When Rainlily had arrived back at Haven, she looked at her brother in concern. Rainlily had watched in amazement as she saw what her brother, The Herald, did. With the help of the mages, Mark was able close the Breath with his mark but she couldn't help but be worried when he wasn't happy to be done with it. Mark had been greeted by Josephine, who was glowing with happiness. "Herald, we have set up arriving for your downtime. We have music and food to help celebrate this significant moment." Josephine told him as he jumped off the horse. He looked over to her and his companions with a smile on his face. "Go ahead and enjoy yourselves, I will join you all momentarily." He said before he turned around, walking beside Josephine towards the Chantry, leaving his companions behind. Rainlily watched him as he disappeared from her sight, unsure what to do with herself.

"Ah, let's get some food and ale in our stomachs!" Iron Bull shouted happily as the rest of the companions followed him to the tents up the stairs where Varric normally slept. She followed their trail and sat on a log, looking as she saw everyone cheering for the Herald. She was instantly given a leg of a chicken, or was it a turkey, with a cooked potato and a glass of ale. She watched Varric as he told one of his grand tales of the Champion of Kirkwall, an apostate mage who had somehow been swooped off her feet by her elf lover, and how she defeated the Arishok. She chuckled as she handed him her cup of ale, which he happily took as he continued with his tales. As soon as she finished her food, she quietly stood as Sera sat in her seat; she seemed to be transfixed on this certain ale Varric was weaving about, about how Hawke became crowned Champion.

She went straight to her home, rubbing her hands together as she thought of her earlier training. She sighed as she swung her door open, bring her hands to her mouth, blowing on them for warmth as she made her way to her bedroom area. She turned the corner, to her water basin as she lit the lantern beside it, taking off her cloak as she sighed as she basked in her moment of silence. She poured the water into the bowl slowly, filling it most of the way. When she was satisfied, she put the water down and looked at her hands. They were nearly blood red from all the training she went through in the one hour she was given. Solas told her she would need to start wearing gloves until she got used to casting spells, but she didn't think it would be necessary. But, was she wrong.

As she put her hands into the water, she heard a knock on her door. "Come in, it's open!" She shouted as she warmed the water with her magic. When she heard the knock the second time, she slipped her hands out of the water, walking within sight of the door. She was now cautious, everyone she knew had gotten use to just opening her door. She got on her hands and knees as she slowly slid under her bed, hiding from sight. Just as she secured herself under the bed, she saw as her front door was busted down, able to hear the lute being played with singing voices.

Whoever it was, they knew when to visit her.

Her eyes widened as she saw a man standing there with templar armor, his face completely hidden with a helmet as he held onto a longsword. He glanced around the room as he began investigating the room. She watched as he made his way into the bedroom, glancing around before he made his way back to the main room, disappearing from her sight. She flinched when she began to hear furniture and other items being thrown around the room. She knew he was bound to come to her bedroom, so she had to move fast.

She slid out from under the bed and pressed herself against the wall as she tried to control her breathing. She took a deep breath and checked from the corner of the wall to see him flipping over her table.

Well, here goes nothing!

She pushed herself off the wall and ran for the door, not daring to look back when she heard the templar scream "Stop!" to her. As she turned the corner, she saw Cullen walking towards her, near the gate where she could hear the festivities. "Cullen!" she screamed as she continued running. His eyes immediately widened as he ran towards her; she could only imagine he saw the templar behind her because she saw as he put his hand over his sword. She heard a loud grunt behind and she turned sideways to see the templar charging at her with his sword up. She turned to the templar as she threw the Cone of Cold spell at him, falling on her back as she watched him freeze…with the tip of the frozen sword mere inches from her face. She panted heavily, feeling a painful weight in her chest as she literally escaped death. "Maker's breath…" she heard Cullen whisper as she felt him pull her from her arms onto her feet. "Are you alright?" She smiled at him, wanting to tell him yes but her smile fell as she looked at the hills behind him.

"Cullen…" she whispered in a frightened voice, never taking her eyes off the hill as Cullen turned to see what she saw. There was an army horde coming from the mountains, with no banners or anything. "Get inside the gate! Guards, ring out the alarm bells!" Rainlily ran passed the gate as Cullen closed it behind them. Rainlily looked up to see Mark running towards her, with Varric and Cassandra behind him. "Rainlily, are you alright?" he asked as he steadied her with his hands. "Yes brother, there is an army coming from the mountain though!" she exclaimed as she followed him towards the gate.

Mark watched in shock as he saw the army in the mountain, listening as Cullen spoke with Josephine and Cassandra.

"Cullen?" Cassandra asked in a questioning voice.

"It's a massive force, the bulk over the mountain." he answered bluntly.

