Disclaimer: I do not own Bioware or Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Marian went to check on Merrill, who was still looking at the Eluvian and found that Varric was there talking to her.
"Come on, Daisy. You've been holed up in here for days. If you don't get some sunshine, you'll wilt." Varric said.
"I'm not a plant, Varric. I'm fine." Merrill said coldly, not even looking at him.
"Just take a walk around the Lowtown market." Varric sighed. "Get some air, and I'll stop bothering you."
"I…" Merrill shook her head. "Know you mean well. But I have too much to do right now."
"I'll let you talk some sense into her, Marian." Varric stalked away, shooting Merrill a worried look.
"Varric is…" Merrill sighed. "Very sweet. Frequently infuriating and a terrible busybody, but sweet. Were you looking for me? Nothing's wrong, isn't it?"
"Nothing's the matter. I thought I'd see how you were doing." Marian said, trying to calm her down.
"And I'm being a poor host, as usual." Merrill blushed. "In the market the other day, out of the corner of my eye…" She sat down, hunching her shoulders a little. "I thought I saw Theron. I blinked, and he was gone. I don't know what it meant. Maybe nothing. Maybe I'm going mad. I miss them all. Even the Keeper."
"You miss Keeper Marethari? Are you feverish? Did you take a blow to the head?" Marian joked.
Merrill put a smile on her face. "I must have. I even miss her scolding me. I wish I could have seen…" She stood up and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm here now. Maybe Varric was right. Shall we go out for a bit? I could use some sunshine."
"Theron. You're worried about him." Marian realized.
"The only trace I found was that book he wrote, and was surprised that he fell in love with a human." Merrill said. "There again I suppose it's quite easy to do. You know if fate was different there was a chance I would have married him or Tamlen, but the Creators had other plans for them."
"Merrill, sometimes fate has other plans for people like us." Marian noted as they went out for a walk.
Wanda entered the Viscount's Keep with Steve and Sam.
"I see that it has changed a lot, since they executed Dumar." Wanda said.
"So, these templars have taken over and no viscount has been elected because of Meredith?" Sam summed up.
"Yeah. I knew things would be bad but I didn't think it would be that bad." Wanda sighed before they entered Aveline's office and saw her shout orders at the guardsmen and Donnic before they left.
"Aveline. I see you've enjoyed your honeymoon with Donnic." Wanda smiled as she and Aveline hugged each other before pulling away.
"It's good to see you, Wanda." Aveline smiled.
"You remember Sam and Steve." Wanda introduced them.
"Wanda told us you try to keep law and order in Kirkwall. You remind me of a certain Wakandan warrior, Guard-Captain." Steve said, referring to Okoye.
"I'm privileged to see you again, Captain Steven." Aveline smiled.
"Just "Steve" will suffice." Steve said.
"Call me "Aveline"." Aveline nodded.
"Do you need something? I thought you might need help, just like old times." Wanda offered.
"Yes, there's something. Come back soon. I'll get into it then." Aveline nodded.
"How was your honeymoon with Donnic?" Wanda asked, curious.
"I'll tell you later." Aveline smiled. It was obvious she was happy.
"I couldn't help but notice that the templars are trying to replace you and the city guard as law enforcement." Wanda said as Aveline sighed.
"You have no idea. As long as there's no viscount, the Order thinks they can bark at any man in uniform. I won't have it. The people of Kirkwall need to see themselves in their guard. Lose the connection, we're its targets." Aveline said, frustrated.
"Shouldn't someone just… elect to remove the templars' power?" Sam suggested, although they knew it would not be that simple.
"If it were that easy, grand cleric would've put them in their place long ago but Knight-Commander Meredith is as stubborn as a mule and First Enchanter Orsino is not exactly helping matters." Aveline sighed. "I try to keep order, and people appreciate that. Everything else is going insane. A few complaints here and there, but for the most part, I think everyone's just grab the guard has been stable for a few years."
"Aveline, we just came to visit but if you need help with something…"
"I'll let you know." Aveline nodded. "I appreciate it, Wanda."
