Stoically, I lean over the balcony from above watching Eve dance with Florianne, my brow furred as my eyes gaze around the room, in case of any attackers. Shocked, my eyes widen when seeing a familiar male and scowl.
"Keep an eye on Eve," I whisper to Cullen struggling with the men and women but sheepishly nodding as I leave, heading outside.
"Why couldn't you understand?" Crow frowns as the eerie moon looming over us, releases a small light to cast down upon the lone crow, daggers shaking in his hands as he turns to me, his eyes tearful as I scowl.
"This is our purpose…" He reasons softly to me.
"This is not our purpose we could be so much more!" I argue.
"Then tell me, why do we exist? Everything must have a purpose, what is ours then not to serve those who need our aid? The magisters need our body, our blood to make such great advances…" Crow chants.
"For themselves not for us, not for our people, not for everyone but for their power," I snap.
"You're wrong, if you had stayed you would have understood," He begins.
"What have they done to you old friend? I remember when you spoke of wishing to join the tribe outside heck you even considered joining the Qunari to get revenge…what did they do to you?" I whisper, genuinely fearful of the deranged glint in his eye.
"They corrected me, adjusted me, and now, once I bring you back to him. I can be free, you promised all of us. We can be free all we have to do is bring you to him…" Crow smile crookedly.
"Over my dead body…"Ominously, I growl, raising my blades gleaming in the eerie moonlight of the night.
"Then so be it…" Crow scowls. Loudly, the sound of our blades slashing and crashing into one another, brings out as I easily dodge his shaky steps and moves, while he struggles against my strong strikes that is until…
"Fen!?" I hear Eve call out.
"A bit busy right now," I bark back barley glancing at the group gawking as I nimbly dodge Crow's strikes dodging, back flipping as he leaps down and I get out my bow, firing shot after shot at him but it fails as I drop down, rolling to recover as I approach and reunite with the group.
"Nice party?" I ask breathless.
"It was, but Florianne if you're looking for another dance partner I'm afraid now isn't the best time," Eve calls out teasingly to Florianne.
"I have grown tired of your meddling. Corypheus wishes for the empress to die tonight and I will hate to disappoint him," Florianne greets us.
"What does he get from this?" Eve questions.
"Celene's death is but a stepping stone from a greater world. Corypheus will enter the black city and claim the godhood waiting for him. We will cast down your useless maker and usher in a united world governed by the hand of an attentive god," Florianne declares.
"You're Orlesian royalty, you don't need to do this, why help him attack your empire?" Eve enquires.
"It's me inquisitor, why settle for small when Corypheus will remake the entire world. I admit I will relish the look on Gaspard's face when he realizes I've outplayed him, he always was a sore loser," Smugly, Florianne smirks.
"What do you get out of this?" Eve demands.
"The world of course I'll deliver the entire south face of Thedas and Corypheus will save me. When he has ascended to godhood I will rule Thedas in his name!" Florian responds.
"You don't have to do this Florianne there's still time to turn back," Eve reasons to her.
"Aww my dear Inquisitor you are so naive in there darkest dreams no one would imagine I would assassinate Celene myself. All I need is to keep you out of the ballroom long enough to strike a pity you'll miss the rest of the ball inquisitor they'll be talking of it for years. Kill her bring me the marked hand as proof, it will make a fine gift for the master," Florianne departs, leaving us with her archers and goons as well as a familiar neon green portal, a rift just great.
"Hey at least she didn't give us those boring old monologues," I smirk trying to be optimistic as Eve reaches out for the portal.
"Cover me!" She barks as we nod understanding we need to get rid of the demons first then the archers and goons.
Scowling, once the portal is closed, only then as I turn to heavy ring and real scream, making us turn to see Sera raise her blade to…
"Sera stop!" I yell only for my eyes to widen as Crow releases a cry of anguish, suddenly his veins turning a familiar icy blue as Sera fortunately dodges Crow's messy strikes as he collapses to his knees, coughing heaving, vomiting out numerous pints of crimson.
"Oh Maker…" Disturbed, Dorian and Eve along with Sera stagger back while I rush over to Crow stunned.
"No, no, don't tell me," Shakily, I place my hand on the whimpering Crow, screaming out in pain.
"What's wrong with him?" Sera frowns.
"I don't know," The abominations share a look as gently, I kneel down next to the shaking mess trembling in pain as gently, I reach out to the crying Crow, gradually moving his sleeves up, my eyes widening in horror as I hear Eve heave at the sight of the multiple deep cuts, some scars some looking infected, some even reaching the bones of cuts littered all over his form. Unsteadily, I take in a sharp breathe, noting the pattern of cuts much to my dismay, don't…no…no…no disturbed, I look up my blues meeting Crow's shaky browns with a hint of a blue glow.
"He….he wanted the original…" Crow sobs out as I take in a few shaky breathes, holding in the urge to scream, to cry out in anguish. This is my fault if I hadn't left, if I hadn't…how any more has this bastard try to convert!? Lightly, I feel a cool hand on my cheek gently pulling me for my watery bleus to meet Crow's sad broken pair.
"You know…I much prefer you with black hair, when I first saw you, your hair looked as bright as the blazing sun…" Sadly, he slurs as I bow my head, knowing what must be done as he smiles tightly at me and nods.
"If…if you see Raven tell her…I said hi and…I'm sorry, you were right, you were…where am I? Where am I?" Crow questions terror rich in his tone.
"What's going on?" Eve queries lost.
"It's the lyrium, made him forget…" Sharply, I respond gently placing my hand on his cheek, making him lean in fearful.
"Where's…where's Raven? Raven?" Desperate, Crow leads to me as I bow my head, taking in a deep breathe.
"She's fine…you…you guys fled remember, you're free…" Forcibly, I smile.
"Free? Where am I?" Crow ponders.
"You're free…you're about to join the alienage…" I lie to his face, trying to give him as much comfort as he deserves, recalling the numerous failed victims from the experiment.
"R-really, I can see mum and dad again…?" Hopeful, like a child he questions.
"Y-Yeah," Struggling, I gulp down blinking back my tears as gently, I comb my fingertips through his hair, remembering the sad tale of his clan's massacre thanks to the vints and stealing him and his sister from their home…
"Mum and…dad I see them! I see them!" Crow cheers.
"Y-Yeah," Shakily, I take out my blade and swiftly, I impale it into his side, earning a small breathe of shock until he falls limp as I continue to strike his hair, trying to comfort the dying boy.
"What happened to him?" Dorian questions still lost.
"What happens to everyone who touches magic, they get spoiled…" Menacingly, I growl pushing past the others, still lost as I hold in my tears as we successfully, accomplish the task at hand as Eve approaches the tied up man, freeing him, turns out he is a spy for Gaspard, planning to have caused more havoc, he volunteers to justify, even got him to work for us, seems Leliana taught Eve well. Now then…time for some good old fashion ball crashing...