Chapter 4 - Castles in the Sky
"Forces are approaching! To arms!" The voice of Cullen bellows out over the sounds of the festivities, stopping them almost instantly, they shoot up.
"We have to get to the gates," Ellana instructed. Solas nodded, picking up his staff. They sprinted towards the main gate. Cullen was there shouting orders to the soldiers.
"What are we facing, Cullen?"
"We have reports of a massive force, the bulk of them are coming over the mountain"
"Do we know who they are?" Solas questioned. Ellana had pissed off more than one powerful person since the Inquisition had been reformed.
"No, they aren't marching under any banner," There was a banging on the gate. "Open the gate!" Ellana and the rest drew their weapons, seeing a heavily armed individual running towards them. Something struck him from behind as he fell forward in a heap. A man stood behind him, a large-brimmed hat covering most of his face.
"I'm Cole." He addressed Ellana directly "I came to warn you. To help. People are coming to hurt you. You probably already know,"
"What is going on?"
"Templars are coming to kill you," Cole insisted. Ellana had no reason to doubt him.
"Templars? Is this how the order reactors to us approaching the mages? By attacking?" Cullen approached the man causing him to jump back. He stood before Ellana.
"The Red Templars joined the Elder One. You know him? You took his mages." He pointed towards a lip of the mountain," There," Through the night's gloom she could see two figures. One was certainly human, the other was a twisted abomination of a thing, His limbs and torso unnaturally long. Blood-red lyrium shards stab out of his body.
"I know that man, but this Elder One.."
"He is very angry you took his mages,"
"Cullen, I need a plan! Anything!," She turned to look at her Commander. She watched as his eyes darted around trying to formulate some form of a plan.
"Haven isn't a fortress, if we stand any hope of withstanding this attack we can, however, control the battle." He pointed to the war machines that were dotted around the exterior. "There, use whatever you can,"
"Solas stay here and assist Cullen,"
"I will do nothing of the sort Lethallan." Solas protested. "I will be of greater assistance to you,"
"I will help as well," Cole insisted. She didn't have the time to argue the point. Sprinting away she heard Cullen shouting commands behind her.
The group battled fiercely through the hordes of Red Templars. Once they had cleared the last of the opposition from the final war machine Ellana gave the order to fire. Rocks colliding with the mountain sent a shower of rock and snow upon those who faced them, crushing a large number under the avalanche. The troops around her cheered, it did at least for now look like they had the upper hand. As the area cleared, Ellana saw a huge ball of fire and lyrium piercing the sky towards them.
"Get down!" The missile struck the catapult exploding it into a barrage of wooden splinters. "Fenedis" Ellana cursed as the shadow of a dragon passed over her head.
"It is heading towards Heaven. We must hurry!" Solas shouted towards her. She ran back seeing the damage already caused by the battle, houses burning, walls that had crumbled. Cullen had already started ordering the retreat when they got back.
"Get that get closed! Everyone, retreat to the Chantry! "That is the only building that will have a chance to hold against this beast." Ellana slowed as she passed him. "At this point, we can at least make them work for it,"
Cassandra and Varric stood at the doors hurrying in everyone that they could. Leliana sat with Roderick, he was bleeding badly, while he had been a constant thorn in her side Ellana didn't want anyone else to die.
"We are in a terrible position, Herald. They have taken back all the time we stole from them. At this rate, they will kill everyone in Haven." Cullen said, helping Cassandra seal the heavy door of the Chantry.
"The Elder One doesn't care about this village. He just wants the Herald,"
"If you know why he wants me, could you please tell me?"
"I don't. He's too loud. It hurts to hear him. All I know is that he wants you dead. But he will crush this place anyway. He doesn't care." Cole sat against the wall. Solas was at Leliana's side trying to heal the Chancellor. Cullen approached her, taking her arm and pulling her away from earshot.
"Herald, there is no scenario that we can survive this. We could use the remaining catapults to fire one last direct blast at the mountain."
"And bury Haven completely. I am not about to do that!" She snapped her arm out of his grasp.
"Marker's breath, we are dying. At least we can decide how. Many don't get that choice" Ellana glared at him. She didn't want to admit he was right. She didn't want to be the one responsible for all these deaths.
"There is a path, you would only know it if you had taken the summer pilgrimage as I have.." Roderick's voice was weak as he spoke.
"Can you lead these people to safety?" Ellana walked to him kneeling next to him. Solas moved out of the way to give her space.
"Yes, it may be overgrown but I know the way," She nods and stands up.
"If he wants me, I will make him fight for it."
"And when the mountain comes down? What about you?" Solas looked at her, she didn't answer.
"Maybe you'll surprise him, Red, find a way?" Varric tried lightening the mood. Ellana just simply smiled.