They went over to the Chantry, hoping that they could convince Elthina to pick a side between the mages or Templars. They had brought Varric along with him, but when they reached the altar, they found that Sebastian was already trying to do just that.
"Do you never intend to give a public answer, Your Grace?" Sebastian was worrying over Elthina again.
"What have I been asked?"
"About the mages. You could calm this fire if you stepped forward."
"The Chantry's teachings are clear. Those who turn against them would not listen more to me than to Andraste."
They might, actually. Elthina could send Meredith to her room like a spoiled child. Sebastian was right, she could calm the fire. Then again, she could have calmed the issue with the Qunari as well. Peace was all well and good, but sometimes action was needed. Or at least strong words.
"Then you do support the templars, Your Grace?" Marian asked.
"I favor peace, which is not the goal of either side, I'm afraid." Elthina said sadly before sighing. "I did not expect things to deteriorate so fast. I thought after the Qunari, no one would wish for more violence. It has drawn more attention than I would like. Sebastian, if I can ask—"
"Anything, Your Grace."
"And the Champion, too, if you will…?"
"I am your humble servant." Marian nodded.
"You honor me. The Divine is concerned about the situation here. She does not want to see the Free Marches become another Imperium. She has sent an agent to…" Elthina considered her words. "Assess the danger. Meet with her, please. Tell her drastic measures won't be required."
"Wait, the Divine is planning to send an army to Kirkwall?" Wanda demanded.
"What's going on?" Steve asked, not understanding
"Short version, basically, the Divine might send an army of crusaders to Kirkwall." Wanda summed up.
"I don't want to see the Divine's armies march against Kirkwall." Marian said.
"Do they know what is "compromise" or "middle ground"?" Sam asked sarcastically as Varric nodded.
"Could we keep the Exalted Marching to a minimum? I keep all my stuff in Kirkwall." Varric drawled.
"Surely the Divine wouldn't treat the whole city as enemies." Sebastian said, taken aback.
"She is concerned." Elthina shook her head. "It is never wise to draw the concern of the powerful."
"She is the voice of Andraste. She cannot turn the might of the Chantry against the innocent due to…" Sebastian shrugged helplessly. "Proximity."
"No great army has ever marched without at least some civilian casualties." Steve said.
"Were no innocents harmed in the Exalted Marches? She will do her best, Sebastian, but she must act first to protect the faith." Elthina said.
"What can you tell us about this servant of the Divine?" Marian asked.
"I was not told her real name, only to call her Sister Nightingale. She is said to be the Divine's left hand, sent to do work that might blacken the Divine's name." Elthina said.
"Is there any way to convince her?" Steve asked.
"The Divine has heard my protests already. I must trust your own powers of persuasion now." Elthina told Marian.
"This cannot wait." Marian nodded.
"Thank you. We cannot allow this…" Sebastian spread his hands. "Ridiculous mage rebellion to turn into holy war."
"The agent, Sister Nightingale, will be waiting in the viscount's throne room tonight. She wishes to remain…" Elthina sighed. "Unseen. The room has been sealed since the Qunari incident. It may be difficult to get in without attracting attention."
"Clandestine secret mission. Just like old times." Sam chuckled.
They went into the keep and brought Bucky, Strange, Anders and Fenris along with them. However, the moment they entered the viscount's throne room, they were met by a group of people.
"So, even the Divine fears us now." The woman, said, apparently the leader. "She should. Kill the spies!"
"Not again." Wanda sighed.
The mages threw fireballs but Strange protected them all with Tao Mandalas before Anders blasted the mages with lightning. Steve and Bucky rolled back and kicked away the zealots engaging them before Anders summoned a cone of ice, freezing the rage demons that emerged from the ground, while Wanda smashed them into pieces with her hex blasts.
They were lucky Meredith nor the templars were here, otherwise she would have another reason to squeeze Orsino and the mages.
Suddenly, as more mages entered, behind them an explosion followed with a smoke and they fell down, as a red-haired woman appeared, sheathing her swords.
"Are you Sister Nightingale?" Steve asked, realizing it was the agent the Divine had sent.
