Chapter 21: The Harrowing and the Profane

"Hawke look out!"

Marian ducked, the rock…thing missed her with its mace. The creatures just seemed to be forming right out of the floor. They…they looked like skeletons covered with stone, magic flickered in their ribcages. Some through lightning while others swung those wicked maces, Anders froze the ones he could while Varric put bolts in their eyes. Fenris was a whirling cyclone of death. The elf's great sword caught the creatures in their most vulnerable spots. The dying ones crumbled at their feet.

Hawke was not sure how long they had been trapped down here. They had managed to find a hidden door out of the temple, but the deeper they went into the abandoned Thaig, the more horrors confronted them.

Shades slithered from the shadows while rogue golems charged them like maddened beasts.

Now there were these things. Yesterday, they encountered a hunger demon in one of the narrow streets above them. The fiend was feeding off the creatures hunger for the corrupted lyrium. Marian had killed the creature, but not before she got some information about these strange stone…things.

It called these creatures the Profane; Varric knew them as rock-wraiths.

According to the dwarf, there were pockets of stone beneath the earth, pockets that resented the creation of the dwarven people. These were the demons of dwarven myth. They gave rise to a race that was sworn to kill the dwarves…the rock-wraiths, but according to Varric they were supposed to be just a legend.

Guess this legend had some basis in fact, she thought.

Varric snorted, he was covered head to toe in Profane dust, but that was not what was bothering him.

Bartrand was…

"When I get out of here, when I find that son of a bitch," Varric paused, he placed a hand on the stone at his feet, "sorry mother," he whispered, "I am gonna kill him, but not all at first, oh no! First I'll blow his balls off, Bianca will like that! Then…"

The warrior rolled her eyes; they really did not need this right now.

"Varric," Hawke growled, "FOCUS!"

The dwarf gave her a chagrined look, "Sorry Hawke," he mumbled.

Hawke sighed, they had come to another forked chamber, Fenris took one fork, Anders the other. It did not take them long to return.

"The passage to the right is a dead end Hawke," Anders called back, returning from his bit of scouting.

She nodded, she was afraid of that, she had no desire to backtrack, they had to do that twice already, the last time they bumped into an entire room filled with shades.

They could not afford to do that again. They were running low on food and poultices.

"The left fork is open," Fenris informed her, "but it is crawling with more of those things."

Hawke snarled, lovely.

They had little choice.

She drew her blade, and headed down that fork, her companions at her back.

They collided with the rock-wraiths; Anders froze them with a cone of cold, while Fenris and Hawke cut them down with their swords.

One of the wraiths tried to get behind Hawke; Varric put a bolt through its one good eye.

The creature crumbled to dust.

Hawke nodded, he returned it.

The way clear… they proceeded forward; it was darker down here, not much lyrium, and no glow crystals.

They passed through a large smashed in door; the chamber was filled with large reinforced doors.

Hawke gave Varric a puzzled look.

"This is the vault Hawke," Varric informed her, "the dwarves here would have…"

Crack

The group paused.

Crack…

"What was that," Anders asked.

Crack

"I see nothing," Fenris growled.

Crack

"Back to back…everyone," Hawke ordered, her companions complied.

The ground shook, boulders rolled like toy balls, slowly…they began to combine…forming a set of massive arms, arms that pushed down on the dusty ground.

The creature rose.

It was at least twenty feet tall, its red eyes flicked with magic, its skull like head covered with a merry grin.

It was the biggest Rock-Wraith Hawke had ever seen.

"Oh shit," she whispered.

"Well," Varric shrugged, "that… can't be good."

The rock-wraith roared.

Hawke lunged forward, Fenris in her wake. Varric fired Bianca, while Anders cast healing spells.

The battle began.

IOI

It was well after midnight when Ser Thrask woke Bradley. He told the boy to dress quickly.

The Knight-Commander wanted to see him.

Thrask led his young squire down the darkened corridors of the Gallows. Bradley could not help the nervous excitement that burned in his stomach. He could not imagine why Meredith would want to see him at such an hour. She must have had great faith in him, to ask for him by name.

He prayed to the Maker that he would be worthy of that faith.

