SPLASH!
"Where the fuck'd they come from?!" Exclaimed a surprised voice.
Saliah heard the sounds of swords unsheathing and sloshing footsteps running through the water. She stood, acutely aware of the knee-deep pool she was in, and pulled her hammer. Looking up, she saw two strangely helmed guards coming towards her, their short swords pulled. One was immediately immolated with a firebolt as Dorian mumbled a spell.
She lunged at her guard, swinging her maul at his head. Her hammer clanged loudly as she connected with her hit. Her opponent flew into the water. Immediately, she jumped and landed on him, threading her fingers through the holes in his helm, pinning his shoulders to the ground with her knees, and held him underwater. He thrashed against her, reaching up, pulling at her hair and her face. Grabbing a handful of hair, the guard pulled Saliah towards the waterline. Grunting in pain, Saliah shifted her weight so that she was sitting squarely on his sternum and pushed her rear down, forcing the air out of his lungs. She felt his ribs give under the weight of her. She struggled with the writhing body for a moment more, and then all at once it went still.
"Sah-" Dorian began.
Saliah turned her head sharply and silenced him with a look and a gesture. She looked down to the body in the water as she focused her hearing to discern if they were alone. Satisfied with the silence after a moment, she pulled the dead hand from her hair as she rolled back on her haunches and stood up.
Looking around the room, Saliah saw that they were in a storage bunker at the bottom of a staircase. The newly opened gates were flanked on either side by huge red, glowing crystals that seemed to grow out of the wall. Looking behind her, she saw that there was no exit other than the one before her.
"You are beautifully savage when you want to be." Dorian said quietly, approaching her and looking down at the waterlogged body floating below them.
"That's what I'm told." Saliah said, smirking at the backhanded compliment as she squeezed the water from her hair. "Where are we?" She asked as she continued to survey the room.
"We're in the room that holds the secret entrance Sister Leliana showed me." He said, looking around. He looked at the two red crystals and narrowed his eyes, darting them around the room, as though he was making sure he wasn't imagining things. He tucked his chin into his hand, muttering the words 'displacement' and 'rift' and 'amulet.'
As he sloshed around the room, Saliah thought he looked as through he was working through a numbers puzzle. "It's probably not what Alexius intended…" Dorian mumbled to no one. Suddenly he snapped his fingers in a moment of eureka. "I don't think we should be asking ourselves where so much as when!"
"What?" Saliah asked, eyebrows raised.
"Alexius used the amulet as a focus. It moved us through time!" Dorian seemed much more pleased with the outcome than Saliah liked.
"How lovely, your theory is proven." Saliah said with a serious face and a cocked eyebrow.
"Indee-" Dorian looked at her and then quickly cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, dear. You're right; this is not the time to preen."
"So, did he move us forward or back in time?"
"That is an excellent question." Dorian responded. "Sadly, I haven't a clue. Let's have a look around, see if we can discern where that rift took us."
"That was a… of course it was a rift." Saliah said, holding her branded hand to her forehead as she shook her head. "Why am I surprised?" She looked to the stairwell and motioned for Dorian to follow her.
As they walked up the long stairway, Saliah reflected on the confrontation with Magister Alexius. "Do you know what you are?" She remembered the acid in his tone. "You're nothing but a mistake!" He's right. Ultimately, I don't understand what the mark is for, Saliah admitted to herself. His talk of the Breach being brought about to create a new beginning confused her, as did the apparent ritual she interrupted. Saliah strained her memory to try and remember what happened that first day. But again, all she could remember was green haze, giant spiders, and a voice calling out to her. She sighed sharply as she climbed the stairs. She hated spiders.
"Dorian, do you have any idea who this Elder One is? What was Alexius talking about with the Breach being a new beginning? The start of a new Imperium?" Saliah asked, stopping her ascend.
"The leader of the Venatori, I suspect. Some insane Magister intent on becoming a God." Dorian said in a disgusted tone. "You'd think the Imperium would learn. But, why pass up the opportunity to one-up the whole "Starting the Blight" claim to fame, when you can tear time itself? Seems like a marvelous idea. Why didn't I think of it?" He growled sarcastically.
Saliah patted him on the shoulder supportively and continued to ascend the stairs. As they came to the next floor, Saliah was taken aback by all of huge red crystals that seemed to grow out of the ground and out of the walls. They glowed like fire encapsulated in glass, practically lighting their way through the darkened hallways. Her branded hand began to itch. Dorian gave her a concerned look as she scratched at her palm.
"This way." Dorian motioned. "This path will take us up through the prison cells."
Saliah nodded as she led the way.
The pair made their way into a room lined with barred cells. Most were empty, save for one where an elven mage's body lay dead. It lay next to a growth of the red crystal. The body emanated a faint red glow. Saliah stopped and looked at the body, then to one of the red crystal growths in the room, and then back to the body.