"Under what banner?" Josephine asked.

"None."

"None?"

Mark took a step back, as he saw the gate being pushed from the outside with great force.

"I can't come in unless you open!" a young man voice proclaimed in a desperate voice. Mark and Rainlily ran to push the gate doors open, revealing a large man in armor falling to the floor. As Mark and Rainlily ran towards the man (with Cullen following with his weapon drawn), they notice a pale man with a very...unique hat on his head walking to them. Mark and Rainlily stopped, Rainlily looking around to see dead bodies as Mark looked at the mystery man who stood before them,

"I'm Cole. I came to warn you. To Help. People are coming to hurt you. You probably already know."

Rainlily looked at Mark with a frightened look, Mark looking at him with an alert reaction. "What is this? What's going on?" Mark asked him. "The templars have come to kill you...and your sister." Cole said in a low, warning voice.

"Templars?" Cole stepped away, frightened of Cullen as he stood beside Cole "Is this the Order's response to our talks with the mages? Attacking blindly?" Cole looked up to Cullen, shaking off his fear of him as he explained the situation. "The red templars went to the Elder One. You know him? He knows you. You took his mages." Cole suddenly turned around to look up the mountain, pointing at the direction.

"There."

Rainlily gasped as Cullen spoke, "I know that man...but this Elder One…" and there stood the 'Elder One". He stands to be 10 feet, if not 12 feet, his body part human but...not human...almost as if he was some sort of abomination...a demon, noticing he had red lyrium stones (it looks like) coming from all over his body. Cullen and Mark stood in front of Rainlily protectively as they noticed the templar, red templars, marching towards Haven.

"He's very angry that you took his mages."

Mark looked to Cullen as they turned to face each other. "Cullen, give me a plan! Anything!"

Cullen looked to him with serious eyes as his soldiers came out from the gate. "Haven is no fortress, if we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle. Get out there and hit that force. Use everything you can!"

Cullen turned to look at his soldiers, and even some of the mages who had helped earlier to close the Breach. "Mages! You-you have the sanction to engage them! That is Samson, he will not make it easy! Inquisition! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!" The soldiers and mages shouted in glory as Mark, Varric and Cassandra drew out their weapons, Rainlily's hands emanating with Ice fog. "Here, Rainlily!" she looked to see Cassandra holding a wooden staff out for her. She looked at her surprising as she slowly took it. "I know I have not been forthcoming with you, but I want to now. Help us defend Haven!" Cassandra told her. Rainlily smiled and nodded as she took it, watching in amazement as the head of staff emanated Ice.

She followed Cassandra as they made their way into battle, defending the soldiers as they fought the trebuchet. She casted Barrier spells around herself and her companions, watching for enemies surrounding her brother as Varric stood beside her, who was watching Cassandra's back. She watched as Haven soldier's fell, casting Revival spells as they fell. She wanted to save as many people as she could, she owed the Inquisition, her brother, that much.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A bloody dragon.

Just what Mark needed.

With a retreat ordered by Cullen, he fought his way through Haven, saving all that he could before he made his way to the Chantry. As he got closer to the Chantry, he saw as it's double doors swung open, he saw Chancellor Rodrick limping outside with Cole following behind.

"Move! Keep going!" Chancellor Rodrick called out "The Chantry is your shelter!"

Mark pushed his sister in before him as he and the rest of his companions ran into the Chantry for protection. As he heard the double doors close behind him, he turned around to see Cole holding the Chancellor up, walking him to the closest chair.

"He tried to stop a templar. The blade went deep…he's going to die."

The Chancellor attempted to snort, "What a…charming young boy."

Mark looked to his sister, who was aiding an soldier on the floor. "Are you hurt, sister?" he asked her as she finished healing the soldier. She stood up and walked to stand beside him, smiling at him. "No, I'm alright. Are you injured, I can heal you?" she asked in a concerned tone. As he smiled and shook his head at her, he saw in the corner of his eye Cullen, who was jogging towards him.

"Herald" Cullen said softly, "Our position here is not good. That dragon stole any time you might have earned us."

Cole looked over to the three as he crouched beside Chancellor Rodrick "I've seen an archdemon. I was in the Fade, but it looked like that."

Cullen looked him in frustration. "I don't care what it looks like, it's cut a path for that army!" He looked to Mark with that fury in his eyes "They will kill everyone in Haven!" Cole frowned at Cullen. "The Elder One doesn't care about the village, he only wants the Herald." He said desperately.

