The next day found Solas and Ayla at each other's throats over her Dalish upbringing. They were in his hut and had been having a peaceful day when he had asked about the Dalish dance she had performed the night before. She had explained a little about the dance but then he had asked about the interpretive dances that followed the lore and legends. She had told him they were just stories the Clan's enjoyed during the celebrations they held but he didn't believe her saying that he believed the Dalish clung to those stories as truth. This had started the whole argument.
"Vis brithan nulama, tel l'ten ajun."
She fumed at his words. Dalish or no, he was an elf just like her. He had no right to judge her people the way he did. Like they were parasites that walked upon the earth. He claimed that they didn't have a care to reclaim their lost history. She yelled at him repeatedly every time he brought the subject up that he hadn't given them a fair chance to share their own knowledge. He just pushed his views on them, expecting them to just accept it. She knew more than what he thought she did but he wouldn't believe her or let her share what she did know or what she believed. Why was that not enough? "And me? Am I just another Dalish idiot to you?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose, beyond irritated. "I know for a fact that you can't stand there, look me in the eyes and tell that your people are actually in the right."
"You…!"
He cut her off. "The Dalish have all but forgotten their ancient heritage, and from what I have observed, they care very little in reclaiming the history that was lost! Your elders and your Keeper teach you what little Elvhen they remember without the desire to know more, and pass along stories of ancient gods and culture like they're fairytales for before bed. They whisper of Arlathan like it's a myth only hinted at in dreams and preach about the horrors of Blood Magic when they do not fully understand what it is meant for or what it could achieve! The Dalish understand nothing! I will speak no more of this!"
Her eyes narrowed at him in loathing. Didn't fully understand Blood Magic, did she? What little he knew of her. His back was turned from her, dismissing her.
"Solas…"
"Just leave Herald." She flinched as he addressed her as the title she hated. His words cut into her very soul, leaving her heart bleeding inside her. "After the Breach is closed I will inform your advisors that I will no longer be going on assignments with you. Our…differences are too troublesome to handle professionally."
"You wont even give me a chance to show you what I know and believe. Are you so stubborn in your own beliefs that you wont allow someone else a chance to show you theirs, like you try to?" She asked in a aching whisper. "How are we to accept your beliefs if you won't allow us to show you ours?"
She waited for an answer but after what seemed like forever of no word from him she sighed sadly, and left the room tears falling silently down her cheeks as she walked to her hut. She was thankful for the hood she had on. It hid her hurt from her friends that were wandering around the small village. She reached her hut and entered before letting herself fall against it, a heartbroken sob wailing out of her at the sudden loss of him. She cried there like that for a while but was soon interrupted by a knock at the door. Her tears stopped instantly as she looked around. It was now late afternoon.
Ayla called out in a slightly panicked voice, "just a minute!" Before she scrambled to the washbasin and washed the residue of her crying away. She looked into the mirror and once she was satisfied that the skin around her eyes didn't look puffy she opened the door to see Varric, Bull, and Dorian outside.
They were there to pull her into the tavern to play some kind of card game with several other people. She declined since it seemed Solas had accepted their offer and she couldn't face him at that moment. Ayla used the excuse of needing more rest for the upcoming sealing of the Breach. They understood and left her alone.
Ayla closed the door behind her with a heavy sigh. She didn't want to be in her hut either not able to stand her aching heart. She sat on her bed for a moment before standing back up again with a disgusted grunt, grabbed her staff, and left her lodgings. She immediately went outside of the gates and off into the hills. She walked until she was concealed deep in the little forest that surrounded the tiny village. She needed to center herself and couldn't do it there.
She stopped at a small glen, and with a relieved sigh she kneeled down upon the snow. Ayla set her staff beside her and pulled five candles out of her bag she had brought with her, each a different color. She set them around her in a circle around her with the exception of the purple candle, which she placed right in front of her in the center.
A sound came from her left and her head whipped around looking into the trees. She saw movement behind a tall bush. "I know you're there! Come out before I set you on fire!" She called out.
"S-sorry Herald." A familiar voice rang out. Cullen came out from behind the tall bush. His face was flushed from having been caught. "I was taking a walk and saw you come out this way. I wanted to make sure you were safe. I didn't mean to intrude."
"Its alright, Commander." Ayla said softly. She studied him for a moment before a secret smile appeared on her face. "Would you like to experience a Dalish ritual?"
Cullen looked at her wearily but saw the excitement on her face. He hesitated as his past came up to try and haunt him. He tried to think of something to not hurt her feelings but would get him away from the magic.
"I promise Cullen that you will not experience anything harmful." Ayla said sensing his hesitation. She held out a hand to him in invitation. "Allow me to show you the beauty of magic and how it should be used."
Cullen debated a moment longer before he placed his hand in hers. She pulled him in to the middle where the purple candle sat upon the floor. Her eyes sparkled. He was riveted on her.
"Do you remember when I told you that the Dalish use the Magic and energy of the Earth?" She asked him. He nodded as his thoughts automatically went back to the night they had dinner in her cabin. "Well this is how magic should be used. What you have seen in the circle with Harrowings isn't the correct way. That way uses Lyrium and it is the corrupt way of coming into power. We Dalish are allergic to it because it is something that was created as a way of obtaining more power. Dalish don't need it since we get our gifts through our connection to the Earth."
"So the Circles had it wrong all this time?" Cullen asked, a skeptical look on his face as he processed what she told him.
"Not specifically. They do learn a lot of the same magic as we do but when they go through the Harrowing to fight being possessed that is really just a way for them to be enslaved as their blood is drawn into those vials, Phylacteries, I believe they are called." Ayla explained. "Does this make any sense to you?"
Cullen nodded. He had seen it for himself during the Fifth Blight and later at Kirkwall before the Rebellion. "So what is different about Dalish magic?"