"Maker's bowels." Saliah breathed, looking at Dorian. "It's red Lyrium." She pointed around the room.
"How do you know that?" Dorian asked.
"One of the former Templars in Haven told me about it. It's why he and his men left the Order." Saliah replied, mutely remembering Patric's words. "The Templars he encountered were consuming it, apparently. Patric said that they were glowing as well." If it is here…Maker, are the Templars in on this? Saliah thought to herself. Could they have fallen prey to the Elder One?
"And what is this Red Lyrium?" Dorian asked.
"It's like the blue shit, except it makes you crazier." Saliah replied, channeling Varric as she said it. She was at once very worried for her dwarven friend. That worry urged her to not dawdle. "Let's keep going."
Continuing down the hall, Saliah and Dorian found a door and opened it easily. Greeting them was another long hallway of barred cells. Saliah went through first, checking for guards. Finding none, she motioned for Dorian to follow her. Halfway down the hall, Saliah saw a familiar bald head and pointed ears out of the corner of her eye. Turning around, she saw the Solas' back. He was absently swaying side to side, as if caught in some unheard tune. Like with all of the cells, the red Lyrium grew here as well.
"Solas?" Saliah hoarsely whispered.
Turning around, Solas' usually stoic face turned agape, not believing what he saw.
"You're alive?" He asked in disbelief. "But, I saw you die!" He came up to the bars and held out his hands to Saliah. Saliah grasped them and pulled herself to the bars. "How is this possible?" He whispered, looking her over.
"No, my friend. I'm quite alive, I assure you. We just got here." Saliah said, openly smiling and relived to see another familiar face. Her face fell as she realized that Solas was emanating that same red glow. His eyes' veins were as though he had little red crystals bleeding their light into him. He was gaunt, sickly looking. She released his hand and gently cupped the back of his neck, pulling his forehead to hers. Maker, what have they done to you? She thought, trying to hide the horror she felt.
"How?" Solas asked weakly.
"Alexius' spell displaced us in time." Dorian said from behind Saliah.
"Let's get you out of there. Stand back." Saliah gently commanded, releasing her friend. She stepped back from the door and kicked it a few times. Finally the she heard the door groan. She approached it again to try and jiggle it off of its hinges to no avail. Frustrated, she kicked it again.
"My dear, let me have a go at it." Dorian said, leveling his staff. Saliah moved and he blasted the door hinges with fire. Once they had melted enough, he cast an ice spell, making the metal brittle. "Try now. You should be able to kick it open with a little—" He was interrupted by the crash delivered by Saliah's kick, "push." He finished with a small smirk on his face.
Solas stumbled out of the cell, visibly weak. Saliah caught him as he started to fall.
"What did Alexius hope to gain by throwing us forward in time?" Saliah asked as she steadied him.
"I imagine he hoped to wipe you from time altogether. That way, you would never have been at the Temple of Sacred Ashes to spoil his Elder One's plans. But, as he cast the spell, I countered it. The magic went wild, and well—here we are." Dorian motioned around him.
"Can you reverse the process?" Solas asked, steadying himself. "You could obviate the events of the last year. It could prevent all of…if you can do this, they can all be saved."
"If I can get a hold of the amulet, then maybe." Dorian replied.
"Maybe? Dorian, maybe is not an option." Saliah said, her voice bordering on shrill.
"Well, it would either send us back, or turn us to paste. Either seems like a better option than this." Dorian said, putting his hands on his hips indignantly. "I told you before, Saliah, this magic is very unstable. Regardless, arguing over it does no good until we find it."
"Then let's keep moving." She said, turning to Solas. "Are you alright to walk a bit?"
"I will be alright. Being away from the Lyrium is already helping me. But, I have no staff." Solas' comment confirmed Saliah's worst fear. The red poison had begun to consume his mind as Varric had described.
"We'll find you something." Saliah said, offering him the path. "Have you seen any of the others?" Her branded hand began itching again. This time, both of the mages looked at her as she scratched it.
"No, they've kept us separated. They would also switch us out of our cells every few days. I've heard Varric's singing echoing in the halls, and I've heard Cassandra saying the Chant of Light repeatedly. So, I think they are alive. As for the others…" Varric hung his head and shrugged.
"It's alright, my friend. We're going to fix this." Saliah said, rubbing his back reassuringly.
The trio continued down the long hallway, glancing in every cell for their companions. As they crossed by one, Saliah did a double take. She ran to the door, violently shaking the bars. A small, dwarven body lay on the ground facing them, eyes and mouth open.
