Disclaimer: I don't own Bioware or Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"We had to keep her separate from the others." The guard said as he accompanied Cassandra and Leliana into the dungeons.
"And are you sure she was not at the Conclave?" Cassandra asked.
"Her clothes and… weapons… I've never seen anything like this before. I'm certain we would have noticed her." The guard frowned, rubbing his chin. "But she was among those, who survived the explosion. We found her with them in the ruins. Two men, a human, a dwarf, and three women, an elf and a Qunari. The other prisoner… she had these items with her." He turned to the table on which were a pair of metallic batons and some metallic marbles and some strange items that Cassandra examined. One of the marbles discharged electricity as Cassandra dropped it.
"What kind of magic is this?" Leliana asked, perplexed.
"It's not magic." Cassandra narrowed her eyes, picking the ball as she turned to the guard. "What did she look like?"
"A red-haired woman. A human. Black suit. And…" The guard shuddered, not believing his own eyes. "It took twenty guards to subdue her. She was weakened and delirious but she put up quite a fight. I'm certain that not even an Antivan Crow or Orlesian bards can fight like that. Maker, if I didn't know better, I'd say that she's a Grey Warden or one of these Avengers I've heard about."
Cassandra and Leliana looked at each other, suspecting who it was. The question was, how was it possible.
"Take us to her." Leliana ordered.
The guard accompanied Cassandra and Leliana into the dungeon and unlocked the cell as the red-haired woman was on her knees and in shackles, glaring.
"Who are you? Where the hell am I?" The woman demanded.
Cassandra and Leliana eyed the woman. In her eyes was barely fear, it was more like full of anger, confusion and need for answers. And her suit was made of material Cassandra had never seen before and her accent and dialect were unusual, although Leliana had seen something like this before. The clothing and accent were the same as of the Avengers. They glanced at each other briefly and Leliana nodded towards Cassandra's unspoken question. It indeed seemed to be her.
"We've heard stories about a group of heroes. A soldier. A man out of time. Men with armors, that had unimaginable power. A demigod, who could rule the skies and thunder, wielding a magical hammer and an enchanted axe. And many others." Leliana mused. "And we've also heard about another woman. One, who had sacrificed herself to restore balance and return all life back in exchange for a powerful item called the Soul Stone. They said there was no way to bring her back. Master spy and assassin. A fallen Avenger."
The woman's eyes widened, shock and anger and need for answers filling her. How did they know that? "How do you know who I am? What is this place?" She demanded, while trying to free herself from the shackles.
"I suspect you have questions." Leliana said. "So do we. I think that we have a lot of catching up to do… Black Widow."
Natasha Romanoff stared in disbelief, wondering where the hell she was and how did these people know her. "Who are you?" She demanded, more confused than angry.
"As much as we would like to speak with you, right now we have more important matters to attend to. We shall speak later but you have our word that we mean you no harm." Cassandra promised before turning to the guards. "Whatever happens, she is not going to leave this cell. Understood?"
"Yes, Lady Cassandra." The guard nodded as they left Natasha and closed her cell and Natasha looked around for a way out. She now had a lot of questions. She gathered all her strength and shook the chains until she took a deep breath. It took some effort until she freed herself from her shackles.
"Hey! Hey!" The guard shouted as he looked through the bars. "Don't move or I will…"
Next thing he knew, Natasha reached through the bars of the door and grabbed the guard by his throat. "You're going to tell me where I am and you're going to let me out or I'm gonna snap your neck."
Maxwell awoke and found himself in a dark dark room with armed men around him pointing swords at him. It took a few moments to realize that he was in shackles and he seemed to be standing in some kind of dungeon, but he noticed the symbol of the Chantry engraved on the floor.
He looked around and saw that Ellana was also under armed guard, though it appeared that they singled him as the main culprit judging by the looks on their faces which looked at that of fear. He then winced in pain as if someone had pressed a hot brand into a palm and looked down to his left hand glowing.
The door to the chamber opened, and a woman entered. Maxwell felt a chill when he recognized the symbol on the woman's armor. A Seeker. The woman had deep brown eyes and short black hair with a scar just underneath her left cheek and looked as if she had a short temper.
