Inquisition

9:40 Dragon

Chapter One

Out of the Fade…

I whimpered in pain as I came to my senses. My left hand fucking hurt and I could see the green glow even through my shut eyes. I wasn't chained or shackled… I was in a bed. Cass and Leli must have thought things through when I was the survivor.

I opened my eyes as Cass and Leli came in the room. "Leli… what happened?"

"You do not remember? I was hoping you could tell us… we know you and one other survived the blast at the conclave."

I froze. "… Ah… that I remember."

"When you stepped out of the rift, you were holding onto a man, I do not recognize him." I cried out as the mark on my palm spread.

"I… fuck I don't have time for this! I'll deal with the guy later; for now, He is not to be imprisoned – he didn't do it. As for the breach, let's go close it."

Cassandra nodded as I stood and we began moving. "I will have him taken to a room, then.

We were close to the gates and she raised her voice, "Open the gates; we are heading into the valley."

"Yes, Lady Cassandra!" one man shouted as we walked up. Two men held the gate open as we exited Haven proper… the minute we were through, they closed them again.

As we walked, she talked; "They said you not only stepped from the rift holding onto a man, they said your wings were out and glowing, and there was a woman behind you… no one knew who she was, though some have guessed, given what happened at the Gallows in Kirkwall 3 years ago. They say it was Andraste, giving you final guidance before your quest to save the world… but the man, he was unconscious and bloodied. They said you brought the culprit with you; we will have that cleared up."

I nodded, "Thank you Cass. I know people want to blame me, right now; and I can't say they're entirely wrong. This would have happened no matter what, but I know the true culprits, I placed myself in the position at the urging of the Maker so that I could get this blasted thing that wants to kill me. I can't even tell you who's behind it yet… Demons!" I cried out as the bridge collapsed. My shout gave her enough warning to crouch and jump so that she landed on her feet on the frozen lake. I didn't bother with the weapons nearby; I simply extended my wings and flew up while shooting an ice-lance at the shade that popped up behind Cass.

Once the two were dead we continued on. Unlike in the game, I didn't stop for every damn resource or loot area. We approached the first rift swiftly.

"We're getting close; you can hear the fighting up ahead." Cass nodded at me. I was so glad that I had spent two months in Haven before the Conclave getting on Cassandras 'good' side. She at least trusted me.

We got to the ledge and I launched into the air, and as soon as the demons were dead – before Solas could speak – I put my hand out and called to the rift. It closed and Solas looked stunned.

"Thank you Solas, for keeping the Mark tame while I was unconscious; Varric, good to see you again… Fen'Harel; Solas Ir Mala Falon. Ir Dirth'len, Vhenallin." Dread wolf; pride, I am your friend. I'm secret one, friend of the people.

"Feathers, what did you just say?" Varric asked as I began walking. "Hmm? I told him I'm a friend… you surly recognized the title the Sabre Clan gave me in all that?"

"Didn't Daisy use 'Fen'Harel' as a curse? I think she said it was the name of their trickster god."

"No… Fen'Harel was much better than that: they just don't remember the sacrifices he made. I use it as a good omen…" I said.

Solas looked at me, slightly pale and surprised. "Melava inan enansal," Time was once a blessing… he was quoting Suledin (endure), the Dalish lullaby.

I nodded at said the next line, "Ir su aravel tu elvaral, u Na emma abelas" but long journeys are made longer, when alone within.

"Feathers… I'm feeling left out!" I patted Varrics head, "Would you like me to sing you the Lullaby we're quoting or are you gonna tough it out?"

"… Bianca says we're good."

"I would very much like to hear you sing one," Cass asked. I smiled; she had fallen in love with the songs from Earth…

"How about Mir Da'len Somniar; My Child Dreams."

Cass nodded and I allowed the Kalimba tinkling to hum through the air. As I sang, any demons we came across halted in their tracks. Solas, Cass and Varric killing them easily.

Elgara vallas, da'len

Melava somniar

Mala taren aravas

Ara ma'desen melar

Iras ma ghilas, da'len

Ara ma'nedan ashir

Dirthara lothlenan'as

Bal emma mala dir

Tel'enfenim, da'len

Irassal ma ghilas

Ma garas mir renan

Ara ma'athlan vhenas

Ara ma'athlan vhenas

"That was… beautifully sung, Da'len."

"Ma Serannas, Hahren. Look, there's the Forward Camp!" I said, pointing happily after closing the Rift near it.

"Maybe you should sing your way through the fights, Feathers. I don't know if you saw, but the demons were freezing in their tracks as you sang."

Solas nodded and I saw the people at the camp staring in stunned silence. "I saw… but I find it odd. I'm a Fairy not a Siren. My songs have never captivated people before…"

"Ah, but you've never sang around your enemies before, have you?" Varric smirked. "I… huh, no. I could have sworn… hmmm."

Roderick glared at us as we approached. "You made it; Chancellor Roderick, this is," Leliannas words were cut off.

"I know who she is! As Grand Chancellor, I order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution!"