"I am." The woman nodded but Wanda and Marian both recognized her.
"Sister Leliana?" Wanda asked. She had remembered her as a cloister sister from a small village, until she heard that she had been helping the Grey Wardens in the Blight.
"I see we've both come a long way, Leli." Marian smiled.
Leliana nodded. "It's been a long time, Wanda. Marian. The Divine sent me to investigate the possibility of a rebellion here in Kirkwall. I have…" She shrugged. "Some experience in unconventional situations."
"The Leliana? Who accompanied the Wardens to slay the archdemon?" Bucky asked, remembering the book Wanda had written.
"Ah, I see it will be harder to remain anonymous so near the Ferelden border. Yes, I knew the Wardens. Perhaps you have heard the songs I wrote of our time together. But that…" Her headshake was affectionate. "Was many years ago. I am working for the Divine now. In Orlais. I had not thought to return to this part of Thedas."
"Who are the Resolutionists?" Marian asked.
"An offshoot of a fraternity within the Circle of Magi." Leliana said.
"Supported by the magisters." Fenris added.
"There's no proof of that." Leliana said, but gave Fenris a nod.
Fenris nudged one of the dead mages with his foot. "I bet a lot of mages think they'd enjoy Tevinter's freedoms—and completely forget that few ever achieve the power to enjoy them."
"There have always been factions that support freedom from the Chantry and the abolition of the Circle. We have…" Leliana gestured. "Tolerated them. But the Resolutionists have become violent. They are likely behind the unrest here. The Divine has long suspected that Kirkwall's problems were spurred by an outside group."
"Looks like the mage problems are getting more heated even beyond Kirkwall." Strange noted.
"Like any mage with a brain can't come up with "let's rebel"?" Anders asked. They all shot Anders odd looks. His visions on mage issues had become more and more extreme.
Varric snorted. "To be fair, Blondie, a lot of those "rebellions" boil down to, "Let's feed ourselves to demons!" Outside help of the planning variety might be required."
Leliana gestured. "This attack proves she is right."
"Are you saying you set this whole thing up?" Marian asked.
"I let word slip that an agent of the Divine was coming to investigate the mage troubles. It is how they chose to react which condemns them." Leliana said.
"We understand things are getting out of hand but there's still a chance to fix it. Please, don't let the Divine do something extreme." Steve pleaded.
"Divine Justinia takes the situation here very seriously. She believes it is the worst threat to Thedas since the Qunari invaded." Leliana said.
"A handful of apostates? How can that possibly—?" Sebastian shook his head.
"The whole world is watching Kirkwall. If it falls to magic, none of us are safe." Leliana said.
"None of you." Anders muttered as the Avengers narrowed their eyes.
"Tell Elthina to leave. There is refuge for her at the Grand Cathedral in Orlais. She will not be safe here." Leliana turned to go.
"Your visions on the mage issues have become quite extreme lately." Wanda noted.
"Can you blame me? If you had seen how much have the templars been squeezing hard on us in the past three years, you would've reacted the same way!" Anders snapped.
"Calm down. Shouting is not going to help anything." Steve said.
"No. It won't." Anders muttered. The Avengers narrowed their eyes at the healer. Something has been happening with him lately.
They return to the Chantry and went up to Elthina.
"Sister Nightingale says you must leave Kirkwall." Marian warned.
"What?" Elthina blinked, surprised.
"You were right. The Divine will be taking action against Kirkwall, though the sister didn't say what. You must take the holy relics from the Chantry and leave for safety." Sebastian said.
"Sebastian. I'm surprised at you. Andraste would not thank me for saving a few dusty finger bones and my own skin at the cost of people's lives." Elthina said calmly.
"So you won't leave?" Steve asked.
"When I became grand cleric, I took a vow to the people of Kirkwall and the Free Marches. I will not leave my flock." Elthina said, standing behind her convictions, something they could respect, although Sebastian wasn't so understanding.
"Would you let yourself die?" Sebastian demanded.
"'There is no greater devotion than to lay one's life at the Maker's feet. There is no better death than to take the blow for another." Elthina said.