Cassandra narrowed her eyes, and then walked around to stand behind him. She bent until she was inches from Maxwell's ear. "Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now." She straightened, and then paced a circle around Maxwell. "The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead." She pointed. "Except for you and your companion." He glanced at Ellana.
"You think we're responsible." Maxwell said lowly.
Cassandra grabbed Maxwell's wrist, yanking it up so the shackles dug into his wrist painfully as a green glow appeared on Maxwell's hand. "Explain this."
"I can't." Maxwell said as he looked into her eyes. He was still confused. The Conclave destroyed? Everyone dead?
"What do you mean you can't?" Cassandra demanded angrily.
"I don't know what that is, or how it got there." Maxwell said truthfully.
"We don't even know that the conclave was destroyed." Ellana added.
"You're lying!" Cassandra shouted, grabbing Maxwell by his tunic.
Leliana grabbed Cassandra, pulling her away. "We need them, Cassandra."
"I can't believe it. All those people..." Ellana swallowed against the lump in her throat. "Dead?"
The hooded woman looked at them all. "Do you remember what happened? How all this began?"
Ellana closed her eyes, trying to remember. "I remember running. Things were chasing us."
"And then… two women?" Maxwell said.
"Was one of them a woman with red hair?" Leliana asked.
"Yes. She was with us. I remember her." Ellana said. "Where is she?"
"She is not your concern at the moment. Who was the other woman?" Cassandra demanded.
Maxwell closed his eyes, his memory foggy. "She reached out to me, but then..." It went blank again.
Cassandra sighed. "Go to the forward camp, Leliana. I will take them to the rift." She bent, and freed the prisoners of their shackles, replacing them with a simple rope binding.
"What did happen?" Ellana asked.
Cassandra finished the knot. "It will be easier to show you." She pulled Maxwell and Ellana to their feet, and led them out of the Chantry and the guards followed with the others.
"Tell me what is going on here. Where am I?" Natasha demanded as Cassandra and her men were dragging her, Maxwell and Ellana outside.
"We've already told you what we know, Seeker."
Natasha turned to see a dwarf and a dark-skinned woman with horns accompanied by more guards. "Why are we your prisoners?" The woman demanded.
As they looked at the sky, what they saw was devastating. There was a giant green swirling void above the ruins of the Temple of the Sacred Ashes. It looked as if the entire sky had been ripped apart.
"We call it "the Breach." It's a massive rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hour." Cassandra said, gesturing to the tear. "It's not the only such rift. Just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the conclave."
"An explosion can do that?" Ellana gasped.
Cassandra nodded. "This one did. Unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world."
"Why would I help you?" Natasha said.
Maxwell was about to ask when his hand was suddenly dipped in molten metal. He screamed and collapsed. Cassandra rushed to him, and helped him sit back up. "Each time the Breach expands, your mark spreads..." Cassandra met his eyes. "And it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time."
Maxwell winced at the pain in his hand. "You said it may be the key… to doing what?" he asked.
"Closing the Breach." Cassandra nodded. "Whether that's possible is something we shall discover shortly. It is our only chance, however. And yours."
Ellana just stared at her. "You still think he did this? To himself?"
"Not intentionally." Cassandra said, looking at her. "Something clearly went wrong."
"And if I'm not responsible?" Maxwell asked.
"Someone is, and you and the elf are our only suspects." Cassandra said. "You wish to prove innocent? This is the only way."
Maxwell took a deep breath, and then got back to his feet. "I understand."
"Then…?" Cassandra's eyes were hopeful.
"I'll do what I can." Maxwell said, getting to his feet. "Whatever it takes."
"As if we have a choice." Natasha muttered before Cassandra turned to her.
"I understand you are confused and have a lot of questions, Miss Romanoff but they must wait." Cassandra said. "We may need your help." She handed Natasha her weapons. "I cannot give you the answers you seek but there is someone who might. Help us and I will take you to him. Does this sound fair?"
Natasha considered before nodding.
Around Maxwell and Natasha people were staring, with expressions that ranged from contempt to hostility to outright murderous.
