This loosely follows some of BioWare's DA2 story line using the characters, locations and some backstories, but not strictly. I have rated this M for mature for blood, strong language and sexual content. All comments are welcome. Thank you!

FIFTY-ONE

And so it comes to this, I thought while slowly walking down the steps that led to the courtyard to find Meredith surrounded by Templars. I was surprised to find Elsa, her Tranquil assistant, was standing among them awkwardly holding a sword in her hands.

"It did not need to be this way, Champion, but in foolishly choosing to side with the mages you will share their fate. May the Maker have mercy on you," Meredith said as we approached them. I could see the men around her whispering to each other when they noticed that Cullen stood with us instead of the Knight-Commander.

"The only fool here is you, Meredith. Perhaps if you had treated the mages with respect and not like caged animals, things would never have gotten out of hand. Perhaps you wished they were all as obedient as Elsa, who does not question your madness," I replied, pointing the female Tranquil.

"Champion, I would not provoke me on matters that do not concern you in the least. As Knight-Commander of Kirkwall, I have every right…" she started to say but I interrupted her.

"And as Champion, I think this does concern me. Did you think I would allow you to simply execute my sister? Over something she had no control over?" I asked loudly, crossing my arms across my chest. "I think not."

"Then do you never wonder if she is truly strong enough to resist temptation, if perhaps one day she will become an abomination?" she asked and I glanced at Bethany, who took her place at my side.

"Never! Our father taught her to use her magic wisely," I replied.

"I had had rumors that your father was an apostate as well. How he had remained undetected for so long is something I plan on discovering once this is over. His name will set a new standard amongst the Templars…as will yours," she threatened.

"Say what you like, but only one of us will leave here and I'm beginning to see the odds tipping in my favor," I taunted as I noticed more of the Templars take a few steps away from her.

Instead she looked past me to Cullen, who stood quietly, looking sadly back at her. "Never in all my years would I have suspected you to betray me, Cullen," she said, spitting out his name. "I brought you here from that tower, knowing you felt the same way about them as I do and here you stand before me, a traitor. And yet, I give you one last chance to stand beside me or join them in death."

Cullen looked at me briefly before answering. "I have stood beside you in many things, Knight-Commander, but in this I cannot."

I watched as her eyes hardened. "Then you are a fool and a disgrace to the Order! I see now that I should have left you to rot in that tower of abominations!"

"Perhaps you should have. The mages there fought to rid the tower of the abominations and now live peacefully with the Templars, as they should," he replied.

"I will not stand here and let you lecture me," she said and grasped the handle of her sword.

I tilted my head. I felt a strange sensation when her hand came in contact with the hilt, as if it came alive, responding to her like no other weapon I had ever come in contact with before. It felt almost electrical and I could hear it almost calling out to me. It was a feeling that Anders had once described to me…

It's lyrium! I was unsure how I knew it, but I knew what I was feeling.

"I see you recognize this," she said, caressing the length of the blade. "Although its shape has now been changed to something much more useful to me. Especially against mages," she said and smiled cruelly.

"I am no mage, Meredith. Such a sword will not affect my ability to fight you," I said as I drew my own sword. I heard the sounds of many more blades being drawn as I stood with my blade ready.

"But what about your dear sister, Champion?"

"You will never touch her," I said confidently. "Even with that tainted sword. The last man who owned it was driven mad. I see now that must be what changed you."

I waited to see if my words had any effect on her, noticing that more of the Templars looked at each other, having seen the drastic changes in her first hand but she did not waiver.

"Then he was a weak minded fool," was all she said and I saw Varric flinch at her words, tightening his grasp on Bianca.

"Perhaps it was his greed that led to his madness but it is your hatred that has led to yours," I responded. "Look around you, Meredith. The Templars see that what I say is true. Will you fight them as well or will you stop this madness?"

She looked at the Templars around her and could see the uncertainty in their eyes. "You're all fools! Look how easily you turn against me, against the Order!" she yelled, swinging her blade at the few that tried to approach her. "What I do here is in service to Andraste and to the Maker!" she yelled as most of the Templars moved towards us.

I stepped in front of Bethany, letting Cullen pull her to the back ranks, well away from Meredith. Soon Fenris was at my right side, with Aveline standing to my left. I watched as a few Templars again tried to approach Meredith and she turned on them, running each of them through and turning back to us.

"She's somehow drawing power from her weapon," observed Fenris.

"The power in the lyrium is tainted," I reminded him. "As with anything impure, it will be her weakness."

"I hope you're right," Aveline said, hefting her shield and watching the Knight-Commander wearily.

~Sorry for the short chapter here. Still a little sick here and trying to word this last fight properly. I really do not want to describe the ridiculously long fight at the end so don't expect to read that in the next chapters!