Marian sighed. "Sister Nightingale took a great risk to warn you. Don't be rash."
"Your Grace, with all due respect, Sister Nightingale believes a war is coming to Kirkwall. We can't ask you to put yourself in danger." Sam said. war."
"Then I must make peace. Settle yourself, Sebastian. I'm in no personal danger. I am grand cleric—who would dare attack me?" Elthina asked.
"If you will not shield yourself, then I will be your shield." Sebastian vowed. "You will come through this safely, by the Maker's name. I swear it."
The Avengers started to respect Sebastian for standing behind his convictions as the grand cleric walked away.
"If Elthina won't leave Kirkwall, neither will I. I can't abandon her when the Divine's own agent warned her away." Sebastian said.
"You're a good man, Sebastian. The grand cleric is lucky to have someone like you." Steve said.
"She'd be lucky were I willing to hit her over the head and carry her away. This isn't her battle. But if these maleficarum rebel against the knight-commander, Elthina will put herself between them and be torn apart. I must try to make her see reason. This cannot end well."
"I agree, it almost feels as if the Qunari are still here." Marian nodded.
Sebastian nodded. "Yes, we know what happens when you don't pick a side."
They walked along the plaza in Hightown, where they met up with Anders and then a dark-haired woman stopped them. Marian and Wanda saw Anders' eyes widen in recognition as he saw the woman's face. "Mistress Hawke, I must speak with you. You're the only one that can help. The Wardens mounted an expedition to retrace your route through the Deep Roads to discover whatever it is you found years ago. It's a fool's errand, and my poor brother is with them—Nathaniel Howe."
"Wait. You're Delilah Howe." Wanda remembered as Delilah nodded.
"Nathaniel?" Anders laughed. "Well, put me in a dress and call me a templar. How is the old boy doing?"
"He's missing, serah. Haven't you been listening?" Delilah glared.
"I'm not worried about Nathaniel." Anders shrugged. "He's crawled out of worse places alive."
Wanda's eyes lit up in recognition, as did of the Avengers at hearing the name. "Wait, Nathaniel Howe, isn't he…"
"…Rendon Howe's son." Anders nodded. "The one, who tried to assassinate Warden-Commander Faren for killing his father until he found out that Howe had betrayed Ferelden." He glanced at Delilah apologetically. "No offense."
"None taken." Delilah said.
"So, you know Nathaniel?" Steve asked.
"Certainly." Anders nodded. "We were in the Wardens together in Amaranthine. Hordes of darkspawn, psychotic broodmothers—usual Warden business. I wonder if Nathaniel ever found a sense of humor?"
"Why were Wardens interested in our expedition?" Marian asked.
"Maker help me, I have no idea." Delilah shook her head in frustration. "My brother never tells me these things."
"Wardens range into the Deep Roads all the time." Marian tried to reassure her.
"But he's been gone far too long. Something terrible has happened. I'd tell the Wardens, but by the time I reach Vigil's Keep…" Delilah shook her head. "My poor brother."
"What else can you tell us?" Clint asked.
"I know almost nothing. Nathaniel never speaks about the Wardens. It was only happenstance that I heard your name mentioned. Please, go back to the Deep Roads. Find my brother. You must." Delilah pleaded.
Before anyone of them could say anything, Anders was Delilah, that they would do everything they could to find Nathaniel.
"Back to the Deep Roads." Wanda sighed.
"Is it as bad as your book describes it?" Hunter asked.
"Lord of the Rings and Hobbit might be a little bit worse." Wanda said. "But that doesn't make them any less dangerous."
"Let's round up whoever we can." Marian said.
Aveline was unable to come due to her guard-captain duties. Sebastian volunteered eagerly, alongside with Varric and Anders and Marian decided to bring Merrill as well. It was better to keep her away from the cursed mirror.
"Who exactly is Nathaniel Howe?" Steve asked. "We know that his father betrayed Elissa's family and slaughtered them all, except for Elissa and her brother. From what I understand, Elissa and the Wardens later hunted him down and exposed his crimes."