"Andraste's blood—Varric!" She cried to the motionless body, being slowly absorbed by the Lyrium around it. "VARRIC! Get the fuck up!" She pleaded, slamming her hands against the iron bars repeatedly, knowing that the mottled body wouldn't move. Tears stung her eyes as she slumped to the ground, staring at him in disbelief. His death mask was a slack-jawed, milk-eyed face. Not the clever, brave man she knew in life. Her core, which was simmering when they got there, switched into a rolling boil. She started to grimace and breathe quickly as she stared helplessly at her dead friend.
"Saliah, he's gone." Solas said quietly, putting his hand on her shoulder. "We need to find the others."
Saliah looked up to him and back to Varric's body. She forced her fight down back to a simmer as she nodded. She knew she had to stay clear-headed, but she would get her dues for this, she told herself. She got up and continued forward, wiping her eyes. I'm so sorry, Varric. I will fix this. She promised silently.
They found Cassandra and the Blackwall further down the hall. Cassandra was convinced that they were hallucinations until Saliah and Dorian broke down the door to her cell. She threw herself at Saliah, toppling them both to the ground. She was clutching her and sobbing tears of disbelief and relief. Saliah could barely make out what she was saying, distracted by Cassandra's sobs and her body odor. It was clear that they were not being kept kindly. She held Cassandra's face in her hands, and marshaled herself to smile reassuringly at her bewildered friend's gaunt and glowing face. She quickly kissed Cassandra's clammy forehead and helped her up.
Blackwall's reaction was much more measured. He was just relieved and happy to see them. He wordlessly clapped Saliah on the back as his eyes glistened with tears.
"Do either of you know what has happened?" Saliah asked the two of them once Blackwall was released from his cell. Saliah summoned everything in her not to gawk at them in horror. They were both visibly malnourished and glowing that hideous shade of red she had seen everywhere. Strangely, all three of them were still in the clothes and armor they wore the day Saliah and Dorian disappeared.
"After you disappeared, those bastards took us all prisoner." Blackwall growled. "We were told nothing. We've been kept in this dungeon and force-fed that red shit for I don't know how long. I'd like nothing more than to thank them for their hospitality." He balled his hands into fists and shook his arms as he said it.
"We need to know what year it is." Dorian said. "I need to know the time lapse if I am to send us back."
"Then we are going to find out, aren't we." Saliah said, turning and continuing forward.
The group entered yet another dungeon of cells, but this one was smaller.
"This is the final room before the rest of the castle." Dorian said hollowly.
Saliah knew what he was saying: they were not going to find anyone else alive. She swallowed hard, forcing herself not to loose her mind to grief. As they continued through the room, Saliah stopped. She tilted her head up to listen and then looked behind her.
"What is it?" Dorian asked stepping in close to her.
"There are no guards anywhere. We've gone through most of this dungeon and there are no guards on duty." Saliah replied. "Why wouldn't they guard them?" She motioned to the group of glowing companions.
"Evidently, they didn't pose a threat after awhile." Dorian said, looking back at them and then to Saliah.
Saliah took a deep breath and let it out slowly, steeling herself. "Oh, that asshole is going to wish he had just killed me when he had the opportunity." Saliah growled under her breath, turning her head to continue forward.
The cell closest to the entrance radiated a brighter red light than what she had seen in any of the other cells. Approaching it carefully, Saliah peered in and recoiled in disgust. Co-joined with a huge mass of red Lyrium, was a barely alive Fiona. The Lyrium around her had grown into most of her body. Only part of her head and torso were free of it. Fiona opened her eyes at the commotion of their approach.
"You're alive?" She asked in a weak whisper. "How? I saw you thrown into the rift." Saliah realized that the woman was barely lucid, and didn't have long. There was no saving her.
"Fiona, what's happened to you?" Dorian asked.
"Red Lyrium. The longer you are exposed to it, this happens. It takes longer for some than others." She rattled dryly. "Eventually, it kills you and they harvest your corpse."
"Fiona, can you tell us what has happened?" Saliah asked, working to subdue her abhorrence at what was done to the poor woman.
"After you fell, Alexius continued his work for the Elder One. The Elder One ripped open the Breach and launched a war on Orlais, killing Empress Celene and invading the south." She paused to breathe. "His demon army has killed everyone and everything. There's nothing left."
"Can you tell us the date? It's very important." Dorian pressed.
"17 Harvestmere," Fiona croaked, "9:42 Dragon."
"So, exactly one year. That's good, right?" Saliah muttered to Dorian.
"Well, we have a date and year. It's better than nothing. Maker, we've missed a year and all this has transpired!" Dorian looked terrified. "I should be able to take us back in time to prevent this." Dorian's face changed from terrified to determined. Saliah echoed his sentiment.
"Where did the demon army come from, Fiona?" Saliah asked urgently.
