grasped. "Then we missed an entire year."

Maxwell and Ellana looked at one another in shock, and they knew they were thinking the same thought. How could Redcliffe Castle change so dramatically within one year?

"We have to get out of here, go back in time," said Ellana.

"Please… stop this from happening," Fiona begged. "Alexius… serves the Elder One. More powerful… than the Maker… No one… challenges him and lives."

"I promise, I will do everything in my power to set things right," said Maxwell.

"Our only hope is to find the amulet that Alexius used to send us here." Dorian was clearly trying to keep his voice confident. He was almost successful. "If it still exists, I can use it to reopen the rift at the exact spot we left. Maybe."

"Good," Fiona said.

"I said maybe," Dorian sighed. "It might also turn us into paste."

"You must try." Fiona's voice was growing weaker. "Your spymaster, Leliana… and the rest of your honour guard are here. Fine them. Quickly… Before the Elder one… learns you're here."

"'The light shall lead her safely through the part of this world and into the next. For she who trusts in the maker, fire is her water'," said Cassandra's voice from one of the cells. Maxwell made his way towards it.

Cassandra sat there, but there was a strange reddish glow around her, particularly in her eyes, and her voice was rougher than normal. Dark circles beneath her eyes stood out starkly against her pale skin. Cassandra's eyes widened the moment her eyes laid upon him. "You've returned to us. Can it be? Has Andraste given us another chance? Make a forgive me. I failed you. I filled everyone. The end must truly be upon us if the dead return to life."

"I'm not back from the dead, Cassandra," Maxwell assured. "I just got… well, this is hard to explain."

Cassandra frowned. "I was there. The magister obliterated you with a gesture."

"Alexius sent us forward in time," Dorian explained. "If we find him, we may be able to return to the present."

Cassandra got to her feet and he open the cell door. "Go back in time? Then… can you make it so that none of this ever took place?"

"That's our hope," said Ellana.

"Alexius's master… after you died, we couldn't stop the Elder One from rising. Empress Celene was murdered. The army swept afterwards—it was a horde of demons. Nothing stopped them. Nothing."

Maxwell just shook his head. "I should have been there to help you."

Cassandra smiled as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "You're here now."

"Is someone there?" Solas's voice drifted out of one of the cells. Ellana headed towards it. Solas stepped back when he saw them. "You're alive? We saw you die."

"The spell Alexius cast displaced us in time." Dorian gestured. "We just got here, so to speak."

She fumbled with the latch on the cell, and got it open. Solas stepped out. "Can you reverse the process? You could return and obviate the events of the last year. It may not be too late…"

"I'm glad you understood what he just said because I'm not sure I did," said Maxwell gave him another appraising look.

His face was bitter. "You would think such understanding would stop me from making such terrible mistakes. You would be wrong." He closed his eyes for a moment. "This world is an abomination. It must never come to pass."

He accepted a staff Ellana found earlier, and followed them out of the chamber.

They carried on looking down the cells and found Iron Bull, whose eye widened when he saw them.

"You're not dead?" He blinked. "You're supposed to be dead. There was a burn on the ground and everything."

"Alexius didn't kill us. His spell sent us through time. This is our future," Dorian explained as Maxwell opened the cell.

"Well, it's my present. And in my past, I definitely saw the three of you die."

"Well, we're no more dead than you are," Ellana smiled.

Iron Bull grunted. "Now 'dead' and 'not dead' up for debate. That's wonderful," he grumbled.

"This conversation has taken a turn for the moronic," said Dorian. "Just come with us. We're going to fight Alexius."

"Why? You want to see what other tricks he's learned?" Iron Bull asked as he exited the cell.

"If we find him, we will be able to get back to our time and stop all this before it happens," said Dorian. "Exciting. Yes?"

"Kill Alexius. Sounds good," Iron Bull smiled. "Let's go."

"We may not have much time," said Solas. "Let's find the magister quickly."

They arrived too late to save the mother from Redcliffe. Cassandra seemed particularly offended. Maxwell put a hand on her shoulder and reminded her that they still had a chance to change everything. She nodded and they left not before she gave one last look at the mother's body.

More voices drifted through the hall. "How did Trevelyan and his guard know of the sacrifice at the temple? Answer."

"Never." Maxwell quickened his pace when she heard Leliana's defiant answer, followed by a scream of pain.

"We'll never tell you a thing," said Adaar's voice.