"We honor the Earth." She smiled. "The true Clans don't believe in the elves from Arlathan to be Gods. We knew they were just elves who had amassed huge power, much of it stolen. They themselves became corrupted as some heroes do once they let it go to their heads. We believe in one Goddess and that is the Earth since it is she who gives us all the life we have."
"So in a way you worship the Maker?"
Ayla shook her head. "We don't believe in him or Andraste. We think they were just people who had exceptional gifts. We believe that Andraste was just a humble hero who fell in love with a Prophet. For us the Earth isn't a single person or thing but many things. She can manifest into anything and may have her own form she prefers. Even the spirits have lives and we interact with them when we need to. They are there to guide us not harm us, but of course humanity both human and elf alike all end up trying to corrupt them and that is when they change to demons." She told him before turning back to her circle. "Now let me show you."
"I am one" Ayla began, "and I bring one more. One for knowledge." She brought out a small jar from her pack and opened it. She took out a handful of some kind of flower petals. "Iris for wisdom." She explained. Cullen observed everything she did with a wary and slightly suspicious eye but his curiosity was also piqued. He would stay and let her show him what she wanted him to see. She brought out a knife next, not one that was for defense but one you would use in a kitchen. "Here I bind them, knowledge blessed with hope, within the circle and without, sought and cherished wisdom and love conquer fear and vanquish doubt." She drew symbols upon the ground before she continued. She had a bowl full of herbs and flowers in her hands now. "Hearts and minds open and free. Only then can we find understanding. Because he is one I hold dear, I allow him to witness what I do here. In this place and on this night I open my ritual to his sight. This I do willingly."
Once the protection spell was done she gathered his hands in her own and looked him in his sky blue eyes. "I want to you to breathe in and out with me. You must be relaxed and calm to become open with me. Share this experience with me freely, Cullen."
Cullen nodded his gaze riveted on hers. He was nervous but he allowed her to guide him through closing his eyes when she closed her own. She talked soothingly to him as they began the breathing exercise. He felt himself relax slowly as all the tension and anxiety fell away. There were no worries of the Inquisition, nothing but her. Once she was sure they had both reached the level of tranquility she wanted, she opened her eyes, guiding him to do the same and started. "Turn with me as I face East, South, West, and North."
Ayla turned east and he followed as she raised her arms over her head and called out. "From the east I call to Air, both restless and sweet. On her breast my wings will beat. Rise and turn and blow your breath warm, come stir the wind, but do not harm and ask that you carry to this circle the gift of knowledge that our ritual will be filled with learning. I am Air and she is me. As I will it, so mote it be." She turned her hand and lit the candle easily.
Ayla smiled as she saw Cullen startle a little at the feeling of wind swirling and dancing around them in the once still night. He looked at her eyes wide, nervous and unsure.
Ayla nodded at him to turn with her to the south and he followed along. "From the south I call to Fire, her heat and light. In her heart life burns strong and bright. Flame like the sun, bring harm to none, and I ask that you light in this circle the gift of strength of will, so that our ritual will be binding and powerful. I am Fire, and she is me. As I will, so mote it be.
The wind that had been dancing around them was replaced by a sensation of heat. It felt like stepping into a hot spring to Cullen. It was warm enough to have him break into a light sweat despite the snow all around them. The intensity of it suddenly jumped up a notch as the red candle flared to life. He didn't need to be told this time and turned automatically with her to the west.
"From the west I call to Water. Within you we were created and with you we must survive. I ask that you wish this circle compassion, that the light of the full moon be used to bestow healing upon us as well as understanding. I am Water, and she is me. As I will it, so mote it be."
Ayla lit the blue candle standing west. A sound of waves filled their ears and the salty scent of the sea filled Cullen's nose. He grinned at the amazing feeling and eagerly completed the circle by facing north his fears and anxiety about her ritual gone, replaced with anticipation.
"From the north I call to the Earth, generous and deep, in her we sow that we may reap. Give us your charm and bring no harm. I ask that you grow within this circle the gift of manifestation that the wishes and prayers from tonight will come to fruition. I am Earth and she is me. As I will it, so mote it be." Ayla lit the candle and Cullen could smell the corn from his family farm along with the forest that surrounded his childhood home.
Ayla returned to the center of the circle and looked up at Cullen before grinning at him mischievously. She rose her hands above her head once more. "And last, I bring forth Spirit into this circle. Within Water life came to be, Within Earth, the heart of home, within Spirit we would never truly belong. Without her there is no love, no light. I am Spirit and she is me. As I will it, so mote it be."
Cullen felt a huge burst of hope and wonder burst into him as all the elements flared at once around them and for a moment her eyes flashed the color of purple to light the purple candle. The flame on fire sprouted like a mini bonfire, a small stream of water floated above with the wind making small bits of rain fall down upon them. Vines and flowers sprouted up from the ground in the circle at their feet. Ayla smiled a breathtaking smile as she held out her hand. In it grew a beautiful white lily.
"This is my magic Cullen. I can command them all. This is how it is supposed to be used. This is the ritual one is supposed to do when they complete their studies in becoming a mage." Ayla flicked her wrist slightly closing the circle. "Thank you for joining me despite your reservations. I know being a Templar couldn't have been easy. I hope this put your mind a little at ease."
"You are amazing, Hera—Lavellan." He said tenderly. She was the most beautifully kind woman he knew and she desperately wanted to change the views on magic. He hoped she would get the chance.
"You may call me Ayla in private Cullen." She grinned. She quickly packed up her things. "Now would you mind being my dinner companion tonight in the Tavern. I feel like we should go over the plans for the Breach. I would like to set out tomorrow and finish this."
