Chapter XII

The Urn of Sacred Ashes is the most holy item in the Andrastian Faith. Finding it was equivalent to a person in my home finding the Ark of the Covenant, with all the legendary powers intact. The importance of the discovery cannot be understated. The Urn has the power to cure all wounds and illness. This stretches from something like the smallest case of cowpox all the way to the Taint itself.

Yet, the Urn has a finite amount of ashes within. Each time it is used there is one less person it can heal later. Every time we reach in and use the greatest power ever found we have to wonder who we are sacrificing in the future. Make no mistake, the Urn is Fereldan's greatest treasure. Its use can only be sanctioned by the King and Chancellor in concert.

The ramifications extend beyond that however. The Urn gave Fereldan bargaining power over every single Andrastian in Thedas. When the Divine threatened and Exalted March after Alistair started extending rights to mages it was his threat to destroy the Urn that forced her to back down.

When another Exalted March was threatened during Alistair's campaign to limit the Chantry's political power, again it was the Urn that gave him the upper hand. When he demanded funds to rebuild the mountain as a proper tomb for Andraste, to build roads that would stretch from everywhere in Fereldan to the tomb (and incidentally connect the entire country) it was the Urn that gave him the upper hand. To put it simply, whoever holds the Urn, holds the Chantry hostage.

None of us knew that at the time of course. All we could think of were the defenses that guarded the Urn, defenses that few have overcome since we made it. What follows is not a guide to reach the Urn, for the defenses will shift depending on the challenger.

DO NOT TRY THIS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. The challenges are deadly to all who fail.

We entered the mountain as quickly as possible, and closed the door quietly. Waking the dragon was not a chance anyone was willing to take. The entrance to the mountain was largely intact. The carvings were still recognizable, and there were no mounds of obscuring the magnificence. Regardless, the neglect of centuries was obvious. What should have been a wonder of the world was instead a dilapidated ruin.

We proceeded up the stairs, avoiding the places where they had been worn away. The entrance staircase led into a small hallway with statues of armored ladies holding shields. Several were missing heads, covered in spiderwebbing, or had fallen over. The floor was ripped up in several places, and rubble had collected from a spot where the ceiling had caved in. As our group stood together, looking at the state of Andraste's tomb, I could see Leliana and Wynne crying. Alistair and Alim looked ashen at the state of the complex. Solona seemed to waver between sad and almost excited. Morrigan was completely unimpressed about anything, but held her tongue.

We proceeded in when a guardian stood to block us, saying, "Welcome pilgrim." His voice had a deep, soothing quality to it that frankly was kind of disturbing. The voice seemed to sink into your brain and lower your defenses.

Alistair stepped forward and said, "We come for the Urn."

The guardian nodded and said in his disconcerting voice, "You have come to honor Andraste, and you shall. If you prove yourself worthy."

Alistair blinked, "What if we are not worthy?"

The guardian steadily answered, "Then you shall not come to the Urn. If you are worthy, you will see the Urn and be allowed to take a pinch for yourself. If not…" He trailed away, the implications ringing.

Alistair smiled and said, "Let us discuss this for a moment." The guardian ignored him as we stepped back and Alistair said, "Okay. We need to decide right now who comes with us."

Morrigan stepped back again, "I will not be going. If this guardian looks for someone that extolls the virtues of Andraste I am not wanted."

There was a quick discussion back and forth, but no one else withdrew. Finally Alistair turned and went back to the Guardian. He stood aside and said, "Before you go, I must speak to you all." There was a ringing as he spoke to each of us in our minds. What he said to the others I have no idea. To me however he asked, "I cannot see you. The others are an open book to me, their connection to the Fade draws me in. Yet, you should not exist. More than that, you cannot exist."

I mentally raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is that supposed to mean? Of course I exist."

The guardian shook his head, though not physically if that makes sense. "I know you exist, and that is the problem. You cannot exist, yet you do. What are you?"

I mentally shrugged, "I'm an Accounting student from another reality. One where none of this could exist outside the imagination."

The Guardian seemed slightly mollified by that answer and said, "Then I will leave you to your own mind. I am uncomfortable staring into an abyss." I felt the presences slip away and was left thinking about exactly what he had meant.

Our little group stood still for a while before Solona said, "I think I will stay behind as well."

Alistair looked at her as if to ask why, but the woman's face was white and she just shook her head. He nodded in understanding and led the rest of us through the doorway and into the Gauntlet.

The doorway opened into another massive hallway. The ceiling arced up thirty feet before meeting in domes at the top. We stood looking at it for several minutes before finally I asked, "Okay. I have to ask. How do you people manage this kind of nonsense?"