"They have decided your guilt." Cassandra said as they walked. "They need it. The people of Haven mourn our Most Holy, Divine Justinia, head of the Chantry. The Conclave was hers." She sighed. "It was a chance for peace between mages and templars. She brought their leaders together. Now, they are dead. We lash out, like the sky. But we must think beyond ourselves. As she did. Until the Breach is sealed." She turned, and cut the ropes binding their hands. "There will be a trial. I can promise no more. Come. It is not far."
"Where are you taking us?" Maxwell asked as they across the bridge.
"Your mark must be tested on something smaller than the Breach."
They walked through the gate and into the valley. They were halfway up the path when his hand burned again. Cassandra helped him back to his feet when it passed. "The pulses are coming faster now. The larger the Breach grows, the more rifts appear, the more demons we face."
"And were getting closer to it, great." Edric muttered.
The bridge beneath them collapsed. Maxwell and Natasha fell down before Cassandra landed next to them a moment later as they got up. The others were bit of a safe distance away, but they made their way down as well.
Cassandra rose, then suddenly drew her blade as a demon materialized nearby. "Stay behind me."
Maxwell managed to get to feet own feet just as four more demons appeared, this one between him and Cassandra. It moved towards him.
The others appeared, Herah holding a greatsword, Edric a sword and shield and Ellana a staff. Herah then gave him a pair of daggers she took. Not knowing what was going on, Natasha knew she had to act as she picked her batons.
Herah swung her greatsword, slicing the demon in half. Edric blocked the claws from his demon and then stabbed the demon with his sword before Natasha shocked it with her batons. Ellana sent a blast of ice freezing the demon in its place. Maxwell dodged the swipes the demon attempted and then plunged his daggers right into its back.
Cassandra finished her own opponent a heartbeat later, then turned. Herah looked around. "It's over."
"What the hell was that?" Natasha demanded. She had seen a lot of strange things but this was something… quite new.
Cassandra pointed her sword at Maxwell. "Drop your weapons." Her eyes narrowed. "Now."
Maxwell seemed to give in. "All right. Have it your way."
"Wait, that thing attacked us. You expect them to follow you defenseless?" Natasha argued.
Cassandra looked at her for a moment and then to the others and sighed. "You're right." She sighed before she sheathed her sword. "I cannot protect you, and I cannot expect you to be defenseless." She turned to the pathway. "I should remember you agreed to come willingly."
They started up the path until more demons blocked their path, and more fell from the sky, with Natasha completely confused at what was going on but she knew she had to help the group fend off the demons. Fortunately, the demons were not particularly powerful. Cassandra gestured at them. "We're getting closer to the rift. You can hear the fighting."
"Who's fighting?" Natasha asked.
"You'll see soon." Cassandra said as they walked faster. "We must help them."
They walked down the pathway until they saw an elven mage and a dwarf with a giant crossbow fend off some demons as they came to aid. Ellana threw spells, while Herah, Edric, Maxwell, Cassandra and Natasha came to aid, with Natasha shocking the demons, while the rest cut them through.
Then the elven mage caught Maxwell's wrist and reached with it to the rift. "Quickly, before more come through!" The mage yelled.
Maxwell felt a surge of energy seem to flow out of him, and the dull ache in his hand eased. The rift twisted, flickered, and then vanished. He stared at him. "What did you do?"
The elven mage gave him a small nod. "I did nothing. The credit is yours."
Maxwell glanced down at the mark. "I closed that thing? How?"
"Whatever magic opened the Breach in the sky also placed that mark upon your hand." he said gesturing to his hand. "I theorized the mark might be able to close the rifts that have opened in the Breach's wake—and it seems I was correct."
Cassandra finished cleaning off her blade. "Meaning it could also close the Breach itself."
"Possibly." He gave Maxwell a considering look. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation."
"Good to know." He turned to see a dwarf adjusting his glove. "Here I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever." He smiled up at her. "Varric Tethras: Rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tagalong."
Edric raised an eyebrow at him. "I know you, don't you have a seat in the Merchants Guild?"
"I try and avoid sitting in it." Varric shrugged.
Maxwell just stared at him for he also recognized the name belonging to the author of Hard in Hightown's author and the Tale the Champion. "Are you with the Chantry, or…?"
