Chapter 46
Disclaimer: I own none of the recognizable characters. I simply borrow them for my muse. :) A lot of the dialogue will come directly from the game.
Thank you again for all who continue to read this. I know that it's been a long time since my last update. You will not have to wait that long again for a new chapter, I promise! .
Abelas nodded. "You will be guided to the ones you seek. As for the Vir'abelasan . . . . it will not be despoiled, even if I must destroy it myself." He turned away from them, heading through an archway behind him.
"No!" Morrigan gasped and took off after him, shifting into a bird.
"Morrigan!" Talon called but she was gone. "Come on!"
"Well shit." Bull muttered, and CJ stiffled a laugh. Yeah, that was an understatement. A sentinel stepped forward, leading them through a door to the left. What else was Morrigan hiding from them?
The guide led them through several chambers, old chambers untouched by time. There were still offerings left at the shrines. CJ could almost picture the ones who had come here. Elves praying for guidance and protection, to stop the things that had sadly come to pass. As they were led through back passages, they could hear fighting in the distance.
"Shouldn't we help them?" CJ asked. The guide shook their head fiercly and spoke in Elvish.
"Ah," Talon coughed slightly. "He's saying to stay close."
"But," She began to protest but Bull placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll see battle soon enough, Kadan. It's better that we keep moving." She huffed at his sensible words and he laughed. The guide stopped at a door and gestured forward. This was it.
"The well of Sorrows." Talon said softly as they entered the area. Fighting could be heard down the stairs. Shouts of pain. They rushed forward in time to see one of Corypheus' soldiers stab a sentinel through the chest. The elf died with a groan, collapsing to the ground not far from the bodies of their comrades.
"You tough bastards. A day's march, hours of fighting, and still fierce as dragons." The man who spoke to the red templars looked proudly at them. "The Chantry never knew what it was throwing away.
"Samson, sir, watch out!" One of the templars had seen their approach.
The man turned to face the group.
"Inquistor." He sneered. "You and those elf things just don't know when to stop. You've hunted us half across Thedas. I should've guessed you'd follow us into this hole."
"I spoke with your Tranquil, Maddox. He sacrificed himself for your cause." Talon's voice was even.
"I told him not to. He died as one of us. One of the faithful." Was there regret in his tone? If there was, it was gone in the next second. "Corypheus chose me twice. First as his general. Now as the vessel of the Well of Sorrows. You know what's inside the well? Wisdom. The kind of wisdom that can scour a world." Samson turned away from them and looked up at what must be the Well. "I give it to Corypheus and he can walk into the fade without your precious anchor."
"What's your part in it? What's a 'vessel'?"
"What else empties a well/ I'll carry its power to Corypheus. One more task entrusted to me. Being force-fed Chantry lyrium was good for something. This armor makes me a living fortress- mind and body. I won't forget a word of the Well's knowledge. Corypheus will be unstoppable."
"Once Corypheus is that powerful, you and your soldiers will just slow him down." Talon tried reasoning with the man.
Samson whirled around and glared. "You dare say that to my face?! After you butchered my men?!" He growled. "You're no match for Corypheus. Even if you drink from the well, you'll never master its wisdom as he could!" A crack sounded out and red magic began to swirl around Samson. "This is the strength the Chantry tried to bind. But it's a new world now. With a new god!" His armor glowed red. Red lyrium.
"So, Inquisitor, how will this go?" He demanded, holding out his arms.
Talon was unimpressed. "Power's all well and good. Until it's taken away." He held up some sort of disc. Samson screamed as the lyrium was yanked from him and drawn into the disc.
"What did you do?" Samson gasped. "What did you do?!" His voice cracked. "My armor. It's gone! The lyrium- I need it! Kill them all!" And his templars attacked.
"Don't let the red lyrium hit you!" CJ warned unneccesarily as she dove out of the way of a bolt of it. Bull was having a great time, swinging his sword in wide arcs.
"Thanks for the words of wisdom, Fighter!" Varric called from his spot well back from the fighting. He was sending bolts at the red templards, working in tandem with Dorian to keep them pinned. "Have any more?"
