Chapter 37 – Through the Looking Glass
"Gone? What do you mean gone, gone how?" Anders snarled at Justice in red-faced fury.
Justice hung his head in shame.
"Into the lake," the spirit rasped as he gazed mournfully over the crystalline water.
The words were barely out of Justice's mouth before Anders and Nate were halfway across the clearing, ready to jump into the lake after their missing Commander.
"'Tis too late! You will not find her there," Justice called after them, effectively halting them both in their tracks. "The way is closed."
"What in Andraste's name are you talking about?" Nate growled in irritation.
"Can you not feel it?" Justice asked as he joined them by the side of the lake. "This place is enchanted by an ancient magic, one beyond my understanding or yours. I tried to stop her, but I could not overcome it any more than she. The strictures of your world…of the mortal body…cannot evade such potent power. Whatever is in that lake beckoned to her, and in her weakened state of mind she was easily ensorcelled by its call."
"You said 'the way is closed'…are you saying there is some sort of portal in the lake?" Anders asked in surprise.
"Are there such things in this world? You must guide me on such matters," Justice replied in clipped tones.
"Not that I ever heard of…not the sort that is found in the fade at any rate," Anders murmured. "Can you show us where she went in?"
Justice nodded and gestured for them to follow him. Anders raised his staff and muttered a spell that conjured an orb of light for them to see by. He held it high over their heads as the three men cautiously stepped into the water. It was surprisingly warm and so clear that Nate could see schools of small, silvery fish darting away from their ponderous steps. There was nothing unusual about the lake that he could see, but there was still a sense of something off about the atmosphere surrounding them. It gave him the willies.
"Here. This is where the Commander was standing just before she went under. Whether she went willingly or was taken, I cannot say," Justice announced as he stopped and pointed.
Anders lowered his staff until the light was nearly touching the water, allowing them a good view beneath the surface. As they expected, the ground dropped off abruptly into the deep, dark belly of the lake. There was no telling how far down it went let alone what secrets it may or may not hold.
"Take this," Anders said as he passed his staff to Nate and rolled up his sleeves.
"What are you doing?" Nate asked but was quickly shushed by the mage.
Anders' brow crumpled in concentration as he crouched in the water, closed his eyes and began to murmur. The hair on the back of Nate's neck stood up on end as magical energy began to crackle in the air. What is he doing? Nate's mind screamed as the water began to bubble around the mage. Anders raised his arms and then slammed them hard into the water. The moment his fists connected with earth the ground tremored beneath their feet and a shockwave rushed across the surface. Anders' eyes shot open, glowing unnaturally in the weak light.
"Anders?" Nate croaked as something large brushed against his leg and swam down into the depths of the lake. Anders ignored him as his eyes rapidly flicked back and forth…almost as if he was searching for something in the water that he could not possibly see…or could he?
"Hold the light closer to the water, would you?" Anders intoned.
Nate gaped but did as he asked, his mind running a hundred miles a minute as he watched the mage work.
"Nothing to see as of yet…wait. There is something…ruins, and…a mirror? No. It can't be!" Anders gasped.
"What?" Justice and Nate asked at the same time.
Anders blinked and his eyes went back to normal as he stood and shook his hands free of residue.
"It's and eluvian," he said softly.
"An eluvi-what?" Nate asked.
"An eluvian. They were once thought to be Tevinter in origin, but as it turns out, they're Elvish…relics of a time when the elves had an empire that rivaled the Imperium itself," Anders replied.
"And?" Justice prompted.
"According to ancient texts, the elves of Arlathan used the eluvians for long distance communication and possibly even travel."
"Our portals," Justice murmured.
"Maybe," Anders said. "The Tevinters attempted to recreate the system and failed. Over the years the mirrors were lost, destroyed or in some cases, corrupted. I've never heard of anyone actually finding one let alone having the knowledge to use it. If Falcon was indeed lured into the mirror, it would have been by something ancient and incredibly powerful."
"If no one has seen one of these eluvians, how is it that you know so much about them?" Nate asked, eyes narrowing at the mage.
"There are several texts about them in the Circle's library. Fascinating stuff if you can translate it…which of course I can't, but I sat next to a kid in primal that was a self-proclaimed linguist. Sodding know-it-all if you ask me, but he came in handy if you ever needed to learn something…unconventional," Anders replied.