"I would be honored." Cullen smiled and held out his arm. Ayla picked up her staff and pack, before grabbing on. They walked back to Haven, depositing her pack and Staff in her hut before striding towards the tavern. When they walked inside everyone at the card table stopped and stared at them. SHe turned and waved at them with an ear-to-ear grin. She even looked briefly into Solas's eyes and nodded politely at him in greeting, her smile dimming only slightly.
He frowned at her before he promptly went back to the game ignoring her entirely but not before he wondered if she was going to be dancing like she had the previous night. She didn't. The Herald was here only for dinner with the Commander. They sat at their own table in the corner far away from the others.
They ate and whispered to each other faces serious, most likely discussing the Breach, he decided. Solas tried to ignore her but couldn't seem to stop looking at her from the corner of his eye. She seemed to be glowing and he could sense her strong mana vibrating off her in waves. It was like she took an extra Lyrium potion but there was none in her body.
After they were done eating and discussing whatever, they rose from their table. She looked at the table full of people playing Wicked Grace told them all goodnight. Her eyes rested on him for a few moment and when he rose to meet her gaze in challenge. He was trying to make her angry but all that flashed across her face was sadness before she looked away and grabbed Cullen's offered arm, walking out.
He felt guilt slam into him at her but didn't allow it to take over him. Instead he used his anger to fuel him. He refused to apologize, since he knew she was wrong. He won at the current hand and rose. He was done for the evening, the enjoyment sucked out of the room with her. He thanked Varric for inviting him to play and walked out.
The next day Ayla woke up in a state of nerves and fear. Today was the day she would close the Breach and hopefully end the madness. She rose from her bed and pulled a winter coat around her before leaving to go get breakfast. When she reached the tavern the man who had been the cause of her restless sleep met her. She bumped into him and almost fell over but he steadied her, looking at her with a frown.
"Sorry," she said meekly not looking him in the eye, not wanting him to see the tears that were starting to gather in her eyes.
"It is alright, Herald." Solas replied coldly. She flinched at the tone of his voice. He studied her appearance. It seemed she had come for breakfast right after waking up. She was wearing a winter coat over her sleep clothes. Ayla looked up at him then before turning on her heels and walking back towards her hut. He looked at her confused since she didn't even grab any food.
Ayla walked away, appetite gone. She sighed sadly as she entered her hut. Time to begin preparations. Ayla went to the trunk that had been delivered two days before and opened it to pull out a set of armor. It was made of a special leather only known to the Dalish. It was only made for the Keepers and Firsts who had the abilities she had. She unlaced the front to open it, threw it around her shoulders, shoving her arms through, before lacing it back up her body. The robes were long and reached all the way down to her ankles. It came with matching boots, which she laced up. Next she applied the light armor around her waist to protect her torso from swords and knives. The robes deflected all magic but not weapons of the sharp variety. Next she pulled the matching cloak around her shoulders. The only difference with the cloak is the pitch-black fur that surrounded the shoulders. This would keep her warm as they traveled back up to the Breach.
Next she walked over to the mirror and observed the black ensemble for a moment before she proceeded to pull her hair into a battle style half braided faux-hawk down her back, which she tucked under her cloak. Next she pulled off the spell hiding her forehead, revealing her full Vallaslin into view. She studied it with a smile; she had missed seeing it but now was the time to show it. If she was to die in this battle she would show him that he didn't know everything about the Dalish. For instance that every few hundred years one of them was born with a both mage and rogue abilities. He thought they didn't know the truth about anything, and she wondered if he thought the markings were representation of the false Elvhen Gods, not knowing the full meaning or history behind her people's marks. Her second mark wrapped the lower part of her forehead, going across just above her eyebrows, in a solid emerald green line meeting in the center connecting to make two arrows pointing up and down. The mark was spaced out going down the middle of her nose also marked with a solid emerald line.
Satisfied, Ayla turned back around and began sheathing all of her daggers in various places of her body. If she was to reveal her second mark she would also be heavily armed with her knives. She didn't know what she would face at the Breach but she was sure going to be ready. She placed a small one into the small scabbard that rested in her breasts, hiding it from view, another two in her boots both a set of throwing knives, and last her curved daggers charged with her elemental magic sheathed at her hips. The final item she equipped to her was her staff, strapping it in her back holder and leaving the room.
Ayla walked to the War Room where she knew her advisors waited for word on when she was ready to head to what was left of the Temple. Varric did a double take of her as she walked up the steps. She had never seen him so speechless but didn't laugh, though she wanted to.
"When did you get that mark?" He asked as she walked by. She avoided the path towards the tavern and the Apothecary. She wanted him to see her when was ready to make her entrance.
"I've always had it, Varric." She answered, "I just keep it hidden most of the time since most people see it as a omen. But I am done hiding. You all already know I have two abilities." She gestured to her staff and daggers. "Be ready, I am assembling us all to finish this."
Varric nodded and began getting ready.
She walked into the Chantry, head held high as she saw everyone in there stop and stare at her. Dorian smiled at her and she returned it politely but otherwise kept her emotions to herself. In the next moment she was entering the War Room. Everyone looked up and paled as they took in her face and her armor.
"Let's get this over with." She said, voice devoid of any emotions. She showed them no fear or nerves. Her advisors nodded immediately and they all exited to make their rounds. "Cassandra will you tell Solas that we are going. I don't want to talk to him. I am going to wait outside the gates for everyone."
Cassandra was about to ask but thought better of it at the look in the elf's eyes. She nodded and headed down towards the pub and his hut. She stepped into the pub first to round up whoever was in there before going up to talk to the bald headed elven man.
"Ayla is ready to seal the Breach." Cassandra told him in a strange voice.
"What is it?" He asked.
"It is hard to explain," the Seeker said her face frowning in confusion. "You will see soon enough."