"You'd have to figure it out for yourself," said Eridc's voice.

"That's if you can."

"There's no use to this defiance, little bird. There's no one left for you to protect."

"You're wasting your breath."

Inside the torture chamber Adaar, Erdic and Leliana were chained by the wrists and were extending above the floor. The three of them looked as if they had aged forty years.

"You will break," said the guard as he placed a knife at Leliana's throat.

"I will die first."

Then suddenly the door opened and Maxwell and Ellana stepped in. The guard quickly turned and saw them as did Adaar, Erdic and Leliana.

"Or you will," said Leliana and she wrapped her legs around the guard's neck. He let out a strangled gasp, and a moment later there was a horrific snapping noise. "You're alive!"

Maxwell and Ellana began to free Adaar, Erdic and Leliana from their shackles.

"I don't believe it," said Adaar. "We watched you die."

"Yeah, there was nothing left of the three of you," said Erdic.

"It's a long story," said Ellana.

Maxwell looked at Leliana. "Well, that was impressive."

"Anger stronger than any pain," said Leliana as she rubbed her wrists. Leliana's eyes went briefly to where corpses were hanging from a rack. "Do you have weapons?" Ellana handed her a bow. Maxwell presented Adaar with a greatsword and Eridc with the sword and shield. "Good. The magister's probably in his chambers."

"You… aren't curious how we got here?" Dorian asked.

"No."

"It's not like it matters," said Adaar.

"Yeah, the entire world is ending," said Eridc.

Dorian explained anyway. "Alexius sent us into the future." He gestured at the room. "This. His victory, his Elder One—it was never meant to be."

"I'm so sorry for everything you suffered," said Maxwell as he noticed the scars covering Adaar's face. It was also clear by looking at them that they were suffering from the Blight and he can only imagine what they went through.

He looked around the room at the other bodies. One of them might have been Evelyn, but it was too decayed for her to be certain. The fresher corpse was a Dalish elf.

"We have to reverse his spell," Dorian said. "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…" Anger filled Leliana's voice. "No one should have this power."

"It's dangerous and unpredictable. Before the Breach, nothing we did—"

"Enough! This is all pretend to you, some future you hope will never exist." Leliana cut Dorian off. For a moment, Maxwell thought the spymaster was going to attack him. "I suffered. The whole world suffered. It was real." She turned, and started walking.

"Don't take it personally, she suffered more than anyone here," said Erdic.

"What happened while we were away?" Dorian asked.

"Stop talking," said Leliana.

"I'm just asking for information."

"No. You're talking to feel silence. Nothing happened that you want to hear."

Dorian shook his head. "We need to find Alexius," said Dorian. "I'm sure he's in the nice part of the castle. If there is one."

A rift hung in the air in what had once been a dining hall. The battle against the demons was short but fierce, and he sealed the Breach. It felt… odd… as if the energy of the mark had shifted somehow.

They soon accounted a mage that he met in Redcliffe, a mage who hated the Chantry and templars. Ellana had just witnessed her and another mage turning into abominations. This madness had to stop.

"This is madness." Dorian stared at the red lyrium growing from the walls. "Alexius can't have wanted this."

They found a door, and stepped out into a courtyard. Maxwell's hope that daylight would be comforting after the dungeon was quickly dashed. The Breach filled the entire sky there wasn't even a trace of blue left.

Ellana just stared up at the sky. "The Breach! It's—"

"Everywhere," Dorian finished.

"The Elder One and his Venatori. They are the ones who opened the Breach," said Cassandra.

Two more rifts, and then they were entering the heart of the castle. Leliana led them, walking through the castle as though she were familiar with its layout. Dorian glanced at her several times before finally working up the nerve to ask her another question. "What became of Felix? Do you know?"

"Yes. I know."

"And you're not going to tell me?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

"Trust me when I say that death would be a mercy," said Adaar.

They wandered through the corridors and eventually found a room and heard voices inside. Maxwell just open the door to witnessed Conner, setting himself on fire as a demon try to possess him.

"Conner!" he yelled.

"It was an act of courage," said Dorian sadly. "He knew there was no other way to resist."

"What a terrible waste," said Solas.

They found another rift, and the door to the throne room. It was locked. Sealed somehow. Dorian held up the glowing stone they'd found on one of the guards, and stated that he could use it to open the door, but he needed the rest to do so.

A bloody and beaten hour later, they had recovered all five. Once they placed the crystals in the proper slots the door opened and their standing in the throne room was Alexius.