Mark looked at Cole, clearly seeing in Cole's eyes that something was bothering him. "If you know why he wants me, just say it." Mark told him. "I don't…he's too loud. It hurts to hear him. He wants to kill you. no one else matters but he'll crush them, kill them if they have to…I don't like him." Cole explained, sounding frightened. Cullen looked at him in confusion, "You don't like…" Cullen looked back to Mark, clearly seeing he wasn't getting anywhere with Cole "Herald, there are no tactics to make this survivable. The only thing that slowed them was that avalanche. We could turn the remaining trebuchets, cause one last slide."

Mark looked at him with concern. "We are overrun. To hit the enemy, we'd bury Haven."

"We're dying, we can decide how. Many don't get that choice…" Cullen said softly.

Chancellor Rodrick looked down the corridor, Cole looking behind him to see what he was seeing. Cole looked back at him with understanding. "Yes, that…Chancellor Rodrick can help. He wants to say it before he dies." Cole said as he looked to Mark. "There is a path, you wouldn't know it unless you made the Summer Pilgrimage, as I have." Chancellor Rodrick said with his straining voice. He stood up with enlightenment in his eyes. "The people can escape…Andraste must have shown me. Andraste must shown me so I can tell you." Chancellor Rodrick told Mark in a hopeful voice, a voice he never thought he'd hear from the man.

Mark looked to Cullen "What about it Cullen, will it work?"

"Possibly, if he shows us the path…what of your escape?"

Mark looked away from him to the floor, gripping his hands as he thought of the inevitable.

He could die tonight.

"…Perhaps you will find it. Find a way." Cullen said hopeful. He looked to Rainlily, seeing as she looked at her brother with sadness in her eyes…her mouth covered by her hands as she too, he could only imagine, was thinking of his possible death.

Cullen marched over to his some of his able troops, "Inquisition" he said in his authorities voice "follow Chancellor Rodrick the Chantry, move!" As Cole hung one of Rodrick's arms around his shoulder, the Chancellor looked to Mark with hope in his eyes. "Herald if you were meant for this, if the Inquisition is meant for this…I pray for you." Mark gave him a small smile as he nodded to him, watching as Cole walked him off. He looked to his companions, Cassandra, Varric, and his sister. "Be ready to run to safety, if anything goes wrong." He told them. "Understood." Cassandra told her in her normal tone as Varric sighed heavily. "I've been on so many suicide missions, I know when to run…just stay safe." Varric told him. Mark looked to his sister, who was smiling at him sadly.

"Sister…you should go-"

"You're insane if you think I'm going anywhere without you." She told him bluntly. Mark sighed heavily as he put his hands on her shoulders. "Your all I have…I don't want to lose you." Mark told her in a soft voice. "And you are all I have" she put her hands on his cheeks, kissing his cheek "I'm not going to leave you without a fight." He heard Cullen coming back there way, watching their interaction. "Did you need me to escort your sister?" Cullen asked him. Mark sighed as he crossed his arms, looking over to Rainlily. "She refuses to leave my side." Mark said, but he couldn't but smirk. Cullen looked over to Rainlily with shock in his eyes, but Rainlily smiled at him warmly.

"Maker's breath…"

"I promise, I'll come back with him." She said with a soft voice. "Let me get some health potions before we go. We don't know what's waiting for us out there." Mark said as he walked towards an open crate near the door, Cassandra heeding his advice and followed him as Varric added some of the potions to his belt for easier access. Rainlily followed Varric's cleverness and began tying her two potions to her belt when she saw Cullen in the corner of her eye. Looking up at Cullen, he handed her three potions of lyrium. "If you get too drained, use these." He told her. She smiled up at him as she put it in her satchel, whispering a 'thank you' as she did this. She looked up at him again and smiled sadly this time as she bit her lower lip.

Before Cullen could ask, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his stomach, hugging him tightly. "In case I don't…thank you for everything, Cullen." He hesitated for a second before he hugged her back softly. "I will see you again, I know I will." He whispered to her, letting her go as she pulled away. When Cullen saw his troops run past him, he knew this was it. "The men will load up the trebuchets. Keep the Elder One's attention until we are above the tree line. If we are to have a chance, if you were to have a chance…let that thing hear you!" he said, watching as they left the Chantry.

He prayed to Andraste for their safe return.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

As Mark fought with the last remaining templars, he looked back at his sister. "Rainlily, turn the wheel one last time!" he yelled at her. She threw a Barrier spell on her comrades one last time before she threw her staff to the floor, turning the trebuchet as fast as I could.

"Ah, crap!" Varric yelled as he pointed up the sky. Mark and Cassandra looked up and saw as the dragon was flying towards them. "Move, now!" he ordered as he ran back, hearing the finally click from the trebuchet; it was finally in position. He saw the flame and fell on his knee, looking back to see if his sister was following him, when…

BAM!