Without another word she turned and walked away to continue her task, leaving him to put on his own light armor and equipping his staff before going to the rendezvous point.
When he got there he saw her immediately. She was conversing with Cullen, her back to him. He saw her tense up and knew that she knew he was there. She didn't turn to him however, didn't even acknowledge him. Once everyone was there, all the Mages and the companions who volunteered to come along to see the closing of the Breach, her advisors went to stand beside her and she finally turned to face them.
His thoughts cleared and he felt his face pale at the sight of her. She had hidden a secret from them all. She had not just one Vallaslin, but two. Andruil's and Mythal's. Why had she requested this when she reached puberty? His whole face frowned in confusion and slight disgust. She gazed at him then, her lip curling in anger at his reaction, but her eyes showed her hurt. He had hurt her with his cruel words and again with his reaction. She took a deep breath before resuming the mask she had on previously, showing her for strong and amazing woman she was.
Guilt churned in his gut for the pain he had caused but was soon shut down as she began the march, as Cullen told them to move out.
It didn't take them long to reach the Breach and soon they were all gathering around it with the mages stationed above.
She had entered first and just jumped down from the wall, not even taking the path they had the first time. Her advisors and him had all rushed to the rail to see if she was okay. She was already walking towards the first rift not even fazed. They all followed her down using the path and soon were all ready to begin.
"Mages! Focus past the Herald! Let her will draw from you!"
He could hear her intake of breath, and, when he turned, he saw that her eyes were closed composing herself, trying to hide the fear that she was surely feeling. This close to the Breach, her mark was brighter than ever before, pulsating and crackling with his own magic.
She opened her eyes and walked forward, her head held high, face set with stubborn determination. All at once, the Mages plunged their staves into the ground. He could feel their magic hum under his feet. Ayla's eyes narrowed, focusing intently, and shouted out a loud warrior cry as she thrust her marked hand into the Breach, fighting to keep standing, fighting to seal the mistake that shouldn't have happened, his mistake. Her cry changed as pain stabbed into her. He could see her fighting to keep standing, fighting the pain he knew was tearing through her entire body.
There was a loud crash, like thunder, and then an explosion. He was thrown backwards into the ground, the force knocking the air from his lungs briefly. As he leaned up, he watched Cassandra crawl before dragging herself to her feet, running over to the form of the fierce Dalish woman. He managed to stand himself up, looking over to see if she lived…begging she lived. Cassandra had lifted her head, watching as the elf's eyes fluttered open.
"You did it," the Seeker had said to her quietly, helping her slowly to her feet.
Ayla had looked around, searchingly, and finally laid her eyes on him. They were full of emotion: regret, apology, pride, hope…But he didn't even nod at her. Her face flushed with anger before he saw her look away. He merely turned away, walking back alone to the village.
Later, when all of the festivities had been in swing, he saw that she was nowhere to be found. He looked around and saw her sitting by herself outside on the wall near the requisition tent. She was watching the party but didn't join in.
He saw the Seeker approach her. He followed discreetly, keeping to the shadows.
"Solas confirms the Heavens are calm but scarred. The Breach is sealed." The shorthaired woman informed the elf woman, as she too looked at all the partying. "There are some lingering rifts and many questions to who started it. But this was a victory, why are you not celebrating it?"
"It's too soon. I have a bad feeling, something worse is coming." The woman said as she pulled her cloak closer as if to protect herself from whatever threatened.
Suddenly, the warning bell sounded and she shot to her feet staff automatically at the ready.
Cullen ran towards them. "Forces approaching! To arms!" He yelled as he rushed to the gates. Ayla fade-stepped and was right behind the Commander. Everyone began to panic a little but she showed no fear. Solas followed behind her but at a distance, there in case she needed him.
….
Ayla had felt it, she didn't know how but she knew something bad was going to happen. She of course didn't know it would be this night but it didn't surprise her.
"Cullen?" Cassandra's voice was worried.
"The watch guard reports a massive force coming over the bulk of it over the mountain." He told them eyes
"Under what banner?" Josephine asked in confusion.
"None." Cullen stated firmly.
"None?"
Ayla sensed something beyond the gate, someone. She stared at it. A second later a loud thud sounded on the gate shaking it with the force. Several more followed before a young voice called out.
"I can't come in unless you open!" The voice shouted urgently. Ayla sensed that it wasn't a threat and immediately unlocked the gate despite all the concerned "waits!" that came from her advisors.
A strange creature in armor came walking towards them. Ayla guessed that it was a Darkspawn by the brawny stature that was dwarf like but as tall as her.
Suddenly, the sound of a dagger rang in the air and the monster fell to the ground revealing a young blonde shaggy haired boy with a huge hat upon his head.
Ayla ran forward her staff at the ready in case she needed it followed by Cullen who had unsheathed his own sword. She stopped and observed what had just happened before looking up at the boy in confusion. It was wiped away in an instant when she realized that he was the nonthreatening presence she had sensed. She also could sense that he was a spirit of some kind.
"I'm Cole." He introduced himself urgently, and then continued on informing them of the massive force coming their way. "I came to warn you! To help! People are coming to hurt you, you probably already know!"
"What's going on?" Ayla asked him gently.
"The Templars come to kill you." He said in a deadly tone.
"Templars?!" Cullen shouted in confused anger. "Is this the orders response to our talks with the Mages? Attacking blindly?"
"The Red Templars went to the Elder One. You know him and he knows you." Cole spoke, his voice urgent once more. "You took his Mages."
Cole pointed to the mountain just beyond. Ayla and Cullen looked up and saw one man dressed in red. She recognized him instantly as one of the men who had attacked her clan. Fear began to shiver up her spine and blasted in full force as deformed skinny and corpse like man walked up behind him. She could sense the power in him and knew that he was the one who started this all.
