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!

~Sorry this took a few days to upload. I've been trying to make the effort to get better faster to finish and decided I needed a few more days rest.

This chapter consists of my crazy storyline, so don't expect the insane statues coming to life! Enjoy!

FIFTY-TWO

I should have known she was only stalling, I said to myself as more of the older guard, those whose loyalty to Meredith was unquestionable, joined her at last.

"Well, at least now it should be interesting," joked Fenris and I looked at him, smirking at his comment.

"I doubt Meredith needs their help. The power she draws from the sword alone is enough to give me pause," I said and looked at him. "I don't need to point out that she will come after you and Bethany. Please, be careful."

"I do not plan on dying today, my love," he said as he smiled once again.

Dear Maker, please let that be true. I thought to myself as I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword and waited for Meredith to make the first move. My first concern was getting Elsa out of harm's way. I looked over at Aveline and saw that she shared my concern about the Tranquil woman. I noticed Varric moving into position to remove her as quickly as possible and was relieved.

It was only the smallest of movements that gave Meredith away. She ran towards me and swung her sword, her strikes precise, and I could see sparks as our swords connected. She turned to Aveline, who tried to get behind her, kicking back and catching the warrior in the abdomen. Aveline staggered back, her large shield covering her as she struggled to catch her breath. Meredith then reached back and hit me with the pommel of her sword and shoved me hard back towards a group of Templars who were fighting, trying to head towards Bethany. I turned and struck out at the nearest Templar, kicking his knee as hard as I could, feeling it break and knocking him off his feet. I ducked as another swung his shield at me, ducking under his wild swing and elbowing him in the face, breaking his nose.

I heard Aveline cry out and I turned back. I made my way back to her side, watching as Donnic was shielding her from Templars who tried to reach the downed woman. I helped her to her feet and swung out at the remaining Templars, running one through and kicking another away as he was struck down by a familiar bolt. I looked back quickly to see Varric firing as quickly as he could reload Bianca.

"I hate to admit this, Hawke," Aveline said, griping her sword tighter. "I wish Anders were with us. His magic would certainly be welcome about now," she said and winced, holding her bruised side.

"How bad are you, Aveline?" I asked.

"I can still fight, don't worry about me," she reassured me. I could see Bethany make her way towards us with Cullen and watched as she placed her hands on Aveline's side. I turned back and watched as Fenris was trading blows with Meredith, glad that he was able to avoid her swings, which were getting wilder and wilder.

I watched as his sword caught her and she staggered back…then watched in horror as she swung back at him. I felt my breath catch, knowing I could not reach him in time when I heard a voice cry out from the stairs behind us. I turned back as an electrical bolt hit Meredith square in the chest and she went flying back, away from Fenris into a nearby pillar. I could see that he had taken the impact of her swing on his left arm and I knew that it was broken. I looked up and watched as Merrill and a few of the senior enchanters raced down the steps towards us.

"I thought I ordered you to get the mages out of here!" I questioned the small elf when she reached us. I hugged her and lifted her off her feet; despite my harsh tone I had never been happier to see her.

"I couldn't bring myself to leave," she said and turned to the other mages. "And they refused to leave you to fight alone."

I looked at the elder mage who had stepped forward earlier and nodded to him. "If anyone knows healing magic, it would be more than welcome. Defend yourselves as best as you can but stay behind the others," I ordered and turned when I saw Meredith regain her feet. I watched as one of the mages ran towards Fenris to move him away and to heal his injured left arm.

I made my way back to her, fending off a few Templars who tried to stop me until I stood before her once more. I could see the burn mark on her armor where the bolt hit and watched as blood trickled out of her ear and mouth.

"Once again…you rely on the help of mages," she spat out. "What more will it take to make you see that they will turn on you? Believe me when I say, they cannot be trusted!"

"What made you, Meredith? What happened that turned you this way?" I questioned. I could see her eyes relax briefly but did not lower my defenses. I waited.

"It was my sister," she admitted and I could not help but feel surprised at her answer. "She developed abilities early and my family tried to hide her from the Templars. It was a foolish thing to do, to harbor a mage but they would not give her up."

"Then why…"

"She could not control her abilities and was possessed by a demon," she sneered and once again I watched as her eyes hardened. "My parents thought they were doing the right thing by ignoring what she was and keeping her safe from the Tower. If only they knew that she would so easily give into a demon and become an abomination! They're all weak! The sooner you realize that…"

"I'm sorry for your sister, Meredith, but you cannot expect the same to happen to all mages," I told her and saw the hatred rekindle in her eyes. In them, I could feel the pull of the lyrium sword that she relied heavily upon. I could feel it's taint course through her, corrupting her very flesh.

"Do not pity me, Champion," she raged. "I've seen it happen with my own eyes and it made me realize what they truly are. They can never to be trusted and I must be ever vigilant for their corruption!"

She rushed towards me once again and I blocked her wild swings, my arms going numb from the impacts and was unaware that she was forcing me to step backwards, drawing her closer to Bethany until it was too late. She turned to block a sword that came out from behind her and I noticed Sampson stagger back away from her, dropping his sword as he clutched his bloody side.

She turned to me again and swung wildly at me, hitting me with the flat side of her weapon, with enough force to cause me to fall and catch myself on my hands and knees. She could have easily killed me and I wondered why she let me live when I looked up to see she had turned to make her way to Bethany, a smile of victory plastered on her face.

"Bethany! Look out!" I yelled out, struggling to regain my feet. I got up and watched as she ran towards my sister, who was in the process of healing Donnic and was unaware of how close the Knight-Commander now was to her until I had yelled out. I watched her blade descend towards Bethany as I finally regained my feet and took a few steps forward.

Only it was Elsa who stepped in front of Bethany, pushing her out of the way at the last moment. I heard someone softly call my name and I looked down at Sampson, who was holding out his sword to me and I took it. I turned again to look at the lifeless body of the Tranquil woman who had saved my sister and felt something inside me snap.

I watched as Meredith stepped away and tried to locate Bethany once again, but by then Cullen had pulled her towards the city-guards and Isabela, who were protecting Sebastian. She turned back and saw that I was once again on my feet, now holding two swords as I advanced towards her, determined that she would pay.

She looked into my face and for the first time, looked concerned as I struck out at her, causing her to move further away from Bethany. I could now visibly see and feel her rage as she struck back at me and I realized that the lyrium was starting to fuse with her body. I could feel the channels course through her arms as she drew more and more power, but instead of helping her, it was starting to slow her down.

She paused and glared at me, blood running from various cuts down her arms as she struggled to breath. "What…are you?" she yelled, swinging out at me again. Sampson's blade broke and I dropped it, instead holding out my own sword towards her.

"I am what you should have feared, Meredith. I have vowed that you should pay for each death you have cause here. I am finishing what was started here," I replied simply.

She yelled once again as she struck out at me and staggered back, this time yelling in pain as she tried to draw once more from the blade and instead it shattered.

"What…have…you…done?" she yelled as she started to spasm.

"This is not my doing, Meredith. It is what you have done to yourself," I explained as I watched as she staggered back, her body glow as the lyrium spread throughout her body. I waited until her was no longer able to scream.

I watched as one of the Templars ran to her and turned to look at me, staggering away. I watched at Bethany slowly approached me, and also shrank back. Instead I calmly looked back up at the tower and at the remaining mages before I looked back at everyone else.

"Seelia," Bethany whispered and I turned slowly to her. "Is that you?"

"No."