He was blown off his feet, tumbling into the snow on his back, turning to his left side as he saw his sister against the wooden wall, her body hidden by the wooden crates. As he stood, he saw the Elder One walking through the flames near the trebuchet, towards him. He took a step back to consider his options with only two things in mind: escaping and reaching his sister. He felt loud vibrations as turned around, coming face to face with the dragon he knew too well. The dragon was practically roaring in his face as he took a step back from it.

He was not interested in being its dinner.

"Enough!"

Mark turned to the Elder One, his white strands of hair being blown back by the force the Elder One was somehow throwing at him. The Elder One looked him with pure hatred. "Pretender, you toy with forces beyond your kin. No more. Mark looked at him with defiance, but he knew he needed answers, he would never get a chance like this again. "What are you? Why are you doing this?" he asked the Elder One. "Mortals beg for truth they cannot have. It is beyond what you are, what I was. Know me, know what are pretended to be. Exalt the Elder one. The will that is Corypheus." The Elder One pointed his claw hand to him "You will kneel."

Mark looked to the corner of his eye for a split second, seeing his sister fully awake and watching from behind the crates, thankful she was okay. He looked back at the Elder One with frustration, "You're forcing this fight for no reason!" he exclaimed. "You will resist, you will always resist, it matters not." The Elder One said in a low voice as he pulled a black globe that glowed blood red, of energy. "I am here for the Anchor, the process of removing it begins now." The Elder One shot from his right hand a red light towards him, making Mark looked down at his right hand as he noticed his mark begin to glow in reaction to whatever the thing was doing. Mark begin to scrunch his eyebrows together as he begins to feel slight pain from the mark. "It is your fault Herald" Mark looked back at the Elder One as it spoke "you interrupted a ritual years in the planning and instead of dying, you've stolen its purpose." The Elder One threw his hand out more, casting more red energy towards him, feeling the pain from the Anchor intensify.

"I do not know how you survived. That what marks you as touched, what you flared at rifts, I crafted it to assault the very heavens." Mark fell to his knees, holding his marked hands wrists as he grunted in pain. "And you used the Anchor to undo my work, the gall." Mark fought through the pain to look up at the Elder One as only one thing came to mind. "What is this thing meant to do?" he asked. "It is meant to bring certainty where there is none, for you, the certainty that I would always come for it." The Elder One said. The Elder One walked towards him hastily, grabbing his wrist connected to the Anchor and dangling him in the air. "I once breached the fade" he looked back to the Elder One "in the name of another to serve the old gods of the Empire, in person. I found only chaos in corruption, dead whispers, but a thousand years I was confused; no more." The Elder One looked down at him in anger.

"I have gathered the will to return under no name by my own, to champion whither Tevinter, and correct this blighted world." The Elder One brought him close as he said in a low voice. "Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the Gods, and it was empty." The Elder One turned him around him around and through him against the trebuchet. As he grunted at the pain on his back, he listened to the Elder One. "The Anchor is permanent. You have spoilt it with your stumbling." Mark saw a sword in front of him and grabbed for it. As he stood, holding the sword out, he looked in the corner of his to his sister, who stood near a hidden mining tunnel hole…waiting for him.

The Elder One and his dragon walked towards him, "So be it" The Elder One stated "I will find another way to give this world the nation, and God, it requires." Mark looked up to the sky and saw a single flame arrow shoot up.

There's the signal!

"And you" he looked back to the Elder One "I will not suffer even an unknowing rival. You. Must. Die." He looked to the lever of the trebuchet and knew what he had to do. Mark smirked at the Elder One. "Your arrogance blinds you, good to know." Mark told him as he brought up his sword. "If I'm dying, it's not today!" He shouted as he turned and kicked the lever. As the trebuchet shot its final shot, The Elder One and its dragon watched where it was going.

The fools.

Mark jumped off the trebuchet and ran towards his sister. "This way!" she yelled as she waved her arm at him to follow her into the hidden mining tunnel. As soon as she was about to jump in, Mark was overwhelmed by the snow and tripped her, both falling into the dark abyss. He fell onto his back with his sister landing on her stomach beside him with a large 'oof' forced out of them. Mark rolled onto his knees as steadily got into his feet, Rainlily slowly standing. He grunted in pain as he felt a sharp pain on the right side of his chest putting his hand on a spot under his right ribcage. "Are…you okay?" Mark asked as she put a hand over his. "I'll survive…let me heal you." She said in a low voice, her hands glowing yellow as she casted a healing spell on him. He sighed as the pain disappeared, smiling at her as she moved away. "We need to find a way out of here. Are you ready or do you need more time?" Mark asked her. She smiled and nodded at him,

"I'll protect you." She said in a teasing manner.

"And I, you." He said, chuckling as they walked down the path.