Everyone was torn from their reverie and Alistair asked, "What?"

I motioned toward the ceiling. Well, how in the name of God do you build a hall like this into the middle of a mountain without dynamite? Or that tower the mages live in, or the stupid tower down at Ostagar. How do you people manage it?"

Everyone blinked until finally he said, "Um… magic."

I looked up again and muttered about wasted effort but let the subject drop.

The pathway to the next room was blocked by spirits of the original followers of Andraste. Each asked us a riddle to prove we were intelligent (in which case better riddles probably should have been picked) and that we also were followers of Andraste (or at least capable of opening a book.)

The first spirit to block our path was a woman named Brona, I think. As she approached she intoned in a voice much too deep, and there were further voices in the background giving a chorus of what she had said. "Echoes from a shadow realm, whispers of things yet to come. Thoughts strange sister dwells in night, swept away by dawning light. Of what do I speak?"

Alistair was the first to say, "What?"

Before anyone could answer I said "Dreams."

Brona looked past us and said, "A dream came upon me as my daughter slumbered beneath my heart. It told of her triumph and betrayal. I am sorrow and a mother's regret for the daughter she could not save." The voices trailed off and the spirit vanished.

Before anything else could happen Alistair said, "Okay. What was that?"

I looked at him and said, "It was a riddle. I assume that if we answer wrong something horrible attacks us. Of course, that was a fairly horrible riddle since dreams do absolutely none of that, but still."

He nodded and said, "Okay then. I think we'll let you do the talking."

I smiled and went to the next spirit. The next was a woman named Ealisay who intoned, "The smallest lark could carry it, but a strong man might not. Of what do I speak."

I immediately answered, "Music."

The woman looked down and said, "I was Andraste's greatest friend in childhood, and always we would sing. She celebrated the beauty of life. And all who heard her were filled with joy. The Maker himself was moved by Andraste's song. Then she sang no more of simple things." She vanished as well and I approached the next spirit.

The third spirit spoke in a harsh tone, saying, "An eye for an eye…"

Before she could continue I said, "Revenge."

She nodded, "Yes. My husband would have chosen a quick death for Andraste. But I forced him to promise she would die publicly with her warleaders. So all might know the Imperium's strength. I am justice, I am vengeance. Blood can only be paid in blood."

She disappeared and I muttered after her, "Yes because that worked out so well for you." Behind me Leliana was the only one who heard and she had to stifle a giggle. Everyone else looked at her with curiosity but she waved them off.

The next spirit was an elf, Thane Shartan. He asked in a quiet voice, "I'd neither a guest nor trespasser be; in this place I belong, that belongs also to me. Of what do I speak."

I blinked and asked, "May I have a little time to think about it?"

He nodded and I backed away quickly. Alistair looked at me and asked, "What is it?"

I glanced back at Shartan and whispered, "I have no idea. That riddle made no sense."

Alim spoke up and said, "What? You haven't had any trouble so far."

I nodded, "Yes. That's because I am fairly good at riddles and these aren't hard ones. But that… that's not a riddle. That's a question along the lines of what has four wheels and flies, it makes no sense."

Wynne thought for a moment before saying, "The answer is home." Everyone turned to look at her and Wynne explained quickly, "All of these people asked their questions pertaining to them during Andraste's life. Shartan was fighting to give a home to the elves."

I nodded, "That fits I guess. The riddle was still stupid, but I think that could be the answer. Should I try it." Alistair nodded and I turned back to Shartan and said, "A home."

Shartan sighed and said, "It was my dream to give my people a home where we would have no masters. So I led my people against the Imperium, but she was betrayed and so were we."

The fifth spirit was General Maferath, he spoke quietly, with regret tinting the voices behind his own, "A poison of the soul, passion's cruel counterpart. From love she grows, till love lies slain."

I stood there for a moment then muttered, "These are a lot harder without multiple choice." I stepped away from him and said, "Okay, history of the General please."

Leliana and Wynne took turns explaining the man's history: the husband of Andraste who turned against her and betrayed her to the Tevinters. As they finished I finally asked, "Why though? Why did he turn against his wife?"

The pair stood silent for a moment before Leliana said, "Well, Andraste was called the Bride of the Maker. He might have resented that."

Wynne nodded, "It's possible. Though, I don't think resentment is the answer."

Leliana thought for a moment before saying, "I guess jealousy."

They looked at me and I shrugged, "You two are the ones who know the story best, so I'll go with your thoughts on the subject." I turned around and said to the spirit, "Jealousy."