"This mirror…what did it look like?" Nate asked, a queasy feeling beginning to churn in the pit of his stomach as he listened to Anders' words.
"It is a full size mirror, standing taller than any man and arched to a point at its head. This one is gilded, though I've seen sketches of eluvians set in immaculate carved sculptures, obviously Tevinter by the stonework. Probably why so many scholars mistook them as the work of the ancient magisters. Funny how that always seems to happen," Anders said with a scowl.
"I've seen one," Nathaniel rasped, swallowing hard pass the bile that had jumped into his throat. "It was in the Architect's laboratory."
"What? Are you certain?" Anders asked, perking up at this new information.
"Yes, quite sure," Nate replied gravely. He remembered seeing it, partially hidden in a small alcove behind a bookcase. He had thought he'd seen something moving in the shadows and quickly realized that it was only his reflection in the dusty, dirt-smudged surface of a full-length mirror. He had thought it strange at the time, that the Architect would keep such a thing, but he had also found it strange that a darkspawn could read let alone keep piles of tomes and hand-written journals.
"Why didn't you mention this before?" Anders asked haughtily.
"Because I thought it only a mirror," Nate snapped back as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"Enough, the both of you," Justice growled. "Mage? Do you believe that this Architect has the means to use these mirrors of yours?"
"Well…he is a powerful emissary…and has already proven to have knowledge of magic beyond the Circle, and possibly even beyond the magisters…"
"But what if we're wrong? What if he isn't responsible for this?" Nate asked.
"Eluvian's are exceedingly rare, Howe. If his is not the one we're looking for…there would be no way of knowing where else to look. This may be our only chance," Anders replied.
"Then let us not waste any more time," Nate said as he made his was back to the bank. "Maker willing, it won't be too late to help her."
They packed up and set off for the Wending Wood immediately, making it back onto the main road before day break. Lack of sleep and concern for their Commander made for an uncomfortable journey, worsened by the heavy humidity in the air that foretold bad weather. Indeed, Nate could already see black storm clouds rolling in from the east, but he could care less while Alyx was still missing.
He couldn't help but feel that this was all his fault. Had he not overreacted she would never have felt compelled to take solace in the wood, therefore she would never have been in the position to be taken in the first place. She might even be safe and sound at the Vigil by now. He knew with certainty that if she died, he would never be able to forgive himself. Not for this.
"This is my fault," Anders practically whispered beside him, startling Nate out of his silent diatribe. He turned and arched an eyebrow at him in question. Anders sighed and ran a hand through his messy golden locks. "The other night at the tavern…I…cornered her…demanded answers. We argued…I said some things I shouldn't have…"
"As did I," Nate said forlornly, surprising the mage as well as himself. "Let us concentrate on getting her back. We'll have time enough to lay blame when she's safe."
Anders nodded and for a moment Nate felt as if they were on common ground for once. It figured that it was mutual guilt that would bring a sense of kinship between them. Of course once this was all over they would likely go back to fighting, but at least for a time they would be working together. Alyx would have been proud.
The Wending Wood had changed little since their last visit. Remnants of the destroyed caravans were still scattered across the landscape, though anything of use had long since been picked over by looters. Even Velanna's camp still stood; just the same as it had been the day they'd left it all those weeks ago.
It wasn't difficult to find the ruins they were looking for, but the door they'd exited had since caved in, leaving them no choice but to pick their way back through the abandoned mine tunnels.
"Is it just me or does anyone else find it odd that we haven't run across any darkspawn yet?" Sigrun asked after they'd traveled some distance into the mines.
"We should have at least sensed them by now," Nate agreed with a frown. Something wasn't right here. He could feel it down to his bones, but he couldn't quite put a finger on what it was.
When they entered the Architect's laboratory they were shocked to see that it had been cleaned out. The books, the notes, the strange vials of blood…all of it had been taken, including the mirror they'd been looking for. Nate's heart plummeted at the sight.
"Now what?" Velanna snapped as she leaned against the door frame.
"Don't panic, just let me think…" Anders said as he paced the floor and rubbed his chin.
