"Healer!" a voice shouted from atop the wall.

I looked up, finding an archer flagging me down. At my attention, they pointed down below, "The Commander!"

I didn't hesitate as I sped through the gates, ignoring Asaala's shouts to wait. I saw two soldiers dragging Cullen back as he let them know exactly what he thought of their insubordination, rage on his face. At least it isn't grave. I hurried to them, not giving myself the chance to look at the horde of demons just beyond the barricade. Kneeling before Cullen, he refused to show me where he was injured. Instead, his soldiers ripped off that ridiculous fur cloak he wore, issuing a deep hiss from Cullen. Crimson blood was seeping up the vest above his belt.

When Asaala caught up she growled at me, but I growled back, "Keep them off us." I looked to the other soldiers, "You too."

Surprise colored all of their faces at my tone with them, but I didn't care. Cullen could not fall and could not afford fighting with an injury. Even if he felt getting healed made him look weak in the eyes of his soldiers; if our Commander fell, any hope, any morale the soldiers were clinging to, would be snuffed out like a candle in a dark room. Without another word, they raced to the front line.

"Show me the wound, Commander," I ordered. He had been trying to twist away and using his arm to cover the wound.

"Healer, watch your tone," he growled at me, "I am fine."

I met his eyes. Rage was in them, not at me, but he would take it out on me. At anyone. I glared back at him. Fine, we'll play that game.

"I am not one of your soldiers, Commander, and I will order you as I please. You are my subordinate here, and you will listen to me. Now move your arm," I barked command.

He gaped at me a moment before shifting. I unhooked his sword belt, undid his vest to reveal the large gash at his hip. The demon's claws had hooked into his flesh just where his cuirass ended, cutting through his leather doublet and linen tunic.

"It knocked my shield back for just a moment, using its other hand to sweep at me. I leapt back, but not fast enough," he explained, glaring at the front line.

"You're all exhausted. Reflexes will be slower. Don't be hard on yourself," I murmured as I undid the straps at the side of his cuirass, opening it just enough so I could lift the hem of his leather doublet. The cotton tunic beneath was soaked with blood, sticking to his skin.

"I have to be," he growled, "I am better than this."

"That may very well be, Commander, but you are not immortal. Ignoring this wound to save face would mean your death."

"I-I know," he admitted.

"This is going to hurt," I stated.

"What is -" he began to ask just as I pulled his tunic up. He let out a low hiss, "Maker's breath!"

I ignored him, instead I assessed the damage. No vital organs had been reached, but muscle and skin were torn. Thankfully an easy fix with magic; as I prepared to heal him, a thought occurred.

"Do you…want me to use magic?" I asked him, my voice low.

A look of surprise as he met my eyes. He searched my face before looking away.

"Yes," he murmured.

My hand glowed as I worked along the gash, muscle and skin knitting back together until not even a scar was left. I ran my fingertips over where the wound had been once more to assure all bleeding had stopped. I readjusted his tunic, doublet and armor.

"Finished," I voiced.

"Thank you," he said, his voice softer than it had been.

"I'm just glad it wasn't more serious. Now, Commander, get out there and show these recruits how it's done."

He smirked, "After showing them how it's not done?"

"There's a method to your madness I'm sure," I smiled.

He fought down a laugh as he stood, "I'll have to remember that."

Just then, the front line broke.

"Commander! They broke through!"

"Reform the line!" he shouted, unsheathing his sword, he turned back to me, "Get back behind the wall."

He charged into danger, picking up his shield in a fluid movement before rejoining the others. A few had slipped through, with a roar, Cullen slashed and hacked. He ducked out of the way of flailing limbs, bashed with his shield and rallied his troops without missing a beat. I am better than this. I prayed to Andraste for strength as it seemed he was determined to prove it. I willed a barrier to form around him and the others in the most danger. Stubborn and proud, but soft in the middle; much the same as he'd ever been, even if he had changed on the outside. I backed away from the fight, but I didn't take my eyes off of him, willing the barrier to stay in place until I knew they had the problem back under control.

My blood went cold as I heard the wail of a demon to my left.

Slowly, I turned, my heart pounding in my chest. A greater terror demon towered over me, its many lifeless eyes staring me down. Great horns swaying as it stalked closer to me. It's hanging maw, full of row after row of teeth, issued another wail. I froze. Wether a power of the demon or my own fear holding my spine in a vice, I couldn't move my feet. I knew I was going to die if I didn't move. Now. I couldn't move my hand, but I summoned a shard of ice letting it grow until it pierced my thigh. The pain snapped me out of the trance just in time to dive out of the way of swinging claws. I hissed as I felt my ankle twist on the leg I had nicked, moving slower than the rest of me. I went down hard, flipping to see the demon stalking towards me again. Arrows erupted in its chest, staggering it back and earning a roar of anger from the creature. I dragged myself backwards with the extra time the archers gave me, a couple of soldiers grabbing my shoulders and hauling me to the bottom of the steps up to the gate. Setting me against the wall, they attacked the demon. I flinched when an explosion sounded up on the stairs and I heard a body hit the ground.

I looked to the front line, several recruits lay dead now. Cullen and a few others still fought, but there were gaps in the line and no more soldiers to fill them. I bit back a sob as I imagined what would happen - I would watch as Cullen fell, the soldiers will would break and they too would die; then the demons would stalk to us, not enough arrows to stop them from tearing me apart. The rest would fall, leaving Haven open. Minaeve, Bethany, all those left who had put their hope in the Inquisition. They'd fight, dying quickly because they didn't know how before the demons spread through Ferelden like a plague. Like a Blight. The Breach growing and growing until all of Thedas was destroyed.

I cannot see the path.
Perhaps there is only abyss.
Trembling, I step forward,
In darkness enveloped.

Though all before me is shadow,
Yet shall the Maker be my guide.
I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Beyond.
For there is no darkness in the Maker's Light
And nothing that He has wrought shall be lost.

I am not alone. Even
As I stumble on the path
With my eyes closed, yet I see
The Light is here.

I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the inevitable. Light flashed through my eyelids and I snapped them open. Cassandra, Solas, Varric and Ellana raced to the rift above Cullen just as it spewed out more demons. Solas blew them apart with lightning, Varric filling them with arrows at the same time as Cassandra cleared a path for Ellana. Ellana threw her hand at the rift, a tether of light connecting her Mark and the rift. She grabbed the tether and as she pulled, the rift shrank until it eventually disappeared with a slam. In the wake of its closure, any demons that had been melted away. I couldn't stop the tears of relief that flooded down my cheeks.

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