The non-Dalish elven mage chuckled. "Was that a serious question?"
"Technically I'm a prisoner, just like you." Varric shrugged.
"I brought you here to tell your story to the Divine." Cassandra said, glaring at the dwarf. "Clearly that is no longer necessary."
Varric appeared entirely immune to her glare. "Yet, here I am. Lucky for you, considering current events."
"It's good to meet you, Varric." Ellana gave him a small bow.
"You may reconsider that stance, in time." The mage gave a small shake of his head.
Varric smiled. "Aww, I'm sure we'll become great friends in the valley, Chuckles."
"Perhaps you will be with her." Cassandra said, turning to Natasha. Varric turned to her and saw that she looked familiar. "Varric. This is Natasha Romanoff."
Varric's eyes widened. "That's impossible…"
"How do you know who I am? What's going on here?" Natasha demanded.
"He's the one, who you should ask these questions." Cassandra said, looking at Natasha and Varric.
"I guess some people are too stubborn to die." Varric mused. "I met your friends few years back and helped them defeat Thanos."
Natasha's eyes widened. "The Avengers? Are they here?"
Varric shook his head. "Right now, I wish they were."
"I know you have questions but right now is not the time for answers." Cassandra said. "Help us and you and the dwarf may catch up later. That isn't too much to ask, is it?"
Natasha considered for a moment before nodding. It's not like she had a choice.
The mage smiled. "My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions. I am pleased to see you still live." He turned to Maxwell.
"He means, "I kept that mark from kill you while you slept." Varric said.
"It's true, I saw him performing magic upon you when you were unconscious." Herah said. Natasha and Maxwell noticed that Herah was looking at him suspiciously and they could see why.
Maxwell gave Solas a closer look. Clearly not Dalish, but there was an odd cast to his features.
"You seem to know a great deal about it all." Ellana said curiously.
"Like you, Solas is an apostate." Cassandra said.
"A what?" Natasha asked, puzzled.
Solas shook his head slightly. "Technically all mages are now apostates, Cassandra." He turned his grey eyes back to Ellana. "My travels have allowed me to learn much of the Fade, far beyond the experience of any Circle mage. I came to offer whatever help I can give with the Breach. If it is not closed, we are all doomed, regardless of origin."
"That's a commendable attitude." Maxwell said.
"Merely a sensible one, although sense appears to be in short supply right now." he said and then he turned back to Cassandra. "Cassandra, you should know: the magic involved here is unlike any I have seen. Your prisoner is no mage. Indeed, I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power."
"Understood." Cassandra gestured for them to start moving. "We must get to the forward camp quickly."
"Well." Varric gestured. "Bianca's excited."
"Bianca?" Natasha wondered before Varric laughed.
"I think that you and I will have a lot of fun, Widow." Varric joked.
"So..." Varric glanced at the four of them after they'd finished dealing with yet another group of demons. "Are you innocent?"
"I don't remember what happened." Maxwell said.
"And neither do I." Ellana added.
"That'll get you every time." Varric leaped over a snowbank. "Should have spun a story."
"That's what you would have done." Cassandra said, giving the dwarf a dirty look.
Varric just gave her a cheerful smile in return. "It's more believable, and less prone to result in premature execution."
Cassandra continued leading the way up the mountain. "I hope Leliana made it through all this."
"She's resourceful, Seeker." Varric assured her.
"We will see for ourselves at the forward camp." Solas said as he helped Ellana through the snowdrift. "We are almost there."
"How do you know the Avengers?" Natasha asked Varric.
"Long story short, ten years ago, Wanda got blitzed here by these magical stones." Varric said as Natasha widened her eyes. "She spent the whole time with a family of a mutual friend until she got blitzed back with those stones again and then the wizard Strange created a portal, so that I, our mutual friend and some of our companions helped them against this Thanos madman."
"You defeated Thanos?" Natasha asked, looking hopeful before she saw the sad look in Varric's eyes.
"Yes but… it came at a cost." Varric sighed. "Look, I'll tell you everything once we sort out this mess, Widow but right now we've got bigger concerns."
Natasha nodded as they walked down the path.
"Another rift." Maxwell said
"We must seal it." Solas turned to Maxwell. "Quickly."