"From the Fade." Fiona whispered. She panted for breath and continued. "Your Spymaster is here. Find her. She may know more." Her lucidity stopped as she rambled about the mages harvesting Lyrium, the abominations she'd seen. She kept babbling nonsense until she suddenly became very serious and looked Saliah dead in the eyes. "Please, stop this from happening. The Elder One—no one challenges him and lives. He is more powerful than the Maker. Hurry, before he knows you're here." She closed her eyes with those words. Saliah wasn't sure if she was dead or exhausted. She didn't want to find out, for fear of what it would do to her edging temper.
"What is in the next room, Dorian?" Saliah asked.
"An antechamber of sorts, it's a causeway suspended over a ravine."
"We need to find Leliana." Saliah replied.
"Saliah, we need to get both of you back." Blackwall said, his voice bordering on panic.
Saliah turned to him. "You're right. But I need to get as much information about this future so I can make sure it never happens. Leliana will know." She said gently but firmly. Blackwall slowly nodded his head in response. While he and Cassandra had been mostly silent, their looks of abject fear told Saliah all she needed to know about this future. She needed to prevent it.
"Let Dorian and me clear the room, then come in." Saliah looked to the three of them.
"No! Saliah, we just got you back." Cassandra breathed.
"Yes, and all three of you are weakened and have no weapons. I can't worry about you and what I'm fighting." Saliah responded. "Once we have you armed, we can all fight together." She reached and squeezed Cassandra's shoulder. The look on Cassandra's face was of begrudging relent.
Saliah went to the door, closed her eyes, and listened. After a moment, she heard three sets of footsteps, two chinking in time with shifting chainmail. No heavy armor on them. That fucking Magister is cocksure, isn't he—she thought to herself. She walked back to the group and relayed what she heard.
"The softer steps were likely a mage. From what Fiona babbled, they're everywhere." Dorian guessed.
The two agreed that she would focus on the mage first and then help Dorian with the two armored guards. Saliah and Dorian went to the door, Saliah not stopping to shove the door into the other room. As expected, there were two guards in chainmail and a mage who were stunned at the intrusion.
Saliah made straight for the mage, stalking quickly like a focused cat of prey. In one continuous motion, she punched a guard that came at her while pulling her maul forward with the other hand. She smirked as she heard the guard fall to the ground as she continued forward. The female mage facing her hurriedly readied a spell and cast it. Saliah didn't break her gaze as she dodged the thunderbolt. As Saliah neared her with a look of primal fury, the mage started screaming and backed up to the door at the other end of the causeway. As the mage fumbled with the knob behind her, Saliah skipped for momentum and swung her weapon with both hands at the woman's head. The woman's unprotected head splattered against the door, her twitching body slumping to the ground.
Saliah turned to find two charred corpses and Dorian inspecting his hands for filth. Behind him, her gaunt trio emerged through the door. Saliah quickly grabbed the staff off the mage's body and made for them.
"Maker, it's good to see you fighting." Cassandra smiled. Saliah gathered the weapons off the two corpses and handed the armaments to her friends. She quickly looked around to survey the strange room. It was as Dorian had described: an antechamber of sorts, a very dank antechamber. It had doors leading in four directions, with a suspended floor that hung over a deep hole. She wondered how and why the room came to be in this way.
"You all clean?" She taunted dryly as she looked to Dorian, who was still grooming his hands.
"These hands will suffer time but not filth, my dear." Dorian said to her in a smug tone.
"Cute." Saliah said flatly. She heard Solas give an exasperated sigh. "Solas, can you cast healing magic on yourself and the others?" Saliah asked, wanting to be productive. She knew their nerves her far more frayed than hers.
Nodding, Solas quickly cast a healing circle over himself and the others. While they didn't look at full health, they did look better. Saliah was relieved to see it.
Just then, they heard choruses of screams coming from the area behind the door to the right of them. Saliah and her companions all ran towards the direction of the sound. Opening the door, they ran up the wide staircase to a hallway lined with more doors.
The screeches and grunts of pain came from all directions, each one distinct and harrowing to hear. Following the choruses of pain, demands came from other voices. All of the accusing voices were demanding information, supplication, or compliance. Then, as if rehearsed, the screams started again. Saliah was shaken to her core by it. Her companions' reactions were different flavors of the same dread.
"It's a torture tactic. The victims all hear one another scream, making them weaker against their torturers." Blackwall said dispassionately.
"How do you know that?" Saliah said, trying to keep calm. Blackwall only cocked his eyebrow and tilted his head in response.
Standing there, hearing the commotion, one thing became clear to Saliah. Either clear each room and save each person, or find the room that held Leliana. She loathed the decision she was about to make. When I make it back, this will never happen. She tried to comfort herself with the silent affirmation.