"He's very angry you took his Mages." Cole said in the strange deadly tone again. Ayla stood frozen to the spot as she looked at the two men leading this force.
Her breathing escalated and she gulped her fear before she snapped out of it. "Cullen, give me a plan! Anything!"
"Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle." He told her. "Get out there and hit with force. Use everything you can to get those Trebuchet's firing." He said and pulled his sword back out as he backed up. "Mages! You! You have sanction to engage them! That is Samson, he will not make it easy! Inquisition with the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!" He shouted and rallied them up pointing his sword towards the sky.
"Dorian, Bull, Cassandra, and Varric with me!" Ayla commanded as she ran towards the nearest Trebuchet. She didn't even look at Solas, couldn't think about him right now. All that mattered was trying to save Haven.
She ran to the first one and defended the ones getting it ready to fire. Strange red men she sensed were Templars came running through, attacking anything or anyone in sight. Ayla and Dorian threw spells in sync while Bull and Cassandra charged. Varric used his stealth and shot arrow upon arrow from Bianca.
The battle took maybe twenty minutes before the first Trebuchet was ready to fire. The soldier in charge of it signaled them and told them to run to the second one, which wasn't firing. She and her team ran for the second and quickly found that the soldiers had been slain by the small mass of Red Templars guarding it.
Ayla and Dorian looked at each other before twirled their staves in sync slamming them down on the ground sending out a massive lightning arc that stunned all but ten of the Templars. Bull grinned at the strength of this attack before charging in with a battle cry that had the stunned ones eyes widening when they saw him coming towards them. Most of them died in that single combined attack, leaving the second Trebuchet clear for Ayla to begun turning the controls to aim it. Her companions immediately surrounded her with Dorian and Varric on the platform with her to protect her from any of the enemies that snuck through Bull and Cassandra.
Within minutes Ayla fired the second Trebuchet sending the huge cannon like boulder at the mountain forward and to the left of Haven, creating an Avalanche that took out most of the army marching their way.
Ayla watched as their plan worked. She grinned smugly as the mountain of snow came down and covered half of the army and blocking the rest from continuing on their path.
The grin was wiped off a second later when a huge black dragon flew over them, sending a Red Lyrium fireball into the Trebuchet. Ayla, Dorian, and Varric jumped off it just in time before the fireball hit.
"Is everyone alright?" She yelled as she got back to her feet. Ayla looked around and saw that they were indeed okay. "Lets get back to the gates!" She ordered as she began running up the hill back to the village.
Damn her gut for being right. She knew something worse would happen. A demonic looking dragon she could only assume was an Archdemon and the deformed man. She wasn't counting the man who had been one of the men responsible for killing her clan, but she didn't dismiss it either as she ran. At the stables she saw Harriet having problems getting inside his hut. She ordered Bull to smash it open with his huge war-hammer while she herself ran to the stables, freeing all the horses including her own.
"Run Seranni! Find me later, my friend." She urged the mare by slapping her hindquarters. The horse neighed and ran out and off into the night with the others, hopefully to find a way through the mountains.
Cullen shouted at her and her group and they ran up and through the gates as he ushered them and anyone else in before slamming the gates behind him, just as the terrifying dragon flew over them back towards what was left of his master's army.
"We need everyone back to the Chantry! It's the only building that might hold against that-that beast!" He yelled out, before turning to look at her, fear and hopelessness evident upon his face. "At this point, lets just make them work for it." He growled before running up to the Chantry.
Ayla moved to follow but heard several cries coming from the direction of the Tavern and Apothecary. She ran in that direction immediately and ran into the tavern that was in flames. Several people were trapped under tables or a column from the roof. They all lifted the debris together and she sent Bull and Cassandra off with those that couldn't walk without help, while she, Varric, and Dorian continued up to the Apothecary to help two wounded mages. They rushed hurriedly from their with the mages, getting them as far away as possible before several pots full of some sort of explosive blasted up setting that whole section on fire.
They ran quickly to the Chantry where Vivian came rushing forward taking the injured mages with Varric, leaving her and Dorian to help a person being attacked by a band of Red Templars who had somehow come from behind the Chantry. As soon as it was clear she ran for the doors of the chantry where the young spirit boy and Chancellor Roderick were walking forward urging the people of Haven into the safety of the religious building.
Ayla ran in but stopped at the sound of someone falling behind her. She turned and saw the cleric in Cole's arms. Despite her distaste for the man she ran forward and helped Cole bring him to a chair close by.
"He tried to stop a Templar. The blade went deep, he's going to die." The boy explained. Ayla looked at the man who had only a few months before declare she was a criminal.
"What a charming boy." The man said clearly in a state of delirium.
From the corner of her eye Ayla saw Cullen coming towards her. "Herald, our position is not good. That dragon stole back any time you might've earned us."
"I've seen an Archdemon." Cole said softly from where he sat with Roderick. "I was in the Fade, but it looked like that."
"I don't care what it looks like." Cullen frowned at the boy as if that didn't matter. It's cut a path for that army. They'll kill everyone in Haven."
"The Elder One doesn't care about the village." Cole said. "He only wants her."
"If it will save these people, he can have me." She said her voice unwavering but gentle.
"It won't. He wants to kill you. No one else maters but he will destroy anyone who gets caught in the crossfire. I don't like him." Cole told them.
"You-don't," Cullen shook his head, disregarding that comment and turned back to her. "Herald, there are no tactics to make this survivable. The only thing that slowed them was the avalanche. We could turn the remaining Trebuchet to cause one last slide."
"We're overrun. To hit the enemy we'd bury Haven and everyone in it." Ayla said.
"We'd die but we can decide how." Cullen stated with a slight rebellious look on his face before it softened. "Many don't get that choice."