"Inquisition! Gather yourself and follow the Chancellor!" The hall was full of people as they prepared themselves. Gathering supplies and the wounded. A few soldiers ran to Ellana's side. "They will load the catapults." Cullen looks the Herald in the eye, "If we want a chance to survive this, make him hear you."
Ellana heard the wooden wheel of the war machine click as it locked into place. She took a breath watching as the shadow of the dragon cut across the sky again, heading right for her targeting her with its pillar of flame. Running, Ellana avoided the most dangerous part of the attack. The flames hit some discarded barrels. Something in their contents sparked and exploded sending her flying backwards. She rolled in the snow until she came to a sudden stop. She moaned, her ears ringing as she got to her feet, seeing the malformed figure of the Elder One approaching through the fire. The ground trembled as the massive beast of his landed behind her, cutting off her means of escape.
"Pretender, you are tampering with forces beyond your understanding,"
"I am not afraid of you,"
"Words Mortal hurl at the darkness, I said them once too. In the end, they all turn out to be lies." He drew closer, slow and deliberate, like a predator. "Know what you pretend to be. Exalt the Elder One. The will that is Corypheus. You will kneel,"
"I will never kneel before you," Ellana declared.
"You will resist? You will always resist, but it matters not," He stops, raising his hand revealing an object round and etched in an elaborate pattern. "I am here for the Anchor. The process of removing it begins now." The ball began to glow. Pain erupted from the mark on her palm. Ellana gritted her teeth as she struggled through it. It was your fault. You interrupted a ritual that has been planned for years, and instead of dying, you stole its purpose. Moving closer, he fired another blast, the pain increasing. She fought back against the pain, trying not to show this creature weakness. "You used the Anchor and undid my work. The gall!" His voice boomed his anger becoming evident. He sent another wave of power towards her, Ellana cried out unable to hold herself up any longer she fell to her knees.
"What is this thing meant to do!" She shouts at him through gritted teeth.
"All you need to know is I would always come for it." He crossed the distance between them, grabbing the left by her wrist, and lifting her from the ground. She felt her shoulder pull and snap unnaturally. "I breached the Fade in the service of the Old Gods of the Empire in person. I found only chaos and corruption. For a thousand years I was confused, but not anymore." He squeezed the Hearld wrist tighter, she could hear the bones creak under the strain. "I have gathered the will to return under my name to correct this blighted world. Prey I succussed, I have seen the throne of the gods and it is empty." Like she was made of little more than rags he tossed her aside, throwing her into the wooden frame of the catapult. "The Anchor is permanent, you have spoiled it." The Dalish scrambled for whatever weapon she could as Corpyheus and the creature encroached closer. "I will begin again, find another way to give this world the God it requires." Ellana looks to the sky, seeing a flaming arrow breaking through the smoke. She breathed a silent sigh of relief They're safe. "I will not tolerate an unknowing rival," the elf grinned, causing confusion to cross his face.
"You expect me to fight, but that is not why I kept you talking." Running to the mechanism of the device kicking it sharply, she watched as it began spinning wildly. "Su an'banal i'ma!" she cursed. The boulder flew in the air, making contact with the side of the mountain. While he was distracted Ellana took the opportunity to make a run for it. She let her leg carry her as fast as she could away from the roar of the avalanche as it bit at her heels.
The sound of the mountain cracking reverberated through the air. The procession stopped, looking behind them seeing the tide of ice, snow and rock crush what was left of Haven. All except Solas, who refused to look. In his mind, if he saw it, it would make it real.
"She has made it through far harsher circumstances, we need to have faith," Cullen said as Solas passed him causing him to pause. He normally had very few words to say to the elven mage, which he found himself thankful for. Hearing those words from him took all of Solas's self-restraint not to wrap his hands around the man's neck. If it wasn't for him she wouldn't have attempted anything so stupid.
"Faith will not stop her body from being broken by those rocks, or crushed under miles of snow, Commander," His voice was cold as he walked past the former Templar.
Night had fallen by the time they had set up camp. It was a shanty town of tents and temporary shelters, the mood was sombre. It was mostly quiet except for the pained moans and whimpers of the injured. The dust and snow from the landslide had settled hours ago and there was still no sign of Ellana. Even the most hopeful among them had started to see her chances of surviving were slim if not impossible. He had been sitting alone on the outskirts of the camp for the last few hours. He closed his eyes, his face pressed to the cold, searching for any trace of her in the fade, but was unsuccessful so far. Then there was her, weak as a candle flame buffered by the wind. He got up and ran towards the others that were gathered at the camp. "She's alive!"
It was dark where she was. The first thing that struck her was the cold. It was thick in the air, like a living thing that wrapped around your limbs. For a few moments, she lay wondering if she was dead or not. Then the pain came in, slowly at first, like a buzzing in the distance. Then it crept closer. Once she had settled with herself that she wasn't dead she opened her eyes. She was in some sort of ancient ruin that had long since been claimed by the mountain. Snow and ice cut off most of the passages leaving her with only one route to take. Ellana stood up and immediately regretted it. Pain shot through her leg, her shoulder, ribs. She was sure that several bones were broken, waiting to recover wasn't an option. Hypothermia was sure to set in soon so she didn't have the luxury of time.