They moved forward, joining the soldiers engaging the demons. "They keep coming! Help us!" One of the soldiers exclaimed as Natasha and Maxwell came to aid. Natasha shocked one of the demons as Maxwell cut its head off before Ellana threw lightning, killing more of them, while Edric and Herah joined the fight.
When the last of the demons fell, Maxwell turned towards the rift. "Hurry!" Solas yelled. "Use the mark!"
Maxwell raised his hand, and felt… something… stir. He willed the rift to close, and green light flowed from his hand. Once again, the rift writhed and flickered, then vanished.
Cassandra nodded, and then turned to the soldiers. "The rift is gone. Open the gate."
"Right away, Lady Cassandra."
"We are clear for the moment. Well done." Solas said as they followed Cassandra through the gate.
"Whatever that thing on your hand is, it's useful." Varric noted, gesturing for him to precede him.
"We still don't know what it is." Edric said.
"What is it with your hand?" Natasha asked Maxwell.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know." Maxwell admitted.
Leliana was arguing with a Chantry brother. The words "only chance" were mentioned. Maxwell glanced up at the rift in the sky, and then took a deep breath before joining the others. "Ah, here they come."
The brother gave him and the others a baleful look.
Leliana, however looked relieved. "You made it. Chancellor Roderick, this is—"
"I know who they are." Roderick then turned to Cassandra. "As grand chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take these criminals to Val Royeaux to face execution."
"Order me?" Cassandra glared. "You are a glorified clerk. A bureaucrat."
"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serve the Chantry!" Roderick spat.
"We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor, as you well know." Leliana reminded.
"Justinia is dead!" Roderick pointed out. "We must elect a replacement, and obey her orders on the matter!"
Herah shook her head. "Isn't closing the Breach the more pressing issue?"
Roderick gestured at her. "You and your associates brought this on us in the first place!" He sighed, and let his hands drop. "Call a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is hopeless."
Natasha glared at Roderick. Immediately, he reminded her of the paranoid people like Ross and those who feared those such as Wanda.
Cassandra stepped forward. "We can stop this before it's too late."
"How?" Roderick asked lifting his arms. "You won't survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers."
"We must get to the temple. It's the quickest route."
Leliana shook her head at Cassandra. "But not the safest. Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains."
"We lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It is too risky."
Roderick sighed. "Listen to me. Abandon this now before more lives are lost."
The mark on Maxwell's hand pulsed again, glowing brightly, although it wasn't hurting him anymore. Cassandra glanced at it, and then looked up at him. "How do you think we should proceed?"
"Now you're asking me what I think?" Maxwell asked sarcastically.
"You have the mark." Solas reminded.
Cassandra nodded. "And you are the one we must keep alive. Since we cannot agree on our own..."
The thought of soldiers dying as a mere distraction sickened him. He then looked to the temple, at least there they would be able to save most of the soldiers. "I say we charge. I won't survive long enough for your trial. Whatever happens, happens now."
Cassandra's nod was approving as she turned to Leliana. "Leliana, bring everyone left in the valley. Everyone."
"On your head be the consequences, Seeker." Roderick shot out as a passing condemnation.
They walked down the path to see soldiers were dying as they all fought side by side with Cassandra until they saw another rift.
"Be wary—another Fade rift!" Solas cried out.
"How many of those are there?" Natasha demanded, wondering if Infinity Stones were behind this somehow.
A giant slim creature with no eyes that looked like straight from horror movie emerged from the ground as Varric fired at it from his crossbow, while Herah cut its arm off before it dug into the ground and then emerged right in front of Natasha, pinning her down. Natasha jammed her baton into its neck, electrocuting it before Maxwell stabbed it from behind, while Varric shot a crossbow bolt at it as it fell off Natasha, while seemingly fading into green glow.
"We must seal it to get past." Solas said put up a barrier spell around the soldiers.
"We have to push through!" Herah shouted as she swung her blade as a rage demon.
As soon as the last demon was down, Maxwell stepped up to the rift. This time, it seemed easier. His hand started to glow almost as soon as she lifted it. "Sealed, as before." Solas noted. "You are becoming quite proficient at this."