"I wouldn't do that… ordering Cassandra is not the wisest move you could make. And I can swear it wasn't me that did this. Anyway the breach is our concern now, Rod, so as Queen of Ferelden, which is currently where we are, I'm going to have to veto your order and we're going to charge the front line. It's the quickest route. Lelianna, get some people on the mountain path, your patrol is being ambushed by demons and a rift. Get them safe, and I will close the rift when I can."

Without hesitation, she nodded and rushed to send people to the mountain path. My hand began sparking and glowing as I hissed in pain. I didn't bother to look at it since I knew what was happening.

"Look, this pretty little thing wants to kill me right now. Until we can stabilize the breach, I'm useless to you, Rod. Meaning I won't survive long enough for your trial short of magic amputation."

Without waiting for a reply, we took off. I wasn't going to leave Cullen on the front line without help.

There were seventeen demons at this rift. I was furious when I saw Cullen was fighting nearly alone. Only 4 or 5 men were with him. The others were down in the damn valley.

Without hesitation, I shot ice spikes into the eyes of every enemy that I saw. Cullen looked up and smiled at me as I closed the rift.

Solas glanced at me, "You are quite proficient in that for someone who has never done this before…"

I smirked, "You taught me. In a vision, where I didn't know how, you took my hand and lifted it to the rift. Feeling it then, allowed me to know how after."

He actually smiled at me. "Then I am glad to have been of service."

"Lady Cassandra, how did you manage to close the rift?" Cullen asked. I rushed into his arms and he chuckled. He wore his fur mantle and armor and carried the shield and sword I had given him years ago… the set was made by Wade during the events of Awakening. Vigilance was the Eldest Dragon Bone Sword and the Starmetal Shield was named Valiance.

"I did it! I closed the rift… I have a magic hand now," I winked. He leaned in and kissed me, much to Solas' astonishment.

"The way to the Temple should be clear. Lelianna will try to meet you there, my love."

"Create some time for us, husband. We'll need you to hold off demons. All rifts in the immediate area will close the minute I stabilize the breach."

He nodded, "We will be having a talk when you're done."

"Yup, 3 days from now, we'll talk…" I smirked and danced off. He let out an oath but helped his men back to give us time. "Why 3 days, feathers?"

"I don't actually have enough magic to seal the breach; we need the Mages or Templars for that… I can stabilize it, but it will drain me completely. I will need time to recover so my body will put me in a healing sleep."

Solas nodded, "That does sound accurate…"

We entered the Temple, "The breach is a long way up, Feathers… can you get to it?"

I snorted, "The breach is connected to that rift there; if I'm right, that's where I re-emerged. All I have to do is seal that rift, and it will stabilize the breach."

Cass smiled at me as Lelianna came rushing up.

"You're here; thank the Maker!"

"Position your men, babe. We will have one nasty son of a pride demon to fight when I reopen that rift so I can seal it." She nodded and began barking orders as we made our way down.

"Now is the hour of our Victory; bring forth the sacrifice." I heard Corypheus speak in his deep and deceptively sexy voice. Cassandras head whipped to look at me, "What are we hearing?"

"At a guess? The person who really made the breach." I gave a curt nod at Solas' words. "Why is that voice familiar, Feathers?"

"You'll know in a few months, first-mate chest-hair," I smirked as he let out an oath. "You know about that?"

"It's Isabela… if I didn't know about it, I'm a horrid friend. I guessed."

We passed the chunks of glowing red Lyrium and Varric gasped, "You know this stuff is Red Lyrium, seeker…"

"I can see it, Varric."

"But what's it doing here?"

I cleared my throat. "This mountain was brimming with Lyrium. Magic drew on it and the enemy corrupted it."

"It's evil… don't touch the stuff," Varric spat.

"Keep the sacrifice still," Corypheus intoned before Justina cried out, "Someone… help me!"

"That is Divine Justinias' voice!" Cassandra cried as we hopped down into the 'pit'.

That's when my hand flared and the 'vision' started.

"Someone help me!"

"Justinia!" my voice cried.

"Run while you can, Ara… warn them as you warned me!"

"We have an intruder… slay the Seer!" ah so he had recognized me then? The vision dissipated.

"He knew what you were… we've been keeping that information guarded but he knew… were we betrayed… and the Divine, she said you warned her…"

"She knew she was going to die, Cass; and no we haven't been betrayed. This particular person knew of my ability because I told him… years ago. The fade bleeds into this place. What you just saw are echoes of what happened."

"She is right… and this rift is sealed… albeit temporarily. She's right that we need to reopen it, and that it will attract attention from the other side."

I lifted my hand as Cass shouted to stand ready. And the fight began. I would disrupt the right each time the Demon looked like he was going to do something big, so he was always 'stunned' for a few seconds.

When I truly closed the rift… I watched the implosion shoot green light into the sky, the breach stabilizing it for now. I fell to my knees as Varric shouted, "Feathers!" Cass put one of my arms over her shoulder while Solas took the other side, and I lost consciousness.