"We cannot save them. We must find Leliana." Saliah said vacantly.
"What? Saliah, these people—" Cassandra started.
"I know." Saliah said, her face contorted in guilt. "But, I can't risk Dorian or myself with each encounter. We can't afford it…" Saliah couldn't believe the choice she was making. In all of her years of training, nothing had prepared her for this.
Cassandra stared at her, astonished by what she said. In response, Saliah turned and moved forward, flinching at every new round of cries and wails. She noticed that there were no Lyrium growths in this wing of the castle. A realization that only made her more sickened: it dawned on her that the people in the dungeons were being singularly used to mine the substance.
They came to a door at the end of the hallway. "You're wasting your breath." A familiar sing-song voice said defiantly, from the other side of the door.
"Talk, you cunt, the Elder One demands answers!" A rough male voice said from within the room. The next sounds were a loud slap and a grunt of pain. It made Saliah's blood boil.
She heard the Leliana's voice laugh angrily in response. "He will get used to disappointment."
"You will break!"
"I will die first."
Saliah burst through the door; abruptly stopping at she saw in the room before her. It was a storage room, evidenced by the sacks of armor and weapon supplies strewn about and the simple furniture. Leliana was hanging by her wrists from a wooden beam. Near her, a haggard and skinny body of a man also hung, with shards of red Lyrium protruding from his wounded abdomen. Both were in their small clothes. From what she could see, Leliana was badly bruised and beaten. There was very little of her that wasn't covered in wounds and gnarly scabs. Leliana's attacker was a lean, armored, and helmed man. He stood surprised, holding a long blade in his hand.
After instantly recognizing Saliah, Leliana lifted herself and wrapped her legs around her attacker's neck. "Or you will." She snarled as she suffocated him and snapped his neck. A spent Leliana hung there helplessly as the body fell.
"You're alive!" Leliana whispered as Saliah ran to her and helped her down. Leliana stared at her for a beat.
"We never died." Saliah replied. "And I'm going to make sure this never happens." Saliah motioned to Cassandra to get Leliana some clothing as Saliah helped steady Leliana. Now that she was in front of her Saliah saw that Leliana's face was stricken, her cheeks were hollowed by starvation and the scars from third degree burns covered her all over.
"Alexius threw us forward one year in time." Dorian explained. "We are going to find him, get the amulet he used and go back to our time. That's the short version, anyway."
"And people wonder why no one trusts mages." Leliana growled as Cassandra handed her some under armor and chain mail. "No one should have that kind of power."
"The amulet will be destroyed once we return." Dorian said in a determined tone.
As Leliana dressed and bickered with Dorian, Saliah went to the man that was still hanging. Holding up his head, Saliah's color drained from her face.
"Cullen!" She cried. Cullen's eyes fluttered. "Blackwall, help me get him down!" Saliah called over her shoulder.
"I thought he was dead." Leliana said emotionlessly as Saliah and Blackwall pulled him from his shackles and gently laid his broken body onto one of the tables. The shards of the Lyrium crackled as Saliah gently lifted him onto the table.
He looked sepulchral. The man that Saliah knew to be intimidating in size and strength was now reduced to near nothing. His skin was grey and clammy. His formerly golden hair was now dull and dry like straw. Seeing her Commander reduced to this made Saliah realize that she forgave him unequivocally and wish that she hadn't left things the way she had. The butterflies in her stomach now mixed with anger she could barely hold back.
"Saliah?" Cullen croaked weakly.
"I'm here, I'm here." Saliah said gently as she cradled his head. She leaned in close and put her forehead to his and closed her eyes. "I'm here, Cullen." She kissed him between his eyebrows as her hair draped over the two of them.
"Thank the Maker." He whispered to her. She pulled her head back to see him smiling weakly at her, his eyes now fully open. Her heart pulled when she saw that the light was nearly gone from the dark amber eyes. He started to pull his arm up, but grunted and flinched in pain.
"Stay still, dearest." Saliah said quietly, forcing a small smile as she smoothed his cheek with her thumb. She knew he didn't have long.
Tossing her hair aside she looked at Leliana. "What happened to him?" She demanded.
"They tortured all of us, in different ways. The Elder One does not suffer rivals." Leliana replied.
"Why does he have shards of Lyrium in him? It's not growing anywhere in this room."
"They put it in him. They wanted to see what would happen."
Saliah was nauseated by the horror of it. "Why!" She exclaimed, cradling his head closer to her.
"Because, they wanted to see how one who stopped taking Lyrium would react to the red type." Leliana replied factually.
"He stopped taking it? When?" Saliah was shocked.
"Before you joined the Inquisition." Cassandra replied.