"Are you alright?" Maxwell asked, helping Natasha on her feet.
Natasha nodded, looking confused. "What the hell was that?"
"A terror demon and rage demons. There may be more of them, alongside the rifts." Solas said as they looked at the sky to see the green glow.
"Any idea what caused it?" Natasha asked.
"We intend to find out." Cassandra said.
"Let's hope it works on the big one." Varric said, stowing the crossbow on his back as he turned to Maxwell's hand.
"If not, this is gonna be one short trip." Edric muttered.
A tall man with short blond hair in fur-lined armor approached. "Lady Cassandra, you managed to close the rift?" He said as he sheathed his sword. "Well done."
"Do not congratulate me, Commander." Cassandra said, gesturing at Maxwell. "This is the prisoner's doing, the one with the mark."
"Is it?" He then looked at him. "I hope they're right about you. We've lost a lot of people getting you here."
"You're not the only one hoping that." Maxwell said.
"We'll see soon enough, won't we?" He said, his face emotionless. He turned back to Cassandra and pointed. "The way to the temple should be clear. Leliana will try to meet you there."
"Then we'd best move quickly. Give us time, Commander."
"Maker watch over you." He nodded. "For all our sakes."
The man then turned to Natasha, as if he had seen a ghost. "The Black Widow…"
Natasha sighed, getting tired of strangers acting as if she was a ghost. "Would someone mind telling me what is going on here?"
"Right now is not the time for questions." Cassandra noted.
They continued walking down the path, seeing bones and charred corpses beyond recognition until they approached the ruins.
"The Temple of Sacred Ashes." Cassandra's voice was sad and full of grief.
"What's left of it." Varric added, looking around.
Cassandra stepped to Maxwell's side and gestured. "That is where you two walked out of the Fade, and our soldiers found you. They say a woman was in the rift behind you. No one knows who she was."
Natasha closed her eyes.
"Let me go." Natasha told Clint as they were hanging on the edge of the cliff.
"No." Clint's voice broke. "No."
"It's OK." Natasha's voice was soft and reassuring.
"Please…"
Natasha let go as Clint screamed and the last thing she remembered was darkness claiming her before she saw a bright glow and following two women and a man…
Natasha breathed out.
"Are you alright?" Varric asked as he looked at her, worried.
Natasha took a breath. "Don't worry."
They soon reached the center of the temple until they saw the Breach but it was a good floating high in the air. Apparently, clearly there had been stairs up there before the temple exploded.
"The Breach is a long way up." Varric said, shielding his eyes as he looked at the sky.
Then they heard Leliana's voice behind them. "You're here. Thank the Maker."
Cassandra gestured. "Leliana, have your men take up positions around the temple." She walked over to Maxwell. "This is your chance to end this. Are you ready?"
"I'll try, but I don't know if I can reach that, much less close it." Maxwell said looking up at the Breach.
"No." Solas pointed at a rift down inside the temple itself. "This rift was the first, and it is the key." He looked back at him. "Seal it, and perhaps we seal the Breach."
"You're sure he can close something that big?" Edric asked. "I mean look what happened to after we sealed those small ones we came across."
"I do not know." Solas said honestly.
"Either way we're not closing it here." said Herah.
Cassandra turned to Maxwell. "Then let's find a way down. And be careful."
"Now is the hour of our victory." A voice sounded through the air around them. It sounded dark, cold, clammy. "Bring forth the sacrifice."
"What are we hearing?" Cassandra asked looking back at Solas.
"At a guess: the person who created the Breach." Solas said.
"Guess that means we're innocent." Ellana added.
Maxwell continued picking his way through the wreckage. Some strange glowing red crystals littered the place. He saw Varric's eyes widen, and he turned to Cassandra. "You know this stuff is red lyrium, Seeker."
"I see it, Varric." Cassandra
"But what's it doing here?" Varric grimaced.
Solas gave it a considering look. "Magic could have drawn on lyrium beneath the temple, corrupted it..."
"It's evil." Varric's voice was insistent. "Whatever you do, don't touch it."
"He's not joking, I've heard rumors of this stuff and it says it messes with your mind." Edric said.