"Look at what you've done, Alexius. All this suffering, and for what?" said Maxwell.

Alexius was staring at the fireplace. His shoulders were slumped. Nearby crouched a ghoul, watching him with vacant eyes. "For my country, for my son…" He shook his head. "But it means nothing now. I knew you would appear again. Not that it would be now. But I knew I hadn't destroyed you. My final failure."

"Was it worth it?" Dorian's voice was filled with anger and hurt. "Everything you did to the world? To yourself?"

"It doesn't matter now. All we can do is wait for the end."

"What do you mean?" Ellana asked. "What's ending?"

Alexius actually chuckled. "The irony that you should appear now, of all the possibilities. All that I fought for, all that I betrayed, and what have I wrought? Ruin and death. There is nothing else." He looked beaten. Broken. "The Elder One comes: for me, for you, for us all."

Leliana emerged from the shadows. She caught the ghoul and pulled it to its feet, laying a knife across its throat. "Felix!" Alexius cried out.

"That's Felix?" Dorian took a step forward, his face horrified. "Maker's breath, Alexius, what have you done?"

"He would have died, Dorian!" Alexius pointed at Felix. "I saved him." He gestured beseechingly at Leliana. "Please, don't hurt my son. I'll do anything you ask."

"Hand over the amulet, and we let him go," said Maxwell calmly.

Alexius nodded and started to reach into his belt pouch. "Let him go, and I swear you'll get what you want."

"I want the world back," Leliana said. And she pulled the knife across Felix's throat.

"Guess that concludes with negotiations," said Erdic.

"No! Power surged from Alexius, flinging Leliana halfway across the room. Rage distorted his features as he tore the Veil. Demons began to appear.

No sooner had he managed to seal the first rift than Alexius had ripped open another. Solas managed to get a barrier up around Cassandra in time to keep her from being gutted by a terror demon. Iron Bull then came in swinging his axe down upon the demon. Maxwell glanced down at his hand, then disrupted the newly opened rift. The resulting energy surged through the room, weakening the demons and disrupting the spell Alexius was in the process of casting. Adaar then charge slicing the demons with her greatsword and Erdic performed a shield bash against Alexius.

The battle started to turn in their favour. He sealed the rift after the last of the demons fell. Alexius started to tear another open, but Dorian struck from behind, using his staff to sweep Alexius's feet from underneath him. Ellana then sent a powerful bolt of electricity that slammed into Alexis's chest. Maxwell turned and saw Dorian close his eyes and turn away as Alexius convulsed.

He put a hand on Dorian's shoulder. "He wanted to die, didn't he." Dorian sighed, and his gaze went to where the body of Felix was lying. "All those lies he told himself, the justifications…" He shook his head. "He lost Felix long ago and didn't even notice. Oh, Alexius…"

"I know you cared for him."

Dorian's smile was bitter. "Once he was a man to whom I compared all others. Sad, isn't it?" He turned, and removed the amulet from Alexius's belt pouch. He turned it this way and that, then looked back at Maxwell and Ellana. "This is the same amulet he used before. I think it's the same one we made in Minrathous. That's a relief." He stepped away from the corpse. "Give me an hour to work out the spell he used, and I should be able to reopen the rift."

"An hour?" Leliana's voice was strangled. "That's impossible! You must go now!" Maxwell was about to ask why when the entire castle suddenly shook. "The Elder One."

"You cannot stay here," said Solas.

Cassandra, Solas and Iron Bull looked at each other and nodded.

"We'll head out on front," said Iron Bull. "Keep them off your tail."

"No!" Maxwell yelled firmly. "I won't let you commit suicide."

"What other choice do we have?" Adaar asked.

"Look at us," said Leliana gesturing to them. "We're already dead. The only way we live is if this day never comes." She nocked an arrow. "Cast your spell. You have as much time as I have arrows."

Cassandra, Solas and Iron Bull exited the throne room and closed the door behind them. Adaar and Erdic stood ready at the door and Leliana took her place on the steps.

Slowly, the amulet started to glow as Dorian manipulated the energies around it with some help from Ellana. It hung in the air. From behind the door, Maxwell could hear the sounds of combat. Leliana was reciting a prayer. "Though darkness closes, I am shielded by flame."

The door burst open. Maxwell watched as a terror demon emerged and tossed Iron Bull's body casually tossed aside. Leliana fired an arrow, and then quickly began firing more. "Andraste guide me. Maker, take me to your side."