Thrask led him to a large chamber in the heart of the Gallows. Knight-Captain Cullen was already there. He also saw First-Enchanter Orsino and a senior mage he did not recognize, the senior mage was speaking with a young dark haired apprentice.

I know her; the realization hit him like a lightning bolt. It was that dark haired girl from Hawke's Flock. It was Hawke's sister, Betty, Beth…no Bethany, it was Bethany Hawke.

Bradley had not even recognized the girl as a mage, what was she doing here so late?

The Knight-Commander strode into the chamber, two tranquil servants carried a large font with them, they placed it in the center of the chamber.

Meredith drew her great sword.

"Has it been called," she whispered to Thrask.

The Templar nodded.

Meredith smiled predatorily, she turned to Bradley.

"Thrask speaks highly of you young one," Meredith said warmly, "tonight you shall take a necessary step in becoming a true Templar."

Bradley snapped to attention, "I'm ready Knight-Commander."

"Good," Meredith purred, she turned to Bethany Hawke. The young woman approached the font. The scent of pure lyrium assaulted Bradley's nostrils.

Bethany touched the font, the mage-girl gasped. She slumped to the ground… unconscious.

Meredith's smile widened, she led young Bradley to the girl's side.

She handed the boy her great sword.

He looked down at the blade, what did the Knight-Commander expect him to do with this?

"The girl is in the fade," Meredith informed him, "there she is facing a demon, if she defeats the creature, she will join the circle as a full mage," Meredith wrinkled her nose in distaste; clearly she did not like the idea.

"But if she fails," Meredith purred, She raised the sword's blade, she brought it to rest gently against Bethany's throat, the Knight-Commander grinned hungrily, "If she fails you shall have the greatest of pleasures young man."

Meredith's eyes drew the young recruit into them; he now knew how a mouse faced by a cobra felt.

He felt trapped.

"Tonight…if this little Ferelden bitch fails, you shall taste what it truly means to be a Templar."

Bradley shivered; the Knight-Commander's very presence filled him with dread.

"Tonight…you shall taste your first kill," Meredith grinned, "Savor this moment young man, for it shall never come again."

Bradley felt himself starting to sweat…she…she could not mean.

Bethany moaned in her sleep.

If the girl failed the Harrowing…Meredith wanted Bradley to kill her.

She almost seemed to be looking forward to it.

He looked down at the unconscious mage; the sword had drawn a small droplet of blood on the girl's neck.

He almost pulled it away, but a look from Thrask stopped him, if he did…he would never be a Templar.

Bradley tried not to think on what he would have…what he might have to do. He found himself praying for Bethany Hawke's success.

Maker watch over this girl, give her the strength to defeat her enemy.

The moment stretched on.

Bradley waited with baited breath.

Bethany twisted slightly in her sleep, the demon had found her.

Soon…one way or the other…the Harrowing would end.

IOI

The rock-wraith brought its massive fist down, Hawke and Fenris dodged. Anders fired sparks in the creature's eyes. It roared with fury.

Varric fired again and again, trying to get a bolt into the creature's eyes or mouth, but it moved far too quickly.

The rock-wraith threw a boulder at Varric, the dwarf dodged. He rolled to his feet and fired again.

"Hey Tiny," Varric taunted, "You missed me!"

The creature bellowed in frustration.

Fenris's markings pulsed; the lyrium drew the wraith's attention. It reached down for the elf.

Hawke was there, her blade bit deep into the creatures arm at the joint.

The wraith howled.

So far they had been lucky, but it was only a matter of time until the creature caught one of them…then they would all be in trouble.

They needed to end this…now!

A wintry gale assaulted the giant creature, snow and ice stung Hawke's face as she avoided another swipe by its massive hand. She could just make out Anders standing just outside the storm, directing its full might at the behemoth.

Ice began to coat the rock-wraith's body; it let out a keening wail.

Its smaller kin began to emerge out of the walls, Varric and Fenris were there. By sword, or by crossbow, the profane fell.

The massive creatures movements slowed, the ice stopped it from collapsing and reforming. Its arms moved sluggishly. It lowing lyrium heart was now exposed for all to see.

Hawke went for it.

