Bravely, I stand before the entrance of Redcliffe, my heart race beating madly like a wild animal on the hunt, my muscles are tense as I feel a slick teardrop of sweat slowly cascade down my temple and descend to the stone floor, where a ruby red carpet lays with sewn on golden patterns, the single drop of water stains the once clean ruby red carpet but it doesn't go unfazed as I continue.
"You sure about this? I hear Fennic asks me as I turn to her, she's calm now, no longer angry almost disappointed, I ignore the slight pain in the chest, grateful she isn't punching, screaming or cursing.
"Not really, but we have to do this," I say as Fen nods numbly. Calmly, I stand in front with Fen by my right, behind me with Cassandra, Solas and Iron Bull by my side while Dorian is hidden in the shadows, not wanting to reveal himself just wait..
I feel the piercing glares of the Venatori wearing their white garb just like back at Storm coast. Worried, I glance behind me to see Fen, glaring at them; she's on edge the same as Bull while Cassandra and Solas are remaining level headed.
Bravely, I approach one of the Venatori spies, before me.
"Announce us," I order the spy, only for a man to appear, a male wearing a attire of blue and has pale blonde hair matching his pale skin tone.
"The magisters invitation was for Mistress Trevelyan alone, the rest will wait here," The male explains to me making me frown, I won't be able to take all of them on my own, that's what he wants me alone to corner and kill me, simple and easy. I don't think so!
"Then I'll stay here, if my friends can't enter then I won't enter," I refuse arms crossed. Sternly, I stare back at the male who looks warily at the others, most particularly Fen and Iron Bull, but they remain unfazed, almost used to it, much to my pity. Bitterly, the male bows his head going on head and we follow the blonde up the stone stair steps towards a familiar throne like room, the roar of the fire echoes, hissing, crackling and fizzling, almost eager to see me as many Venatori spies guard the throne room, leaning against the stone pillars supporting the room. My green eyes notice a lone familiar figure, my role model, Fiona standing aside watching sadly. My old role model anyway. Confidently, Alexius sits on his throne.
"My lord magister, the agents of the inquisition, have arrived," The blonde announces us as we stand before the magister, bravely, not allowing the fool the satisfaction of seeing our true fearful expressions.
"My friend!" Happily, Alexius plasters a fake smile of warmth as he stands up. Loyally, Felix stands by his father's side.
"It's so good to see you again and your uh… associates of course," Alexius trials off, trying to continue his tone of joy at my arrival but I detect the faint hints of annoyance towards my friends.
"I'm sure we can come to some arrangement that is equitable to all parties," Alexius smiles fake, standing up prouder and coming closer to us however as he does, I notice a familiar role model of mine Fiona step forward, a look of annoyance and betrayal across her expression.
"Are we mages have no voice in deciding our fate?" Fiona questions rhetorically demanding to speak her mind only to receive a stern look from Alexius much to my annoyance.
"Fiona you would not have turned your followers over to my care if you had not trust me with their lives," Alexius retorts calmly.
"If the grand enchanter wishes to speak she is welcomed to speak as a guest of the inquisition," I cut in, smirking when I see Fiona's soft surprised expression turning to gratefulness. "Thank you," She tells me as I simply nod. It's only fair to allow everyone a chance to speak whether I agree or disagree.
Alexius turns his back to me and returns to sit on his throne.
"The inquisition needs mages to close the breach and I have them, so what shall you offer in return?" Alexius begins negotiations as I simply sigh, wanting this over with, the quicker this is done and the faster we can seal the reach and end all this chaos.
"Tell me, I'm a curious mage you see, have you heard in the Tevinter imperium of a little magic called time magic, you know slow things down, speed things up…?" I begin smiling at Alexius shocked expression.
"Ridiculous. If you believe that I could do such things then why did you choose to come anyway?" Alexius tries to hide the truth until Felix turns to him.
"She knows everything father, I told her," Felix confesses to his father.
"Felix what have you done?" Alexius demands from his son.
"Your son is worried about you, joining these cults," I reach out trying to coax the father into stopping all this madness.
"So speaks the thief do you think you can turn my son against me, you walk into my stronghold with your stolen mark, a gift you don't even understand and think you're in control!" Alexus scowls at me standing.
"To be fair, I did not think I was in control, far from it," I interject making him glare sharply at me making me flinch.
"You are nothing but a mistake…"
Shocked, my eyes widen at those words, a mistake, an accident, a… abomination…
"I heard she killed her mother…"
"I knew she was a witch…"
"I knew she was a freak…"
Mistake, abomination, killer…I shouldn't have been-
"Father, listen to yourself do you know what you sound like!?" I hear Felix concerned voice snapping me out of my trance as I look up.
"He sounds exactly like any sort of villainous cliché that everyone expects us to be," Dorian voices making us all turn to the mage, I notice Fen keep a distance from him as Dorian stands by my side.
"Dorian. I gave you a chance to be part of this, you turned me down. The elder one has power you will not believe. He will raise the imperium from its own ashes," Alexius explains as my eyes widen.
"The elder one? Wait…this elder one was the one who must have killed the divine… could he be a mage?" I reason, slightly puzzled by the title.
"Soon he will become a god; he will make the world bow to mages once more. We will rule from the Boric oceans to the frozen seas," Alexius whispers in awe, making my eyes widen at the madman.
"You can't involve my people in this!" Fiona scowls, horrified at the madman she has placed her peoples care into.
"Alexius this is exactly what you and I talked about never wanting to happen! Why would you support this?" Dorian demands from him as I hear the faint swoosh of arrows from behind, the agents are here.
"Stop it father! Give up the Venitori. Let the southern mages fight the breach and let's go home," Felix begs his father.
"No! It's the only way, he can save you," Alexius informs his son, a desperate, depressing and sorrowful expression arising in Alexius' features.
"Save me?" Felix frowns at his father.
"There is a way, the elder one promised if I undo the mistake at the temple…"Alexius reveals.
"I'm going to die, you need to accept that," Felix says seriously as I feel a pang of guilt towards Alexius, he truly cares for his son, to go to such lengths…
"Seize them Venatori! The elder one demands both the woman's life and the elf with the markings!" Alexius demands as both mine and most likely Fen's eyes widen at his declaration…
What the heck does the elder one want with FEN!?
However Alexius is greeted by the sound of his men's chocked gasps as they all collapse, choking on their blood.
"Your men are dead Alexius end this now before more lives are lost," I reason trying to get the man to see sense and helpfully ask him what the heck this elder one wants with Fennic…
"You are a mistake. You were never meant to have existed!" Suddenly, Alexius voice turns into a hoarse demonic hiss as the gauntlet hand glows a familiar green glow revealing a amulet with a cube of energy from the looks of it, appears before us.
"NO!" Dorian screams releasing energy similar to the green glo-
'BAM!'