The spirit looked down and he said softly, "Yes, jealousy drove me to betrayal. I was the greatest general of the Almarri, but beside her I was nothing. Hundreds fell before her on bended knee, they loved her as did the Maker." His spirit faded and the next words were barely audible, "I loved her too, but what man can compete with God." The spirit was gone a moment later.

The sixth spirit was one of Disciple Havard. He spoke with power behind his words and said, "The bones of the world stretch toward the skies embrace. Veiled in white, like a bride greeting her groom. Of what do I speak."

I muttered to the others, "Bad metaphors," then answered loud enough for him to hear, "Mountains."

The spirit looked above us and said, Yes, I carried Andraste's ashes out of the Tevinter into the mountains to the East where she could gaze ever into her Maker's sky." He paused to look around the entire hall before finishing quietly, "No more fitting a tomb than this could we find."

His spirit vanished then I asked, "Wasn't Andraste burned north of here?"

No one had an answer for the seventh spirit approached. He was another disciple, Cathaire. He asked in a horrible, horrible accent, "No man has seen it, yet all men have felt it. Lighter than air, yet sharper than any sword. Comes from nothing, but would fell the strongest armies. Of what do I speak."

Again I stepped back and said to Wynne and Leliana, "Okay, you two are up again. Who is this and what did he do?"

They glanced at the spirit and Leliana said, "That would be Cathaire, commander of Andraste's armies. He drove the Tevinters to the gates of Minrathous itself."

I nodded, "Okay, got it. But how? How did the armies of Andraste beat the Tevinters?"

Wynne thought for a moment then said, "The Blight had just ended. The Imperium was at the weakest it had ever been."

Leliana added, "And there were a series of bad harvests. The Imperium could barely feed itself."

My face lit up and I said, "That's it. Hunger. It fits with the riddle." I turned back to the Disciple and said "Hunger."

He nodded and his voice took on a fire it had lacked before, "Yes. The Maker scorched the fields of the Imperium and let us starve their armies. They were easily defeated without food in their bellies."

As he vanished the final spirit approached. He spoke softly, regret filling both his voice and the chorus that echoed him, "She wields the broken sword and seperates true kings from tyrants. Of what do I speak?"

I stepped back again and asked, "Okay, who's this and what did he do?"

Wynne looked at the outline of clothing the man was wearing and said, "That would be Archon Hessarion. He plunged his sword into Andraste as she burned, ending her life immediately rather than allow her to suffer needlessly."

I turned back and answered, "Mercy." That answer I had thought was correct, but needed a little verification for.

Archon Hessarion hung his head and said, "Yes. I slew Andraste so her suffering would end. I am the penitent sinner. I show compassion that it might be shown to me."

He bowed his head and as he vanished I whispered after him, "He shall cast your sins from him so far as the East is to the West." As the spirit vanished he might have inclined his head toward me at those words, but I can't be sure.

After spirit was gone Leliana whispered, "What was that from?"

I shrugged and said, "It was one of the psalms in my own religion. I don't know which one though."

She nodded a little, and looked like she was burning with questions about it, but let them slide as Alistair said, "Let's keep going."

He led the way through the now open doors into an empty room. I started moving on, but no one moved to follow. They all stood rooted where they were standing, staring at something only they could see. I must have stood there waiting for almost ten minutes before Leliana snapped out of her trance. She blinked and joined me in waiting. Three minutes later the others finally started to come out of their own trances. None of them said anything about what they had seen, and thankfully no one asked what I had seen.

To this day I am still not entirely sure why I wasn't effected by the Gauntlet, but it probably has something to do with my mind being closed to Fade spirits. I don't exist inside the Fade you see, or at least shouldn't. On those rare occasions I get sucked in, the demon responsible must have an obscene amount of power. Then they find out that what shouldn't exist inside the Fade can't be controlled unless it wants to be.

Back on topic though the others recovered after a few minutes, but Alim turned and left the Gauntlet to wait with Morrigan and Solona. The rest of us pushed on. The next room held nothing at first, but as we entered there were disturbances in the air that moved forward. There were three in total, four invisible somethings. One moved toward Alistair and as he drew his sword so did it. Alistair and his invisible twin brought swords together in identical movements and there was a ring of metal on metal as the two met. Near him Leliana was matching daggers with a similar invisible opponent. Farther away Wynne was locked in a duel with another.

Finally there was a disturbance in front of me, but it didn't have a weapon drawn as close as I could tell. Curious I drew my saber, and across from me so did my double. There was a moment of silence, then I dropped it. My invisible double did the same. With a quick motion I set my revolver down as next to the saber, and my double mimicked my action.

Finally realizing what the test was I called to the others, "Put your weapons down."