Saliah looked back and forth between the two women, feeling incredibly guilty and stupid for the resentment she had held against him. "Oh, Cullen—" she began, turning back to him. His eerie stillness and open eyes were all she could see. She was struck dumb to see that he was dead.
This Trevelyan let you die.
The thought sped through her head and her heart, echoing everywhere in her psyche, as she cupped his face with her hands and kissed him goodbye.
Her core boiled over in fury and pain as she pulled her lips back, her face still inches from his. Loosing Cullen and Varric, seeing what her world had become was more than she could take. Her mind and body became strangely calm and focused as her livid rage took hold. She gently lowered his head and reached back to pull her hair into its knot. Somewhere in the back of her memory, Saliah remembered her Grandfather warning her against loosing herself to the rage. She knew now that she was dangerously close to the precipice.
She slowly, almost mechanically, stood and turned to the others. "Solas, heal Leliana as much as you can. Leliana, find your preferred weapon." Saliah commanded harshly as she started for the door. "This ends, now." She quietly rumbled.
The group made its way down the long hallway of screams quickly, Saliah leading the way at a half walk/half trot pace.
"Where is Alexius?" Saliah asked.
"Likely in his chambers." Leliana replied.
Saliah stopped. "Leliana, I have no time for guessing. Do you know that for a fact?" Saliah stared her down.
Leliana shook her head.
Saliah blew the air out of her lungs sharply and kept moving.
As they neared the entrance to the antechamber, a group of three guards and one mage were hurrying up the stairway. Seeing the quintet, they pulled their weapons in unison with Saliah. The fight went quickly.
"Keep that one alive!" Saliah commanded to Cassandra over a chorus of tortured screams from the rooms. Cassandra stopped her deathblow on a prone soldier. Saliah marched over and grabbed the soldier by his collar and dragged him down the stairs and into the antechamber. She moved quickly, using the fresh round of cries as cover.
Saliah threw the man over her head, into the empty antechamber. He landed with a loud crash. Saliah ran and jumped to the man, landing with her feet on either side of him. Squatting down, she ripped his helm off of his head and found a young redheaded man with eyes wide in fear staring back at her.
Dropping to her knees, Saliah put her face inches from his. With eyes wild in barbaric rage, Saliah smiled savagely at him as she put her hands on his face. Her thumbs sat right on his cheekbones
"Hello." She said with that disturbing smile, in an eerie calm. "Here is my proposal: you're going to tell me where Alexius is, or I am going to break every bone in your face. Slowly. Your jaw will be last."
The man looked at her aghast and then started to whimper. He looked around wildly, and then back to her face. "He's in the throne room!" The young man begged. "He's awaiting the Elder One's arrival. They know you're here."
"Do they, now?" Saliah asked, cocking her head to the side. Turning to Dorian's shocked face, she asked, "Do you know where that is?"
Dorian only nodded and pointed to one of the other doors. She looked back to the solider. "Good." She said.
She began to stand. In the same motion, she grabbed his face and the back of his head and twisted, snapping his neck by the time she was on her feet. "Let's go!" She shouted over her shoulder. Her companions followed in silence.
The itching in her branded hand turned into a searing pain that shot up her arm as they went through the door into the courtyard. Saliah dropped to her knees, screaming from the surprise and the pain. Looking up, Saliah was stunned to see the Breach had grown to fill the whole sky. Pieces of the castle were suspended in mid-air, defying gravity.
"The Breach! It's—" Saliah grunted in pain.
"Everywhere." Dorian said with a voice of fear and wonder mixed.
"They veil is shattered. Nothing stands between the Fade and here." Solas said as he walked over and helped Saliah up. "Does it hurt like it did before?"
Saliah swallowed hard and nodded.
"Then the mark will consume you." Solas said hollowly.
"Then I don't have much time. Dorian, lead the way." Saliah muttered, holding her hand against her chest.
Dorian led the group to a hallway at the end of the long courtyard. Out from direct sight of the Breach, Saliah's hand stopped hurting a bit, but the pain was there. The group ran down a side hallway that led further into the castle. The décor became more ornate the further in they went; Saliah knew they were nearing Alexius. She pulled her maul from its perch.
"ALEXIUS!" Saliah roared as they entered the throne room. Alexius was standing beside a large fire in the room's hearth.
"And here you are, finally. My final failure." Alexius said without turning around and leaning on his mage's staff.
Saliah stalked quickly to him, her core white-hot in anger.
"I knew you would appear again. Not that it would be now. But, I knew you weren't dead." He said, turning around to meet her.
"How sad for you." Saliah grunted sarcastically, putting her hammer head-down next to her. She leaned against it slightly.
"The Elder One knows you are here, now. He has sent his army to collect you. I will deliver you to him! It will be my final act of penance to my master!" Alexius cried wildly.