Adaar and Erdic charge at the guards and demons swinging their blades. Adaar sliced through the chest of a terror demon, but soon became overwhelmed by soldiers. One soldier managed to cut off her arm and she fell to her knees, before another soldier crusher head with a maul.

Erdic uses shield to block a sword from a guard and then slammed him with his shield. He then plunged his sword into the chest of another guard, but then a terror demon grabbed him and flung across the room. He hit the stone pillar so hard that he broke his neck.

Maxwell then turned his eyes upon Leliana, who kept on shooting arrows at anyone who got a foot towards her. However, an archer managed to strike his shoulder with an arrow.

Maxwell attempted to aid her, but Dorian pulled him back. "You move, and we all die!"

Maxwell could only watch as Leliana knocked two guards back with her bow and then rolled on the back of another, before pushing back a heavily armoured warrior with her bow. The rift had just opened just as he saw a guard grabbing her and watch in horror as a terror demon stepped forward. Her eyes met Maxwell's briefly as the terror demon tore the spymaster open.

Energy from the amulet surged and then…

They were back in the throne room. Alexius was standing exactly where he had been when he'd first thrown the amulet. His eyes went wide.

"You'll have to do better than that," Dorian said cheerfully.

Alexius dropped to his knees. Maxwell made his way to the fallen magister. "Put aside all claim to Redcliffe, and we let you live."

"You won." Alexius closed his eyes. "There is no point in extending this charade." He turned back towards his son. "Felix…"

Felix knelt beside him. "It's going to be all right, Father."

"You'll die."

"Everyone dies."

Maxwell gestured for the Inquisition soldiers to take Alexius away. Next to him, Dorian breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, I'm glad that's over with!" Behind them, the door burst open, and armoured men came marching through. "Or not."

A moment later, a man and woman entered. The man narrowed his eyes when he saw Fiona. "Grand Enchanter, we'd like to discuss your abuse of our hospitality."

Fiona swallowed and stepped forward, hands clasped in front of her. "Your majesties."

This… probably didn't bode well. Though Leliana had said that she counted the King and Queen of Ferelden among her dearest friends, but they had practically invaded Redcliffe Castle without consulting them.

The queen glared. "When we offered the mages sanctuary, we did not give them the right to drive our people from their homes."

"King Alistair, Queen Elissa, I assure you, we never intended…"

"In light of your actions, good intentions are no longer enough."

The king took another step forward. "You and your followers have worn out your welcome. Leave Ferelden, or we'll be forced to make you leave."

"But…" Fiona looked around the room desperately. "We have hundreds who need protection. Where will we go?"

"I should point out that we did come here for the mages to close the Breach," said Maxwell taking a step forward. Both the king and queen gave him appraising looks before exchanging a glance with each other.

"And what are the terms of this arrangement?" Fiona asked.

"Hopefully better than what Alexius gave you," said Dorian. "The Inquisition is better than that, yes?"

"I suggest conscripting them," said Cassandra. "They've proven what they'll do, given too much freedom."

"We can't lock them up, they aren't to blame for Alexius' doings," said Ellana.

"But they allowed him to take power," said Adaar.

"I don't really care either way, but the whole point they rebels was because they were treated like prisoners," said Erdic.

Fiona sighed. "It seems we have little choice but to accept whatever you offer."

Cassandra's words did ring true, but technically it wasn't the fault mages for that this actually happened. Erdic was right, if they did constricted them they would be a very good chance they would rebel. "We would be honoured to have you fight as allies at the Inquisition's side."

Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "We'll talk about this later."

"I'll pray that the rest of the Inquisition honours your promise, then," said Fiona.

"The Breach threatens all of Thedas. We cannot afford to be divided now." Maxwell gestured. "We can't fight it without you. Any chance of success requires your full support."

"It's a generous offer." King Alistair folded his arms as he stared at Fiona. "I doubt you're going to get a better one from us."

"We accept." Fiona nodded. "It would be madness not to. I will gather my people and ready them for the journey to Haven. The Breach will be closed. You will not regret giving us this chance." She all but scampered from the room.

Maxwell then approached the King and Queen of Ferelden. "I must apologise for intervention, but as you could see we need the mages."

"No harm was done," said Elissa. "Though I don't know how the people Redcliffe will react when they hear that you allied yourselves with the mages."

"I just hope that you're able to control them," said Alistair.