Alistair glanced over at me, then shouted, "What?" When he looked back it was with barely enough time to block a slash that came at him.

I called back, "Look, they are your doubles. Armed exactly as you are, if you put your weapons down they won't attack."

He looked a little dubious, but apparently decided that anything was better than fighting an opponent he could not see. Quickly he laid his sword down in front of him, and the double stopped attacking. His shield followed and the double simply stood and waited.

Seeing this Leliana and Wynne quickly did the same, and their doubles matched mine. Our weapons abandoned the four of us proceeded from the room without further incident.

As we entered the next room there came a voice which said, "Andraste held faith in the Maker to see her through her troubles."

It faded and Alistair said, "Okay, what was that?"

Leliana shrugged, as did Wynne. I was busy looking at the path forward. More specifically, the lack thereof. Across from us was the room's exit, but there was a chasm in between. Alistair moved alongside me and asked, "How do you think we can get across?"

I didn't say anything, but instead lay down on the edge and looked over the edge. A moment later I sat up with a smile and said, "I think I know what this is?"

Leliana was the first to answer, "Oh really? How do we get across then?"

I smiled wider and said, "Like this," then stepped out into nothingness. Her eyes widened and she and Alistair tried to catch me, but there was no need. I stood upright over what they must have thought was Oblivion. Then with another little smile I explained, "there is a bridge, but it is narrow and was built to match the rock on the other side making it nearly invisible. I saw it in a movie."

Alistair blinked and said, "Okay that makes sense, mostly. How were you so sure though?"

I laughed and answered, "That's what the faith message was for. If you have faith that the Maker will catch you, you will step onto the bridge without a second thought." Then I added quietly, "Also they didn't think anyone would look at the bridge from another angle. Now pass me some dust or rocks will you. I want to make sure this bridge doesn't have any turns."

Wynne passed me a handful of pebbles and I tossed them out in front of me. They all impacted something solid so I took a breath, went down on all fours and began to crawl ahead, using my hands to make sure the bridge was actually there. The next several minutes were tense until finally I reached the other side and stood back up. Then I called back, "It's okay. Just come across slowly and it should be fine."

Alistair was the first across, moving slightly slower than I had. Leliana came next, going quite a bit faster. Then finally Wynne came, moving as quickly as she dared. We caught our breath afterwards, we hadn't even realized we were holding them at first before continuing.

Finally we entered a room with a small altar, a wall of flames, and the Urn at the top of a stairway. Alistair walked up to the altar and red from it, "Cast off the trappings of wordly life and cloak yourself in the goodness of spirit. King and slave, lord and beggar; be born anew in the Maker's sight."

He looked up and said, "I really hope that doesn't mean what I think it means."

I groaned and said, "Yes it does. I forgot about this part."

Leliana and Wynne looked down, obviously embarrassed. Finally Alistair said, "There's no way around this is there?"

I groaned again and shook my head, as Leliana, her face bright red, "No I doubt it."

"Right then," Alistair said. "Everyone look in away from each other, then we go across the fire at the same time with our eyes closed. Got it?" We all nodded then moved away from each other. Two minutes later everyone was undressed, with eyes closed and ready to move across the flames.

There was a tickling sensation as the we passed through the fire, and I clamped my eyes tighter to keep from seeing the flames that should have been burning me alive. Then, the sensation was gone and the Guardian was saying in our minds, "You have passed the challenge of the Gauntlet. Your faith is strong, approach the Ashes. You may take only a pinch each from this place."

The feeling of clothing returned and I risked opening an eye. As I had felt my armor was back on and I breathed a sigh of relief. Leliana opened hers next, then Alistair, and finally Wynne. Alistair laughed a little, then said, "Okay, let's not do this again."

There was no argument, instead Leliana was the first to approach the Urn. She knelt before it and said a prayer in Orlesian before taking a pinch of Ashes and putting it in a small bag. Wynne followed her and said her own prayer before taking a pinch for herself as well. Alistair was much faster. He made a short gesture before taking a pinch.

When my turn came I took a pinch immediately and let Alistair lead the way back through the Gauntlet. From the other direction the bridge over the chasm was obvious and none of the obstacles tried to block our way. We retrieved our weapons from the third chamber and finally arrived back where Morrigan, Alim, and Solona were waiting.

Morrigan was the first to ask, "So? Did you manage to get the Ashes?"

Alistair nodded, "Indeed we did."

She looked impressed and for once had nothing disparaging to say about our leader. If Alistair noticed he said nothing. Our group moved toward the exit and Alistair said quietly, "Okay, get out the way we came in. We can't afford the dragon waking up now."

As he opened the door I muttered to him, "Why did you have to say that?"