They stood in silence for a moment trying to think of some way to get these people out of there alive. A moment later Cole chimed in. "Yes that…" He whispered, before speaking louder so she and Cullen could hear. "Chancellor Roderick can help. He wants to say it before he dies."
"There is a path…no one would know it," he began, voice raspy and aching with the pain from his wound. "Unless you made the summer pilgrimage, as I have. The people can escape…she must have shown me. Andraste must have shown me, so I could tell you."
"What about it Cullen, could it work?" She asked.
"Possibly." He said, hope beginning to shine once more through him. "If he shows us the path. But what of your escape."
Ayla thought for a moment. As she debated she saw Solas appear a little ways away behind Cullen talking to several people with Dorian. They were offering to heal them. She sighed deeply as her mind found only one way to help these people get out safely. It seemed it was here she was meant to die. She had nothing to regret except that she never got to tell Solas how she felt. It didn't matter now since it seemed he had refused to even look or speak to her since their argument that morning. Sadness flew into her heart for a moment before she shut all the emotions away by closing her eyes. When she opened them again, all that showed on her face was stubborn determination. The decision was made and she looked at Cullen her silence saying everything.
"Perhaps you will surprise it, find a way." He said sullenly before walking off to inform the others, leaving her to begin her journey towards her death.
Ayla released her daggers from her hips and installed her magic in them making them cackle and flare with combined electricity and fire. She unclasped her cloak letting it fall to the ground forgotten. She would need as much of herself free as possible if she was to get to the Trebuchet on her own.
She heard Cullen shouting orders from behind her and the shouts from Dorian as she rushed forward, flinging the doors of the Chantry open before disappearing into the night.
…..
"Where is the Herald?" Solas asked frantically as Cullen waited for everyone in Haven was going down the secret pathway that led out the village.
"She is giving us time." The Commander told him. Dorian's eyes widened before anger erupted onto his face.
"Are you mad?" Solas snapped. "You've sent her out there to die!"
"She volunteered and by the look on her face there was nobody who could talk her out of it." The Commander snapped back. "And her sacrifice will mean nothing if everyone here is buried under the mountainside. This is our only chance."
Solas shook his head angrily, collecting his staff almost followed by Dorian, but Cullen grabbed them both roughly by their shoulders, as they began heading towards the doors. "She's long gone and your skills are needed here. Help evacuate the wounded. I will have you both dragged along with us if I must." The human looked pained, worry etched into his features. "I don't want it to come to that."
He gave a short, reluctant nod, resigning himself to flee with the others but first grabbed her discarded cloak before joining the others. Dorian however, was harder to convince. It wasn't until Bull picked him up and dragged him through the tunnel that they were all headed out.
…
Ayla snuck her way along, hiding in the shadows as she made her way back along the path around the Tavern. She made through most of the small groups of Red Templars before she had to attack. Ayla stopped and strategized how she would initiate the attack.
She continued using her cloaking spell and released an elemental spell of earth, making vines pop out of the earth to trip her foes as she came forward, jumping on them, slamming her daggers inside two of them at once. Her daggers killed them instantly with her fire and electricity. A third disfigured Templar came up behind her but she was to quick and was spinning with her daggers slicing him repeatedly in the stomach. He fell down has his intestines came spilling out of him, some of it filled with Red Lyrium.
She turned her nose up in disgust as she continued running down the oath way that led to the third Trebuchet. It didn't take her long to get to it being it was fairly close by. But the colossal group of Red Templars in front of it gave her pause. She alone this time with nobody to distract them while she aimed the catapult.
Ayla closed her eyes as she allowed the energy from the Earth flood into her as she enacted a spell. She opened her eyes and raised her hands up into the air using wind to create a tornado to swirl around bringing, the snow around it within. Once it was big enough she sent if flying into the group, flinging them about and then slamming them down hard breaking half of their necks. The other half that survived she used her throwing knives and sent arcs of lightning at them, not stopping even a second as she appeared behind one creature stabbing him in the neck, before turning and jumping onto another, using a fire spell to incinerate him the moment they touched. Soon she was by herself heaving from the exertion of taking out all of the things.
With a small bit of pride Ayla walked up to the third Trebuchet and began the grueling task of turning it towards the mountains.
Just as she finished the dragon flew ahead and she ran away to keep the catapult intact. The creatures Red Lyrium breath flared down causing a pot of explosives to blast. It hit her as she ran sending her flying to the ground. Ayla grunted as she landed hard a few feet away, turning as she sensed a threatening presence coming towards her from the path beyond.
The hideously deformed man known as the Elder One came walking through the flames. She knew instantly that he had some sort of Darkspawn blood in him and wondered briefly how that had come to be but the thought was cleared away an instant later as fear took hold at the utter hatred and violence upon his disgusting face. He stopped walking a few yards before her. She was so distracted she was startled when the earth rumbled and a loud noise came from behind her. Her head whipped to look behind her and her eyes widened as she saw the Archdemon coming towards her. Ayla shied away from it moving off to the right keeping both adversaries in her view.
The dragon roared at her menacingly before giving another roar to the sky.
"Enough!" The voice was deep filled with anger, coming from this Elder One. He blasted her with red lightning that she knew was Red Lyrium. She threw up a full elemental ward, blocking his attack so she wouldn't become ill from the effects. "Pretender, you toy with forces beyond your ken no more."
Anger radiated through her at his words. She was getting really tired of stupid elves and evil people telling her that she was a child who knew nothing of ancient history. As Sera would say, ugh!
"What are you? Why are you doing this?" Ayla asked with disgust, her voice dripping with her anger.
"Mortals beg for truth they cannot have. It is beyond what you are, what I was." He rambled to her. Again with the insult to my intelligence! She grumbled inside. "Know me, know what you have pretended to be, exalt the Elder One. The Will that is Corypheus. You will kneel!" He demanded and pointed down at the ground.