"You didn't just face a dragon and an avalanche to die in its cave Felasil. Get to your feet and get moving," She said to herself aloud, giving herself the motivation to hold out a bit longer. Biting on her lip in an effort to distract her from the pain of walking she stumbled forward following the path that had been laid out for her.
Solas sprinted over the snow. He could still feel her even outside of the Fade but she was fluttering like the heartbeat of a bird. He knew they didn't have much time. The snow flurried around them making it near impossible to see anything.
"Red!" Varric's voice boomed through the howling wind. He was shielding his eyes from the harsh conditions. "Chuckles this is impossible. How do we hope to find her in this?"
"We have to Varric!" He shouted back to the dwarf.
"We must turn back, at least wait until the storm passes!" Cassandra screamed mutely. He ignored their protests, if they didn't find her soon she would die. Through the snow and the wind, he could glimpse a figure struggling towards them.
"I have her!" Cullen's voice cried out to the rest.
Ellana heard a familiar voice being carried in the breeze, followed by another. Her heart leapt. They were safe. Even if she was to succumb to her injuries now it didn't matter, they were safe. She smiled, stumbling towards the closest figure that she could find. She fell into them, feeling strong arms catching her. There was warmth, the soft feeling of furs on her skin. She was safe. She was in his arms.
"Ma melava halani, ar Fen" She whispered. Cullen was frozen in place holding her in his arms like she was made of glass. Through the snow, the rest of the party ran over to him.
"Thank the Maker," Cassandra sighed, glad to see that she was alive. Solas felt jealousy and rage boil up within him seeing the Templar with his Ellana in his arms.
"Let me take her," Solas requested. Cullen looked down at Ellana. He had noticed that she was attractive from the moment that he had met her. It wasn't just her beauty, she was also a remarkably strong woman, resilient, and even though she protested, a capable leader. He would find himself often taking secret glances at her from a distance but something changed with her in his arms part of him didn't want to give her up. "Commander we need to get her back to camp so I can start the healing processes." The elf's voice was more stern this time.
"Yes of course," He placed her gently in Solas's arms. "My apologies. We should all head back to camp. We do not want to lose anyone else to this blasted weather."
Raised voices broke through Ellana's sleep. She opened her eyes and looked over at the source of the noise. Leliana, Joesphine, Cullen and Cassandra were gathered around a fire, arguing about something. She braced her elbows under her, readying herself to sit up but felt a weight on her shoulder stopping her, gently laying her back down on the cot.
"You should be resting, I didn't reset your bones for you to try and break them again," she turned her head to see Solas at her side, just as always. "This is becoming a habit, Lethallan." He smiled softly. "Ea son?"
"Tel'ame, y serannas mar av'ahn," She replied. Solas chuckled causing her to giggle before winching in pain, "How long have they been fighting for?"
"The last few hours," He sighed looking at "They are leaderless and know they are without a home. Your coming back from the dead has done nothing to dissuade them of your divinity by the way,"
"I didn't come back from the dead," she said, sitting he didn't stop her this time. Ellana was scared and confused. "What should I do?"
"Come, there is something that we need to discuss" He stood up holding out his hand, she gently took it as he helped her to her feet. They snuck away from the camp. Solas's led her to a clearing looking out over a valley. "The Orb that Corypheus welds, it is elvish, it is one of the sources of power used to open Fade gates, I am sure it is what he used to open the Breach that led to the explosion at the conclave. I am sure you know why that can't be common knowledge?"
"Of course," She nodded looking at him. He was strikingly handsome in the moonlight.
"There is something else," he said as he took her hands in his. "I thought that I had lost you Ellana. You have come to mean a great deal to me." His eyes lingered on her, taking in the slight quiver of her lip, the way wind whipped at her long hair. He leaned closer, and he could hear her heart beating in her chest. He wanted to feel her lips on his, to taste her outside of the Fade. He went to pull away from her, his eye darting between her eyes and her lips.
"Solas, I.." Ellana put her hand on his cheek stopping him in his tracks. She bit her lip gently.
"Please, Lethallan. For your sake don't pursue this." Ellana nodded letting her hands leave his cheeks.
"Ma nuvenin," There was a sadness in her tone that broke his heart.
"There is a place to the north, you need to lead them there. They can rebuild, start afresh. I will show you the way"
Translation:
Fenedis. - Shit (generic curse word)
Su an'banal i'ma - To the void with you
Felasil - Idoit or Fool
Ma melava halani, ar Fen - Thank you, my Wolf
Ea son? - How do you feel?
Tel'ame, Serannas mar av'ahn - Bad, but thank you for asking
Ma nuvenin - As you wish