"What is this?" Natasha inquired.
"Let's just say you never want to be anywhere near that thing." Varric said.
Maxwell nodded and they continued the way down the path and then, the strange voice rang out again. "Keep the sacrifice still."
A woman's voice came, sending a chill through Maxwell's blood. "Someone help me!"
Cassandra paled. "That is Divine Justinia's voice."
There was no staircase down, forcing them to jump down as they ran towards the Breach. The female voice called again, and Cassandra stopped in her tracks.
"Someone help me!"
Maxwell blinked as his own voice echoed from the temple walls. "What's going on here?"
"Get away from her!" Ellana's voice yelled.
Cassandra turned towards Maxwell and Ellana. "That was your voices. Most holy called out to you. But..."
The rift shifted, and the light changed. Forms started to appear. A tall man, holding something. The Divine, held in some kind of trap. And then the four of them, entering the room. Maxwell couldn't remember entering the room. The last thing he remembered was opening the door and then everything went black.
"What's going on here?" Maxwell yelled.
They then saw the figure as Ellana drew her staff. "Get away from her!" Ellana cried out.
"Run while you can! Warn them!" The Divine yelled.
"We have intruders. Kill them. Now!" The tall man said.
Then the images faded.
Natasha breathed out, flashback coming back.
All Natasha saw was water around as she walked down until she saw some golden city in the distance. Natasha slowly approached it before giant spiders started to chase her and then she saw a man, and an elven woman and an elderly woman in white robes running as Natasha was forced to follow them as the spiders and more monstrous creatures started to chase her too.
Slowly, Cassandra turned. "You were there. Who attacked? And the Divine, is she…?" Cassandra gestured at the rift. "Was this vision true? What are we seeing?" She strode towards Maxwell.
Maxwell shook her head. "I don't remember!"
"As we keep trying to remind you!" Ellana snapped.
"Echoes of what happened here." said Solas. "The Fade bleeds into this place." He turned to look at them. "This rift is not sealed, but it is closed… albeit temporarily. I believe that with the mark, the rift can be opened, and then sealed properly and safely. However, opening the rift will likely attract attention from the other side."
"That means demons." Cassandra warned, turning to the soldiers. "Stand ready!" She gave Maxwell a nod.
The soldiers took their positions as did the archers on the ruins. One of the archers nodded to Cassandra, who nodded back and then to Maxwell.
Maxwell raised his hand towards the Breach and powerful magic exited from it striking its core. Then there was a small explosion followed by the appearance of a pride demon.
"Now!" Cassandra yelled, and the soldiers moved in.
Arrows just bounced off the giant's spikey skin. A moment later, Edric and Cassandra's swords did much the same. Natasha attempted to use her batons but it had no effect. Ellana's spells and the ones cast by Solas seemed to do a little damage, but not enough. Varric kept on firing bolts at it, but they seem to be just as effective as the arrows.
"We must strip its defenses, wear it down!" Cassandra called to the soldiers.
Herah then raised the sword' swinging it had the demon, distracting it. Maxwell saw his chance and made his way over to the rift. He used the mark to disrupt the energies, and the demon staggered and fell to its knees. Solas gave him an approving nod before he and Ellana directed a barrage of magic against the weakened creature.
A few more demons managed to escape the rift before they took the big one down. Maxwell wiped what he thought was sweat out of his eyes, but there was red on the back of his hand. He wasn't sure if it was his blood or that of the soldier who had died defending him.
They were clear, for the moment. She turned towards the rift. "Do it!" Cassandra ordered.
Maxwell nodded. He outstretched his hand and energy surged once more out of the strange mark. He saw the rift shift and contort, and send more energy into it. The edges of his vision started to grey as the rift gyrated. Suddenly, the rift seemed to burst, and the energy slammed back into him, sending him flying. Dimly, he saw the green light shooting upwards towards the Breach before fainting.
"Would someone please tell me what is going on?" Natasha demanded.
"I think we should be safe. For now." Cassandra said. "We should head back to Haven and take some rest."
Varric held Natasha's hand. "Come with me. I think you and I have a lot of catching up to do, Widow." She followed Varric as they went down the pathway.
So, what do you guys think?
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