"I haven't been pretending to be anything." Ayla stated as she raised her head high in challenge. His name sounded familiar. Where had she heard that name before? "As for kneeling, I will never bow down to a power hungry maniac!"
"Then you shall die as you were supposed to at the Conclave." He said threateningly as he brought up the orb Solas had mentioned that had caused the Breach. She knew immediately that it was Elven. Knew it had come from the time before the Veil. Ayla let it slide for the moment as the wannabe god continued. He powered up the thing making it glow red. "I am here for the Anchor. The process of removing it begins, now."
He shot his magic at her and caused the mark on her hand to pulse and glow. Sharp pain radiated up her arm as Corypheus tried to remove it from her.
"It is your fault, Herald. You interrupted a ritual that took years to plan. Instead of dying, you stole its purpose." Corypheus told her. "I don't know how you survived, but what marks you as touched, what you flail at rifts I crafted to assault the very heavens."
"You didn't craft this, you idiot." Ayla growled. "You stole it from the Elvhen to try to become a wannabe God, much like they tried to do when they stole it from my people."
Corypheus didn't hear her as he pulled at the magic. There was no way for it to come off her however since it had been accepted into her as a part of her magic now. It had chosen her, not him.
The pain was ripping through her as her elemental magic clung to the mark. It would not relinquish a part of itself that had been missing.
"And you use the Anchor to undo my work." He turned his face up in distaste, showing her the arrogance within him. "The gall…"
"You wont be able to take it! No matter what you try!" Ayla screamed at him. "It has returned home!"
A frustrated growl erupted from him and he marched forward, yanking her up by her marked hand.
"I once breached the Fade in the name of another, to serve the Old Gods of the Elvhen Empire in person. I found only chaos and corruption, dead whispers. For a thousand years I was confused, but no more. I have gathered the will to return under no name but my own." He rambled on and on. I return to champion Tevinter and correct this Blighted world. Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the Old Gods and it was empty."
Corypheus tossed her into the Trebuchet, like she were a rag doll. He back slammed into it knocking the breath from her lungs. Her vision got hazy for a minute but returned a minute later to see him striding forward unhappily.
"The Anchor is permanent." He said. "You have spoiled it with your stumbling."
"I already told you that." She shook her head and rolled her eyes at his arrogance and stupidity. As she finished her eye roll she saw a sword laying close by and lunged for it before getting to her feet quickly as he got closer, intent on just killing her this time.
"So be it, I will begin again. I will find another way to give this world the nation and God it requires."
Ayla shook her head at these foolish aspirations. When will the world ever learn? She wondered. A flare lit up behind him signaling that Haven was cleared.
"And you. I will not suffer an unknowing rival. You must die."
Ayla looked around and saw the handle to the crank to her left. She smirked at him shaking her head. "Your arrogance blinds you. Good to know." Said in amusement, laughing a little. His eyes narrowed at her. "If I am to die it won't be by your hand."
With that last statement she kicked at the nozzle, dropped the sword, and ran for her life as the catapult fired, sending the next wave of rocks and heavy snow tumbling towards the village.
Ayla didn't turn to look at him just continued running, hoping to find something to escape the oncoming avalanche. The snow came down fast and flung her off the Trebuchet, slamming her onto a sharp piece of wood before she fell into some hole, the snow burying her into an underground tunnel of some sort, she noticed before she hit her head hard onto the ground beneath her, causing her to black out.
…..
The cold bit at his flesh even as the fires raged around him.
She isn't dead. She can't be.
He had been so angry with her after their argument that morning, he hadn't spoken to her again afterwards, and hadn't been planning to at all. But now, all he could think about was the guilt and the overwhelming sense of loss. Despite their differences she not judged him on his belief like he had done with her heritage. Her last words to him kept playing in his head, over and over. "You wont even give me a chance to show you what I know and believe. Are you so stubborn in your own beliefs that you wont allow someone else a chance to show you theirs, like you try to? How are we to accept your beliefs if you won't allow us to show you ours?"
He thought her stupid for volunteering to suicide in order to save the rest of them. He of course hadn't known what she had done since he refused to talk to her, and now, like the rest of Haven, she was buried under a mountain. He followed the rest of Haven's evacuees, climbing slowly through some hidden mountain path.
A few hours later, the wind numbed his skin, whipping through the improvised encampment. They did not have enough tents nor, enough blankets. Too many of their healers were dead or dying or missing. The advisors were squabbling, shouting. Some wanted to search for her, but there was no knowing where to start looking. In her absence, things were already beginning to unravel. They were a newly birthed organization and the shemlen had sent their own head to be loped off. This thought tore at him bitterly. He had seen this before, hundreds of times throughout the centuries. Orders and empires and faiths crumbled over the simple removal of a single element. For the Inquisition, she was that element.
The wails of the wounded disturbed his thoughts. He had done all he could for them, summoning spirits of compassion to aid in the healing. The task was difficult. His mind was clouded, his chest tight.
He had let her slip away from his attention, not caring about what she had been doing. Too focused on his anger at his mistakes that he drove her away by ignoring her. He had refused to even look at her and so he let her volunteer to die. If he had been watching more closely, he would have seen her leave, would have been able to follow, to stop her.
He could not abandon the thought that this was his fault. She bore the power of his foci in her flesh. He had brought this upon her in his foolishness. None of this would have happened if he had kept the orb to himself if he'd found another way. She would not be marked; she would not have thrown herself into danger. He never would have met her, but at least she would be safe. At least she would be alive.
No. You do not know that she's dead. Do not assume what you cannot know. Look only to the facts in front of you. Focus.