Anders nodded. "I assume Wanda had already told you but I think I should shed some more light on that. After the Blight ended, Elissa wanted retribution and King Alistair and Queen Anora declared the Howe family pariahs, stripping them of land and wealth. The arling of Amaranthine, which used to belong to the Howes, was left to the Grey Wardens, alongside with the Howe's fortress, Vigil's Keep. Nathaniel, who had not known the full truth, returned back from his travels into the Free Marches and upon hearing what happened to his father, he wanted revenge at first. But then he just stole some family things that had been left in the fortress.
We caught him and put him into the dungeon. Chancellor Elissa tried to convince him, since Nathaniel had not known the truth but he didn't believe her at first. Warden-Commander Faren wanted to conscript Nathaniel, since he seemed very capable but Elissa decided to let him go. They had known each other since they were children and I think she felt she owed him that much. She let him go with his family things, mainly out of respect for their childhood and because she felt he did not deserve to be punished for his father's sins." Anders said as the Avengers nodded. "Sometime later, Nathaniel came back and wanted us to make him a Grey Warden, since he had nowhere to go."
"To redeem his family's name." Steve remembered from Wanda's book.
"Later, we found Delilah in Amaranthine and she told her brother everything about what their father had done. Nathaniel then came around, more or less." Anders shrugged.
The Avengers considered.
"Reminds me a little of the Hobbit." Sam said as they examined the underground tunnels.
"Be careful." Wanda said as they went deep into the tunnels and saw a pack of hurlocks.
"What the hell…" Clint wondered.
Wanda blasted back the hurlocks. Realizing they needed to act, Steve threw his shield as it knocked down some hurlocks, while Sebastian and Clint fired arrows. Anders and Merrill threw fireballs, while Bucky, Bobbi, Hunter and Sam started firing until they saw a middle-aged man with a bow and quiver as he shot the head of a hurlock. The man almost made Sebastian and Clint look like amateurs with bow as Clint chuckled, impressed by his archery skills.
"Nathaniel Howe?" Marian called out.
The man turned around and nodded. "You're the Champion of Kirkwall, aren't you? And…" He blinked. "Anders?"
Anders gave a friendly smile. "Making friends as always, I see."
Nathaniel chuckled. "There's no escaping you, it seems."
"I'm special that way." Anders smiled back.
"That is one way to put it." Nathaniel nodded.
"Delilah says you followed my expedition's route. Why?" Marian asked.
"You went further into the Deep Roads than anyone believed possible. The First Warden himself ordered this investigation. I was offered a generous share of the salvage, plus extra coin up front to discourage any…" Nathaniel shrugged. "Curiosity."
"Heavy resistance here, it seems." Steve said, eying the dead darkspawn.
"After the Warden-Commander killed the Architect, we thought it would be decades before the Deep Roads would be infested again. We were told these tunnels would still be mostly clear. But it seems they were wrong." Nathaniel tossed a broken arrow aside, and put the rest back into his quiver.
"They seem to know a great deal about darkspawn. Are these allies dwarves?" Marian asked.
"No, not dwarves. It was the Constable, he has a great range when it comes to tracking down darkspawn." Nathaniel said.
"The Architect?" Sam asked.
"The Architect was the first the speaking and thinking darkspawn. Very dangerous. He spread his 'gift' to other darkspawn—the disciples. Fortunately, the numbers a few and Constable Mahariel has been working tirelessly to eliminate them." Nathaniel said.
"An awakened darkspawn. Like Corypheus." Wanda realized.
"What the hell have we gotten ourselves into…" Hunter muttered.
"I don't remember drawing anyone a map to the thaig. Who told you about it?" Marian asked.
"An unfortunate dwarf named Bartrand." Nathaniel said as Marian, Varric and Wanda shot him incredulous looks. "We weren't sure his information was reliable, but contacting you or Varric was deemed risky."
"You trusted my turncoat brother but thought talking to us was risky? That's idiotic!" Varric exploded.
"We feared you might return if you learned about our interest in the thaig." Nathaniel said.
"Damn right we would. Going in here almost got us all killed." Wanda snapped, remembering Carver almost dying because of the taint and Bartrand leaving them behind to die because of the cursed idol.