"We're definitely going to work on how well you aim in flight, dwarf!" She parried a blow that definitely would have removed a limb had it connected properly. She ducked down, stepping to the side as the templar tried to adjust with his heavy armor. He found his feet too late, one of her daggers sank deep into a gap in his platemail. He let out a strangled gasp and dropped to the ground. Around her, the red templars were falling to her comrades weapons. Finally, only Samson remained alive. He was on his hands and knees, fighting to stay conscious.
"Not the well, you wretch. You can't take it from Corypheus. You musn't-" His arms gave out and he collapsed to the ground. It was done. They'd won! Bull let out a triumphant shout and grabbed CJ, pulling her to him in a fierce kiss.
She wiped some of the blood off his face and grinned up at him. "Good fighting, Bull."
"Good fighting, Kadan." He kissed her again, prompting Varric to make gagging noises. "Maybe those flying lessons should start now." He muttered and CJ laughed.
Varric quickly moved away and looked down at Samson.
"He's still alive." He prodded him with a foot. "That must be some damn good armor."
"We can take him to Skyhold for judgement." Talon declared.
Behind them, there came a crackling noise. They all turned to look and saw Abelas creating a staircase up to the well.
"Abelas!" Talon called, running after him. They all gave chase, reaching the top of the stairs in time to see Morrigan transform and land in front of the elf. Abelas paused, now surrounded.
"You heard his parting words, Inquisitor. The elf seeks to destroy the Well of Sorrows."
"So the sanctum is despoiled at last." Abelas said in disgust.
"You would have destroyed the Well yourself, given the chance." Morrigan retorted.
"To keep it from your grasping fingers! Better it be lost than bestowed upon the undeserving!" Abelas shot back.
"Fool! You'd let your people's legacy rot in the shadows!" There was no missing the scorn in Morrigan's voice. CJ hid a wince. The way to get Abelas to agree wasn't to insult him.
"Corypheus needed Samson to use the well. Without him, there's no vessel to claim it." Talon broke in.
Morrigan directed her scorn at him. "The moment we leave, he will send more forces in to secure this place." She exclaimed.
"She's right." Bull murmured, so softly that only CJ heard it.
"The Well clearly offers power, Inquisitor." Morrigan continued. "If that power can be turned against Corypheus, can you afford not to use it?"
"Do you even know what you ask?" Abelas shook his head. He turned away from them, facing the well. "As each servant of Mythal reached the end of their years, they would pass their knowledge on. Through this." He looked at Talon again. "All that we were. All that we knew. It would be lost forever."
"It's better that knowledge remain in the well, never passed on?" Dorian asked. "You'd rather destroy it?"
"There are other places, other duties." Talon said. "Your people yet linger."
"Elvhen such as you?" CJ tensed. She didn't want to kill Abelas, but if he made a move towards Talon, she would.
"Yes."
Abelas was silent for a long moment, studying Talon. "You have shown respect to Mythal, and there is a rightousness in you I cannot deny." CJ relaxed slightly. "Is that your desire? To partake of the Vir'Abelasan as best you can, to fight your enemy?"
"Not without your permission." Talon said firmly.
"One does not obtain permission. One obtains the right." Abelas sighed and then turned away from them. He began walking. "The Vir'Abelasan may be too much for a mortal to comprehend." He paused and looked back over his shoulder. "Brave it if you must, but know you this; you shall be bound forever to the will of Mythal."
"Bound?" Morrigan curled a lip. "To a Goddess who no longer exists, if she ever did?"
"Bound, as we are bound. The choice is yours."
Talon looked thoughtful. "Is it possible this Mythal might still exist?"
"Anything is possible."
Dorian grumbled slightly at the nonanswer.
"Elven legend states that Mythal was tricked by Fen'Harel and banished to the Beyond." Morrigan supplied.
"'Elven' legend is wrong." Abelas exclaimed. "The Dread Wolf had nothing to do with her murder."
"Murder?" Morrigan stammered. "I said nothing of-"
"She was slain, if a god truly can be. Betrayed by those who destroyed this temple. Yet the Vir'Abelesan remains. As do we. That is something."
There was a sense of finality in his words, CJ thought.
"Are you leaving the temple?" She couldn't help but ask.