At that moment, Leliana appeared out of the shadows with Felix, a very sad and pathetic looking Felix. The last year had not been kind on the withered shell of the man he once was. She had a knife blade at his jugular. "Give us the amulet." The Spymaster demanded.
Alexius chuckled ruefully. "Or what? My son's fate is tied to my own. Neither of us will live to see tomorrow."
"Or I will slit his throat and you will watch him die." Leliana rasped.
Alexius face went pallid, looking back and forth between Leliana and Saliah. Saliah stepped closer to him, her hammer moving in step with her as she swung it against the ground. Her nose and lips twitched as if to snarl and she bore her eyes into him. "You didn't save him after all, did you Alexius? So sad. However, no one should deserve to live like this." She gave a motion to Leliana and at once Felix's throat was cut from ear to ear.
"NO!" Alexius screamed, readying his staff and pulling the amulet in the same motion. Saliah, in response, swung her hammer and knocked his staff away. She lunged, immediately catching Alexius by the neck with her branded hand and raised him a few inches above the ground.
"Drop the amulet." Saliah demanded.
He looked down at her with a look of surprise and defiance. He tried to mumble his spell in rebellion as he struggled to free himself. Saliah tightened her grip around his throat, choking him.
"I said: drop the amulet."
He furrowed his brow and stared her down. She tightened her grip harder, making his skin begin to turn a shade of purple. His eyes started rolling to the back of his head as his hand limply dropped the item she and Dorian needed so badly. She lessened her grip slightly, letting the color in his face return to normal. Alexius gasped for air. Saliah then pulled him close to her, so that his ear was next to her mouth.
"I look forward to killing you twice for what you've done to my world." She whispered. She tightened her grip on his throat until she heard his bones crack and felt his windpipe give. Releasing him, she watched his body slump to the ground. Grabbing the amulet, Saliah turned and tossed it gently to Dorian, who caught it one-handed.
"Maker, tell past me to never piss you off!" Blackwall stated flatly.
Saliah smirked. "Dorian, how long do you need?"
"This looks like the same amulet we made in Minrathous. Give me an hour to figure out what spell he used and we should be ready." Dorian replied.
Just then, a chorus of ungodly roars and animalistic growls came from just beyond the throne room walls. The room shook as though it were caught in an earthquake.
"An hour! We don't have time! You must go now! He has arrived!" Leliana exclaimed looking about with wild eyes.
"You cannot stay here." Solas said, looking to his withered companions. They all shared a knowing glance.
"We will hold the outer door. When they get past us, it will be your turn." Cassandra said, turning to Leliana.
Leliana turned to Saliah and Dorian, "You will have as much time as I have arrows."
"Then we'd better get this right." Saliah said, pulling Dorian to the opposite end of the room. She looked back at all of them. "You will not ever live like this. I swear it on all that is holy."
"Well, you're the Herald, so you'd know about holy." Blackwall said over his shoulder with a smile. Saliah smiled back.
Dorian looked studied the amulet and his spell book for a beat.
Saliah looked behind her to see that the door had been pushed open. A huge pride demon, flanked on either side by soldiers, squared off against Leliana. She shot her bow as she recited the Chant of Light until they came too close. Saliah had never seen the beauty of her fighting style. She was elegant, lethal, always moving. Saliah had an urge to join her, but instead she looked back to Dorian who had begun to chant.
Looking up to Saliah, Dorian grabbed her hand, held the amulet in the other, and said something in an alien tongue. Green light shot around her. A hole opened where there was nothing before. Dorian ran through it, leading her in.
They were, at once, back in the room that was—as evidenced by a very alive Alexius staring them in the face. Saliah screamed as she rushed him, pinning him to the stone floor.
"Boss!" The Iron Bull shouted, not really sure what had just happened. They were there, then they weren't, then they were again. Only when they came back, Saliah was covered in blood and filth, and had a look in her eyes that made him uneasy.
"I told you I would kill you twice." Saliah said viciously, digging her fingers into the confused Magister's shoulders as she straddled him. She pulled her hammer and made to bludgeon Alexius in the face with its pommel
The Iron Bull rushed over and caught the handle before she could end him. "HERALD!" He bellowed at her. He knew he was the only one with a chance to hold her back if she was as bad as he feared.
"WHAT!" Saliah roared back and looked up. Her eyes went from pure fury to surprise. "Bull?" She blinked and looked around as he pulled her hammer away from her. Her arms fell into her lap. She saw that she was back in the present.
"You alright, Boss?" The Bull asked.
A sizzle came from behind Saliah. She turned to see Dorian destroying two amulets. "One from now and one from the future. That should close the loop that was caused by this… I hope." Dorian said, looking at her. Saliah slumped back and smiled, still sitting on top of the Magister, feeling washed in relief.