He had been observing her for weeks. He quietly volunteered to accompany her on her travels, watched her as she moved through Haven. She was a mystery, an accident of fate, and a possible answer that had fallen into his lap. His initial assumptions about her nature were ill formed. Even though she still held onto her naïve desire to worship beings she had no true knowledge of, she was unlike the Dalish in every other aspect. She was cautious. Thoughtful. Compassionate, even to the shemlen her people so vehemently despised. Even after the tragic events that had caused her so much pain both physical and emotionally. She possessed a deeper understanding of magic than he had given her credit for and her thirst to learn more seemed unquenchable. Rather than being repelled or resistant to the information he shared about the nature of spirits and the Fade, he'd watch as her eyes brightened with fascination. She had already spent more than one evening with him, commanding his attention, peppering him with questions about his experiences until the blush of early morning fell upon the sky. She was unexpected. Captivating. Details that had seemed inconsequential began to spark his notice. The way one brow would lift before she said something teasing or coy, the tilt of her ears as she mulled over a thought. He began to feel warmed when his words brought a smile to her lips, pleased when she favored him with the roundness of her laughter.
Visions of her began to creep into his dreams, his desires undeniable. He hadn't acted on them. He couldn't. But it did not stop the Fade from showing him what he wanted. The temptation to slip into her sleeping mind lingered, an indulgence he did not allow himself. He tried to now, closing his eyes, sinking into an uneasy rest. This wasn't the pleasured escape he had envisioned for his first time seeking her in the Fade. This was an aching hunt, a desperate need to cling to some hope that she was still out there, connected to him in some way. If he found her mind, maybe he could discover where she lay sleeping, tell her where to seek them.
He could sense nothing. He supposed that could be good news. Wherever she was, she was conscious.
But the dead do not dream either.
….
Ayla awoke several hours later from the cold. She looked up, trying to guess how far she had fallen.
20 feet? More?
She could hear the creaking of the wooden planks above her. The ones she had fallen through. They were heavy with snow, and they would collapse under the weight soon.
She rolled away from the hole in the ceiling of…what was this? A cavern? No, a tunnel.
When she did pain like no other burned throughout her torso. Ayla looked down and took stock of her injuries. A splintered piece of wood sticking out of her stomach immediately caught her attention. Fendhis! This was going to hurt.
Ayla ripped of a piece of the leather from her robes and put it in her mouth to keep her from biting down on her tongue. Next she took a deep breath before yanking the wood out, screaming at the top of her lungs from the pain. Her vision blurred with black spots for a few moments, almost fainting again.
Her breathing was heavy from the pain and knew that there were splintered pieces inside her. They were piercing who knew what organs, but she couldn't worry about that at the moment. She quickly checked herself over noticing she had several broken ribs and a sprained wrist. She healed her wrist but left her ribs alone. She didn't have enough strength to heal them fully and trying to heal them halfway would only cause her more problems if they didn't set right.
Ayla went back to the hole in her stomach and used her ice magic to seal the wound temporarily. She had to find a healer but first she needed to get out of this tunnel and snow. She couldn't stay there or she would freeze to death soon.
She dragged herself to her feet. At least she hadn't broken any legs. She moved forward, slowly. Clinging to the wall of the cave, she shuffled along. She didn't know how long she had been out, or even really where she was. But there was only one direction.
She finally saw light ahead. Well, not light, but lighter than the tunnel she was in. She had been stumbling along, blind. But as she got closer, she could see the light of the moon reflecting off of the snow. But as she got closer her heart dropped as she saw three Despair Demons blocking her exit out. She couldn't fight or she would surely die. Her wounds were too severe, there was no way especially with hardly any weapons. Her magic was depleted and her daggers were now buried under mountains of snow with Haven. All she had was her breast dagger and a set of throwing knives. Those wouldn't help her much.
Her spirits plummeted further down into the abyss as she fell to the ground in surrender. Ayla hoped they would kill her swiftly so she could die without suffering.
Suddenly, the mark on her hand pulsed before blasting out, creating a rift just above the demons. It sucked them in and sealed back up within a matter of seconds. Ayla stared at the now free path, wondering at what had just happened. Don't worry about it now; she chastised herself as she pulled herself back to her feet. After letting the black spots clear from her vision once more she walked slow out of the strange tunnel into a almost silent night.
Ayla was facing what used to be a forest…now it was only felled trees, laying against each other like tall grass that had been walked on. Far off, she heard howling. A whole pack of wolves, woefully crying into the night.
Falon'Din, take me. I'm going to die here.
But she kept moving, stumbling ever forward.
Finally, she had reached a place where the trees had not been felled by the avalanche. She had passed the point of shivering, now. Her fingers were purple, and her ears were so wind-burnt, they almost felt warm. She coughed violently, spitting bright scarlet onto a blanket of white. Well she now knew where some of the wood had gone. Part of it was piercing her right lung.
Definitely not a good sign…
She coughed up more blood for a few more minutes before she pressed on.
It had seemed like hours, and she was so tired. Her legs were giving out, her lungs now wheezing from the splinters. She coughed again; more blood. She fell to her knees.
The cold was getting worse, her body starting to shut down from the negative temperatures.
Just lie down. Just sleep.
But something caught her eye. A few meters away, a pile of ash and embers, still smoking. She got up, but it hurt. She stumbled a few more steps, looking at a cliff-face nearby. She thought she heard voices…
"There! It's her!" Cullen's voice was beautiful, like honey in warm cream.
"Thank the Maker!" Cassandra's own heavily accented one rang out.
She made to step toward the familiar voices, but her body couldn't take it anymore. She fell on her knees wheezing and coughing. Her body fell over and curled into itself, vision fading with the last feeling being blood trickling down from her lips—but before she died Ayla could've sworn she heard the panicked voice of Solas above her one last time.
"Lethallan, can you hear me?"