Disclaimer: I own none of the recognizable characters. I simply borrow them for my amusement

Chapter 30

CJ swore as she dodged a fireball sent at her.

"Dorian, cool the bastard off!" She called over her shoulder, looking for an opening with the Red Templar she was fighting. Another fireball came flying towards them, sent by the mage Dorian was fighting. Rather poorly, in her opinion. "Come on, Sparky, get it together!"

"Do not call me Sparky!" Came Dorian's retort.

"Then freeze the bastard already!" She yelled while sinking her dagger into a crack in the Templar's armor, between his helmet and chest plate. He died with a gurgling gasp. A cross-bolt came whipping past her, burying itself in the chest of a demon who'd just appeared. "Watch it, Varric! You almost got me!"

"I was nowhere near you, Fighter!" Varric yelled, reloading Bianca and firing again.

"Behind you!" Cole called and CJ whipped around, barely parrying the sword thrust.

"Thanks, Cole!" CJ shouted.

As she focused on this new attacker, CJ bit back a curse. They'd stormed the mine, but Blatt hadn't been there. He'd already retreated to Suledin Keep with the rest of the Red Templars. The coward. So now, along with Inquisition soldiers, CJ and her team were fighting their way through the keep. Sure, it would be a good foothold in the area for the Inquisition to take possession of the keep, but that wasn't CJ's main concern. She was after Blatt.

They continued pushing forward, driving the Red Templars back. As they breached a courtyard, CJ froze.

"You've got to be kidding me." She exclaimed, staring at the creature in the middle of the courtyard. It was too late to find a different way, they'd already been spotted. "A giant?! A lyrium infected giant?!" She spluttered. "What the hell is wrong with these people?!"

"That's your first problem, Fighter." Varric began as he leveled Bianca. "You're assuming they are people. All I see are monsters."

All conversation was cut off as the giant picked up a chunk of stone and lobbed it at them.

It was a hard fight, but they won. Barely.

"Next time," Krem gasped as CJ struggled to remain on her feet. "Next time, we're waiting for reinforcements. I don't care what you say, Fighter. We're waiting for back up."

"Agreed." Cole, Dorian, and Varric said in unison.

"Yeah yeah." CJ said, straightening. "Next time we storm a Red Templar Keep, we'll wait for back up." She wiped a hand across her forehead. "Now come on."

And they pressed on, fighting their way deeper into the keep, coming closer to the hold with each battle won. There'd been no sign of Blatt, but CJ was determined. If she had to search every inch of this damned place, she would. Two more hours passed as they fought.

"Watch out!" CJ turned just in time to catch a sword swing from an apparently pissed off red Templar. Sparks flew as steel met steel. "Fighter, drop!"

Not hesitating, she obeyed Dorian's yell and dropped to the ground. A burst of fire blasted inches above her, catching the Templar and engulfing him.

"How much more of this is there?!" Varric exclaimed as they rested briefly. CJ looked around at the group. They were all tired, she could see it in the way Dorian leaned on his staff, how Cole and Varric were sitting on the ground, weapons held loosely, how Krem looked like the only thing holding him up was his armor. "This place is huge!"

CJ ran a hand across her face. How much more could they handle? They could pull back, wait for reinforcements, but then Blatt could escape. She frowned mentally. No way was she going to risk their lives just for her revenge.

"We will follow you." Cole's voice brought CJ out of her thoughts. "As far as you lead, we will follow you, CJ." She blinked at him, surprised.

"The kid's right, Fighter." Varric pushed himself up. "We're with you till the end."

Looking around, she saw the sentiments mirrored in every face.

"All right." She nodded shortly. "Then let's move on."

They broke into the hold right as Inquisition forces caught up.

"You're a little late to the party!" CJ called to Scout Harding.

"Better late than never!" Scout Harding retorted. "Glad to see you've left some fun for us!"

"Help yourself!" Varric said, shooting a bolt through a demon's head. "There's plenty for everyone!"

CJ swung a dagger, catching a demon in the throat. She was not expecting another to appear right in front of her, knocking the weapon from her left hand. It thrust a dagger at her, which CJ foolishly blocked with her free hand. Pain shot through her as the dagger stabbed through her hand. But that didn't stop her from bringing her right hand around, sinking the dagger into the demon's eye. It died with a gurgle, and CJ swore as she looked at her left hand. It was a solid mass of pain. Blood was running freely from the wound. She needed to get the dagger out, now.

Gritting her teeth, CJ yanked it out swiftly, fighting the urge to pass out. Instead, she wrapped it tightly with fabric ripped from her shirt. She'd have Dorian look at it once the fight was done. Until then, she'd have to fight one-handed.

"Of course my weaker hand couldn't be the one that's hurt." She muttered in annoyance. CJ was warier now, staying towards the edges of the battle, picking off those she could.

This worked for about fifteen minutes, until CJ saw Krem get mobbed by six red Templars. She didn't hesitate to throw herself into the fray. As she spun in a tight circle, dagger whirling, she caught sight of Blatt. The qunari was back by a door, working with something, while glancing over his shoulder. Killing her last opponent swiftly, CJ ran towards him. So close!

She was six feet away when he saw her. His face twisted in a look of hatred and he went through the door, slamming it closed an instant before CJ reached him.

"Damn it!" She swore, and tried opening it. It didn't budge. "Come on! I'm so close!" She threw her weight against the door and when it shifted slightly, she tried it again. "You can run all you want, Blatt!" She yelled through the door. "But I will find you, and I will kill you!" She rammed the door again, ignoring the ache in her shoulder.

"Let me try, Fighter." Krem said, coming up behind her. The fight in the room behind them was dying down, Inquisition soldiers rallying to finish off the few remaining Templars. She stepped to the side, allowing the man in heavy armor to beat at the door.

"Blatt's in there." She said as Krem rammed it. "He's in there."

Unexpectedly, Krem broke through the door, staggering forward off-balance. CJ had been right behind him and saw the Red Templar hauling back.

"Krem, get down!" She yelled, shoving the man down, out of the way. Before she could do anything more, the Red Templar spat, catching CJ in the face with red, hot liquid. Pain erupted as it felt like her eyes were on fire. CJ knew no more.