"Don't panic?" Oghren snapped. "We have no way to find her now!"
"I know that!" Anders snapped back.
"What was that?" Sigrun asked as she whirled around, daggers in hand.
Everyone went very still, ears straining to hear whatever it was that Sigrun had, but the ruins remained quiet. Suddenly a golden head popped around the corner, followed by a lithe, leather-clad body.
"Zevran! What are you doing here?" Nate cried in surprise.
"I could ask the same of you my broody friend, though I should hardly be surprised to find Grey Wardens in such a place," Zevran replied as he gave Nate a considering look that made him slightly uncomfortable. "But to answer your question, I returned to the Vigil about a week ago to find Falcon gone and this note left for me in the care of the Senechal," he continued, passing Nate a worn piece of vellum with Alyx's unmistakable script across it. He scanned the note and glanced up at the elf in surprise.
"She's charged you with finding the conspirator's?" he asked.
"Just so," Zevran replied with a wide grin. "Given my former profession and undeniable skill, I believe she felt that I was the most suitable man for the task. She even left Hector behind for my use, if I so wished his company."
It was only then that Nate noticed the mabari snuffling around in the dirt at Zevran's feet. His head popped up at the mention of his name and his stub of a tail wagged furiously as his tongue lolled out the side of his mouth.
"That still doesn't explain your presence here," Anders said as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Ah, yes. I was making my way to Amaranthine to do some scouting when our furry friend here decided to go bounding off into the woods. I've long since learned that it is best to follow a mabari first and ask questions later. Their instincts are unparalleled. Little did I know that he would lead me on such a chase, and into such fine company as well…where is Falcon, by-the-by?"
"Taken," Nate replied. "We think the darkspawn are involved, thus the reason for our presence here."
"Then I am at your disposal, wardens, for as long as it takes to get her back," Zevran replied with a flowery bow that belied the fire that snapped in his eyes. Nate arched an eyebrow at him. Obviously the assassin wanted to find her just as badly as they did. It made him wonder just how close of friends the two of them really were.
Hector suddenly barked twice and then took off at a sprint down the hallway. The rest of them raced after him through the winding tunnels, occasionally losing sight of the dog in their flight, but then he would bark and they would be on track once again. Eventually Hector stopped at a heavy engraved doorway where he scratched at the ground and whined for entry. Nate stiffened as he realized where they were. This was the chamber where they had confronted the Architect all those weeks ago. That they were here again…was it fate or mere coincidence? He couldn't decide.
"Can you feel that?" Sigrun whispered.
"Darkspawn or warden?" Oghren asked as he reached for his axe.
"Alyx," Nate whispered. He knew what they were sensing, he could feel it beating steadily beneath his skin. It was weak, but it was enough to know it was her. He would recognize the call of her blood through a thousand darkspawn if necessary.
Nate barely touched the door before it squealed open on its ancient hinges. Were they expected? Or was the Architect really that arrogant? It mattered little, for as soon as the door swung open all of his thoughts evaporated at the horror of what he was seeing.
The chamber was empty beyond the mirror propped in the far corner and a small, familiar figure hunched over in the middle of the room. Her arms were manacled high above her head, not by any normal means but by magic that pulsed a sickly blue against her pale skin. She wore nothing but a stained and tattered shift that barely covered her delicate figure and her hair hung in limp, sweaty strands across her face. She'd been deliberately and brutally beaten, that much he could see from the cuts and bruises that ranged across the expanse of her arms. In fact, there wasn't an inch of skin that he could see that wasn't black and blue.
"Alyx!" he cried in fear and rage as his legs took on a life of their own, carrying him across the room.
He could hear something moving beside him but he was completely focused on the woman before him. All he wanted was for her to lift her head. He needed to look into her eyes and see that she was still alive, that there was still hope of saving her from whatever fate this monster had planned for her. Nate had nearly reached her side when he was suddenly and violently thrown back to the ground. His head cracked hard against the stone and then everything faded to black.
*Muse Tunes: "Hello Beastie" by Hans Zimmer (Dead Man's Chest OST); "Breath of Life" by Howard Shore (Two Towers OST); "Regret" by Brian Tyler (Battle: LA OST).