"As much as I enjoy the company, is there anything keeping us in these darkspawn-infested tunnels?" Marian asked.
Nathaniel shook his head. "I cannot leave now. When we were attacked, I was separated from the rest of my expedition. Some of them may yet live. We must go deeper into the tunnels to rescue them."
"If there are survivors here, we'll find them." Steve promised.
"Well, this should be fun." Clint smiled.
"Crawling through blight-infested tunnels, rescuing Wardens in peril." Sebastian actually sounded cheerful. "This is what I signed on for."
"We should move. Stay alert for darkspawn." Nathaniel led them in.
More darkspawn emerged from the tunnels but Wanda blasted them back as Steve threw his shield, knocking them down. Bobbi, Hunter and Sam opened fire, shooting down the darkspawn.
"What magic is this?" Nathaniel asked.
"Something similar to Varric's crossbow, only more efficient." Bobbi said.
"We'll see about that, Mockingbird." Varric chuckled.
They found a dwarf carefully placing a barrel of something along the pathway. He turned towards them. "Master Howe, you live."
"Temmerin. Good man. Are there any other survivors?" Nathaniel asked.
"Up ahead." Temerrin nodded. "Well met are strangers in the belly of the earth." He gestured at the barrels. "I hope Sir Fenley won't mind, but I set up the explosives here and there. Figured I'd blow up as many of the spawn as I could before I embraced the stone."
"How did you manage to get Qunari explosives?" Marian demanded.
Temmerin actually looked insulted. "These aren't Qunari explosives. They're dwarven made. And don't you forget it."
"Temmerin's cousin Dworkin made the explosives back in Vigil's Keep." Nathaniel explained.
"Aye, and that he did…" Temmerin finished with what he was doing, and then stepped back. "Before the sodding Qunari forced him into hiding."
"What were you doing with these explosives?" Wanda asked. There looked to be four barrels along the wall.
"We were prepared to do extensive excavations around the thaig you found."
"A few well placed 'booms' prove most efficacious at clearing rubble." Temmerin actually looked a bit gleeful at the thought.
"Hope it doesn't bury us alive here." Hunter muttered.
"These explosives could kill a great many darkspawn." Marian suggested.
"Temmerin, the way behind us is clear. Send word to the Wardens in case we don't make it." Nathaniel ordered.
"Aye." The dwarf gestured. "I've set explosives all along the tunnels. Blow up as many of the sodding 'spawn as you can. Luck to you all."
"We've got company." Bobbi said as a horde of darkspawn appeared behind them. Anders and Merrill summoned firestorm, burning most of the horde but then an ogre charged forward.
"Move!" Steve ordered as they rolled out of its way, while Clint, Bucky, Bobbi, Hunter, Sebastian and Varric tried to shoot it.
"Really like Lord of the Rings!" Sam snapped. The ogre turned around before Clint fired an explosive arrow into its eye as the ogre screamed, waving its arm around. Steve rushed at it with his shield, knocking it down before embedding the shield onto its throat. The ogre gagged before slumping back.
"There may be more of these underground. Be careful." Wanda said.
As they went deeper into the tunnels, they saw an elf in a Grey Warden armor and with a hood, who landed on the back of an ogre and cut its head right off as Marian noticed her brother cutting down the remaining darkspawn as he sheathed his sword and chuckled as he noticed his sister and Wanda.
"Carver?" Marian blinked.
"Well, just like old times. Still coming to the rescue after all these years?" Carver chuckled as he wiped the blade clean. "I have it under control, but thanks."
"You know each other?" Nathaniel asked.
"She is my sister." Carver said.
"It's good to see you. I hope the years have been kind." Marian said, happy to see him.
"I can't say that. The Blight is long over, but the threat never really goes away." Carver didn't look her in the eye. "I don't know you can understand that. Maybe someday." He turned to the Avengers. "I appreciate the help."
"So you're Marian Hawke and the Avengers I've heard of." The man lowered his hood, revealing elven ears as Wanda recognized him, while Merrill looked at him speechless. "Merrill?"