The warrior braved the snow and howling winds, she ran straight at the creature, and at the last possible moment…

She leapt.

The wind caught her; Anders used it to direct her towards her target.

Her blade descended…straight into the giant wraith's heart, she crashed through the creature's body, tumbling to her feet.

The rock-wraith crumbled.

The winds died down as the creature fell. Anders…though winded, had a satisfied smile on his face.

Varric lowered Bianca, he stared at Hawke, the woman's armor was covered with frost and dirt, her teeth chattered loudly. Despite her obvious discomfort, the woman shrugged.

Varric chuckled; this one was definitely going in one of his stories.

"Spread out," Hawke ordered, "let us see if we can find a way out of here."

Her companions obeyed, the woman warrior sank to the ground exhausted.

Praise the Maker that she had not brought Bethany along. Her poor sister would not have known what to make of this, demons, rock-wraiths, mad golems.

The warrior was barely able to make sense of it herself.

"Hawke," Varric laughed, "I…I think you'll want to see this."

She hurried over to the dwarf's position, Fenris and Anders joined her.

"I think I know why whoever lived her left tiny behind," Varric chuckled; he pointed inside one of the doors.

Hawke gasped.

Inside the smaller chamber sat a fortune, no that was not large enough a word, the wealth spread out before them was mountainous.

Chests of gold coins, pots of precious stones, stings of pearls, even a few gold representations of the idol they had found in the temple.

The treasure…their treasure, would be enough to set all of them up for life…for several lifetimes.

Hawke grinned.

Good-bye Lowtown, she thought, hello, Hightown mansion.

The warrior could not help it, she laughed, despite all the dangers they had faced…they had done it.

This treasure would change everything.

Varric discovered a key sitting atop one of the chests, the four of them grabbed as much of the treasure as they could carry, if they could find their way back to the main camp, they could hopefully find help.

Maybe Bartrand will still be there, Varric thought evilly; oh if only he could be so lucky…he really needed to have a word with his dear sweet brother.

The Key opened up a door into a chamber on the outskirts of thaig, from here, Varric was sure that he could find their way back.

The group hurried, weighed down with their heavy burden, but happy none the less.

The expedition, despite Bartrand's abandonment had succeeded.

They were all going to be rich.

IOI

"Look Jacob, I…I think she is waking up."

Bethany's eyes fluttered, images of her father turning into a demon danced before her eyes, she fought against them…willing herself to wake.

The Harrowing…she remembered being taken for her Harrowing. Had she passed?

She supposed if she hadn't she would be dead now; the fact that she was anywhere…anywhere besides quarantine was a step in the right direction.

Distant voices drew Bethany's attention, Maker help her…she felt terrible, her body shook from the exposure to the pure lyrium. Everything tingled, part of her craved the touch of pure magic now, Tobrius warned her that that feeling would pass in time. She had never been exposed to pure lyrium before last night. It was…an experience to say that least.

She awoke to find herself lying on a bed in a massive room, bunk beds lined the walls. She could help but notice many children and teenagers milling about, gather books and other materials.

She shook her head…was…was she still in the fade?

"Good morning," the voice she had heard earlier repeated, "are…are you feeling alright?"

She turned to see who was speaking, it was a girl maybe a year or two older than she, she had platinum blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She smiled merrily at Bethany.

"I don't recognize you," the girl stated, "Are you new here?"

"Helena give the poor girl some space," a brown haired elven boy told the girl.

Bethany tried to sit up, her head swam.

Sweet Maker…she had never felt like this before.

The elf, Jacob, helped steady her; Helena brought her a glass of water. Bethany drained it greedily; she had never felt so thirsty in all her life.

"I'm Helena LA Croix," the girl informed her, "this is Jacob." She said motioning to the elf.

"Bethany…I'm Bethany Hawke."

Helena grinned at the new girl, she sounded Ferelden. Helena wondered if she was from the refugee camps.

"I bid you welcome Bethany," Helena laughed, "we…the mages of Kirkwall, welcome you to life under the noose."

Bethany shifted uncomfortably; she knew that Helena had meant that as a joke…

Sadly, she did not find it funny…no…

She did not find it funny at all.