"The amulet! Dorian!" Alexius grunted from under her. Saliah snapped to face him and punched him in the face, knocking him out.
"Shut the fuck up, you monster." She growled as she stood and took her hammer back from her friend. She patted Bull on the shoulder. "It's good to see you, Bull." She said quietly, composing herself.
"Uh, sure." The Iron Bull replied, very confused.
"What happened?" Cassandra said as she rushed to them.
Saliah was silent as she watched Varric saunter up to the group. Before she could stop herself, she ran and dropped to her knees in front of the dwarf. She snatched him to her and buried her head into his shoulder.
"Damn, Beautiful! I mean, I'm flattered, but aren't you into tall, blond, former Templars?" Varric said in a surprised tone. She just hugged him harder.
"Beautiful, you have to let go. I can't breathe." Varric strained to say. Saliah released him at once. He took a deep breath and chuckled as he looked at her. She grinned in response as she stood.
Looking around, Saliah beamed when she saw all of her companions alive and well. She also saw the First Enchanter and Felix standing nearby. Looking behind her, she saw Inquisition guards shackle and restrain the unconscious Magister.
"Bull," she began as her face became solemn, "I'll need Krem to get a message to the lieutenant. The Chargers and the troops will have to lead the mages back. We," she motioned to her immediate companions, "will ride ahead to so that we get to Haven tonight. The mages' preparations transport will slow us down and we need to get back as soon as possible."
"Will do, Boss."
"Herald, what happened?" Cassandra asked urgently.
"I will tell all of you of what Dorian and I saw, just not here." Saliah replied quietly. "Too many ears."
Cassandra and the rest of the companions nodded in response.
"First Enchanter, we will need your assistance closing the Breach. Will you and your followers join us?" Saliah asked, motioning to Fiona to come closer.
"What are the terms of this agreement?" Fiona asked as she walked over.
"You will join the Inquisition as conscripted allies, for now, and come with us to Haven. Once the Breach is closed, we can help you figure out the next steps." Saliah replied in an official tone.
"Seems a better deal than what the Magister gave you." Dorian quipped.
"I will agree to these terms." Fiona said.
"Good, then please make your people ready for travel." Saliah said. She was relieved that Fiona was not going to fight her on this.
"Well, I'm glad that's over with!" Dorian chirped as he walked over to Saliah.
Saliah pulled her hammer when the doors of the throne room flew open. Two-dozen Fereldan soldiers, in full ceremonial plate mail, marched into the room. Coming in behind them was a man in very fine garbs. Saliah wondered if this was the Arl.
"Or, not." Dorian observed.
"Grand Enchanter, we'd like to discuss your abuse of my hospitality." The man said, striding to Fiona.
"Your majesty." Fiona stammered. "I—"
Majesty? This man is King of Ferelden? Saliah thought, realizing that this was the fabled Alistair Theirin. The King who was once a Grey Warden and who stood in the face of an archdemon. And, the man who found Cullen after the circle fell. Saliah raised her eyebrows as she put her weapon away.
"When I offered the mages sanctuary, I did not give them leave to drive my people out of their homes." The King said harshly with a grim face.
"King Alistair, I assure you—we never intended…" Fiona replied weakly as she wringed her hands.
"You, and your followers, have worn out your welcome. Leave Ferelden or I will be forced to make you leave." The King threatened.
"That won't be necessary, your majesty." Saliah called out to him as she walked up. She nodded to Fiona as she stood with her. "You see, the mages have agreed to join the Inquisition. We were making arrangements for their departure as you arrived."
"And who are you, may I ask?" The King asked curtly.
"Lady Saliah of House Trevelyan, of the Free Marches, my lord." Saliah curtsied deeply to him. She wondered how ridiculous she must look, curtsying while covered in blood and in her armor.
"I see, and what business does someone of the Marches have with a Fereldan issue?" There was a hint of threat in the man's voice as he sized her up.
"Your Majesty, I am not here on behalf of my house or of my country. I am here as an agent of the Inquisition." Saliah replied pleasantly. "And while I am not at liberty to speak of this openly, I am sure you've noticed that I've recently been...well, occupied. I am happy to have my colleague, Sister Leliana," she shot him a knowing glance, "contact you with full details. In the meantime, allow me to take these people back to Haven. You have my word, and indeed the word of the Inquisition, that no more harm will come to the people of Ferelden." Hearing Leliana's name uttered changed the King's face. Saliah wasn't sure what she saw there, but she could guess that he was aware of her current activities.
"And I should gamble with my people's safety on your word, Lady Saliah?" The King asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, my lord."
"Why?"
"Because I am the Herald of Andraste."