"Our duty ends. Why remain?" He looked at her. "Perhaps there are places where the shelmen haven't touched. It may be that only Uthenera awaits us. The blissfull sleep of eternity, never to awaken. If fate is kind."
"You could come with us. Fight Corypheus. He killed your people." Talon offered.
"We killed ourselves, long ago." With one last look at the well, Abelas turned and walked away. They watched him go in silence. When they could no longer see him, they turned back to the well.
"You'll note the intact eluvian. I was correct on that count, at least." Morrigan sounded a bit rueful.
"Is it still a threat? Can Corypheus use it to travel the Fade?" Dorian asked, stepping up to stand beside Talon.
"You recall when I took you through my eluvian, I said each required a key?" Morrigan directed the comment and CJ raised an eyebrow. When did that happen? She looked to Bull who grimaced. Apparently she hadn't been told 'everything' that she'd missed. "The Well is the key. Take its power and Mythal's last eluvian will be no more use to Corypheus than glass." Morrigan paused. "I did not expect the Well to feel so . . . hungry."
"Seems like that should be a concern." Talon looked at Morrigan, concern flitting across his features. She was staring at the water.
"Knowledge begets a hunger for more." CJ didn't like the way Morrigan was staring. Something wasn't quite right with it. Beside her, Bull shifted. He didn't like it either. "I am willing to pay the price the well demands. I am also the best suited to use its knowledge in your service." Her eyes were bright when she looked at Talon.
"Or more likely to your own ends." Varric muttered.
"What would you know of my 'ends', dwarf?" Morrigan snapped at him.
"You do seem awfully willing to thrust yourself into danger." Bull commented and got a nasty look for his efforts.
"Of those present, I alone have the training to make use of this. Let me drink, Inquisitor."
"You alone?" Talon scowled at her. "This is MY heritage!"
"I have studied the oldest lore. I have delved into mysteries of which you could only dream! Can you honestly tell me there is anyone better suited?"
"What about you, Dorian?" Talon glanced at the man beside him.
"A human from Tevinter scoops up the last bits of Elven knowledge? I know why you ask. I know it's important, but . . . I can't be that man."
Talon looked back to Morrigan. "Perhaps you're right."
"I am. You know I am."
"You're not concerned about the price? 'Bound forever to the will of Mythal'?"
"Bound to the will of a dead god? Is seems an empty warning." She shrugged. "Perhaps a compulsion yet remains. Who can say otherwise? I do not fear it, even so."
Talon didn't look convinced. "You sure you want this, Morrigan? We don't know what will happen."
"We do not, and yet it must be done. I am ready." Talon looked around the group, looking for answers? Advice? When he met CJ's eyes, she shrugged.
"It's yours." Talon stepped back. Morrigan nodded and stepped forward. She didn't hesitate as she stepped into the water of the well. As she walked towards the center, blue ribbons of light began to swirl around her. They all watched in silence as she stopped and turned before sinking down beneath the waters. CJ took a step forward, as if to help, but Bull stopped her. A moment later, the water surged out of the well, drenching all who stood near.
Morrigan lay on the tiled floor of the wel, motionless.
"Morrigan?" Talon rushed forward. "Are you all right?" CJ was right behind him, kneeling down beside Morrigan. Abruptly, Morrigan sat up.
"Ellasin selah! Vissan . . . Vissanalla. . ." She rubbed her head for a moment and then stood up. "I . . . . I am intact." She was moving restlessly, looking back and forth. "There is much to sift through. But now we can-" She cut herself off as a dark mist began flowing around them.
"What the hell?" Varric exclaimed.
"Uh oh." CJ pointed back to the door to the Well. Corypheus was standing there. As he saw the Well was empty, he let out a scream of rage and launched himself forward.
"The eluvian!" Morrigan cried. It sprang to life, the glass turning a vibrant blue.
"Through the mirror!" Talon yelled. "Go go go!"
They ran.
CJ hesitated only a moment before throwing herself through the strange magical object. One second, they were in the temple. The next, they were in a storage room of Skyhold.
"Well, that beats having to travel the whole way on foot." She said, and Bull chuckled.
Once they were all through, Morrigan raised her hands, closing the portal. The blue light faded until there was just glass.
"It is done."