"Theron, it's wonderful to see you." Merrill instantly wrapped her arms around him.
"You're the Hero of Ferelden." Steve realized as Theron nodded.
"It's good to see you to, Merrill." Theron returned the hug.
"I've read your book, is Tamlen truly—?"
Theron nodded grimly. "Yes, he is."
They felt sad for the elves. Their friend from their clan had died from the cursed mirror, from what they had read in Theron's book.
"Why you down here at all?" Marian asked.
"After Amaranthine, I began to research the awakened darkspawn.: Theron explained. "They are dangerous, when they're mindless beasts, can you imagine the carnage if they were able to think for themselves?"
"Sentient darkspawn. Just like Corypheus." Wanda nodded.
"Yes, we met Janeka." Marian nodded.
"And I must apologize for that, I told her to leave that prison well enough alone, but she disobeyed me." Theron looked as if the memory was very unpleasant. "She kept on persuading me, saying that she could bind Corypheus, but he wasn't a common demon and I deemed it too risky. Anyway, I heard rumors of this idol you found and I found the symptoms on Bartrand very interesting."
"You found my brother interesting?" Varric demanded.
"I found the symptoms he was suffering from interesting and I decided to come here to the source, but I did not expect to find such heavy resistance." Theron admitted.
"So you're organizing a special group to take down these… awakened darkspawn?" Steve asked.
"Indeed, I could not deal this threat alone so I found others who agree as I did." Theron nodded as he turned to Marian and Carver. "After what happened with Corypheus, I recruited your brother and you've already met Stroud."
"Haven't changed at all, have you?" Anders snorted, crossing his arms.
"And I see you haven't. I should take you in right now for your crimes." Theron glared.
"It was pure self-defense." Anders snapped.
"What's going on here?" Clint asked, not understanding.
"Surprised he didn't tell you." Theron said sarcastically. "You see, the Commander had a little incident with the templars about Anders and the only way to get them off his back was to recruit a templar into the order. However, at the time Anders had bonded with the spirit of Justice and naturally the templar tried to kill him."
"Are you saying defending myself was unjustly?" Anders glared.
"No, I'm saying you bonding with the spirit was most unwise." Theron looked as if he was about to say something, but looked up. "We don't have time for this. The darkspawn approach."
The Wardens moved through the darkspawn easily. The Avengers and Marian stared as Theron cut a path through the darkspawn with ease, the Avengers had seen very few people fight like him before. It was almost as if he was trying to make the darkspawn fight the way he wanted to.
After Theron had cut down an ogre, he slowly turned around as Nathaniel nodded. "For the first time since I've been down here, I don't sense a single darkspawn. We've won." He turned to the group. "The route to the surface should be safe now. Because of you, I will see my sister and nephew again." He offered Marian an amulet. "Please, take this with my blessing."
"I apologize I couldn't answer all your questions. You may have them yet, in the fullness of time." Theron then looked at Anders. "Champion, Avengers, allow me to give you this bit of advice. You should watch Anders prevent him from doing something foolish."
"Why?" Marian asked.
"I have a feeling that he will start a chain of events that will bring devastation to us all." Theron said ominously as they parted ways. Marian was confused by what had Theron meant about Anders but the Avengers were growing more and more suspicious about the mage healer, considering what had happened in the Chantry.
Present
"I am more interested with his meeting with Theron, what was he looking for within the thaig."
"I don't know, he didn't speak much of his Warden business."
"Whatever they were doing, it is clear that they had no part in the Chantry's destruction. And here you enter the story." Cassandra sighed.
"Yes, Theron was not with me because he had Warden business, but he would not tell me of what kind."
"Do you think this business of his connects to the Champion and the Avengers?" Cassandra asked.
"I do not know." Leliana admitted. "If this business is connected Varric will eventually tell us. I'm more concerned that Elthina did nothing to calm the fires and did not heed my warning."
"Indeed, it was unwise of her to remain neutral for such a long period of time, but let us see what the dwarf tells us next."
So, what do you guys think about it?
Please review and let me know if you are enjoying this so far and want for me to continue.