" ...struck the tower, a great sizzling bolt out of a blue sky. Afterward, spirits emerged from a statue of a wolf, as if the lightning woke them, and they appeared to be looking for someone. The only word I understood was "Fen'Harel." They did not see me, but beware, for they attack any guards who..."
These walls of blue flame were cast by the agent of Fen'Harel as he ran through this place bringing chaos and destruction. Do not light fires from them. Do not go near them. Fen'Harel's mage-servant made them to hamper us, and they bring only death.
The pages of this book-memory?-warn of a terrible danger, a wolf with slavering black jaws and pits for eyes. The Evanuris-the elven gods-stand in a ring around it, as if preventing it from attacking.
"Beware the forms of Fen'Harel! The Dread Wolf comes in humble guises, a wanderer who knows much of the People and their spirits. He will offer advice that seems fair, but turns slowly to poison. Remember the price of treason, and keep in your heart the mercy of your gods."
Slowly, I approach the mural, my eyes wide, my breath still my steps silent, my ears ringing as I hear the faint brush of rubble tumbling aside. My breath hitches as I stare at the mural before me of a man, arms out proudly with a beast with fur of pitch black following after him like his shadow, with ruby red eyes glaring daggers at anyone who opposes the man before the beast, arms out wearing a olive green olive with a lighter shade of green tunic or robes of some kind where presented before him is a familiar orb.
"Fen…" Eves voice snaps me out of my thought hearing the faint hitch of my voice as I stare at the familiar artistic style of the mural, my heart clenching at the clogs turning in my mind.
"Does this make Dror some sort of demigod?" Curious, Eve wonders.
"No. It can't, he can't." Sternly, I snap at her.
"And why's that?" Eve furrows her brow.
"He wasn't a god in the first place remember. He's as mortal as the rest of us, he's just a man with power…I suppose you would call him in modern day, a magister…" Venomously, I spit out like poison, feeling my body recoils in disgust, shuddering in disgust.
"Fen…" Eve whispers.
"He…used me. All along he fucking used me! He's no better than the rest!" Seething, I snarl slamming my fist on the desk before us, he touched me I let that bastard touch me, that man with hands soiled with magic spoil me once more, I let a magister fucking…
"fen I'm sure…" Patiently, Eve whispers.
"He used me Eve! He wanted to see my marks, perhaps even try to make me his slave. The reason he wanted to be with me. It's to see and test these marks use them for his power no doubt." Enraged, I scowl stating the fact to her.
"He freed slaves…Softly, Eve whimpers.
"Yes, he did but what of before? Before he was no better than them, enslaving poor innocent people, making some his sex slaves, making some his experiments. My marks came from somewhere Eve and he no doubt knew the true origin of these marks, of the ritual my brother and I had to suffer from, of the ritual that so many had lost their lives and sanity to. He knew it all and did nothing, he stood by as innocent people were forced to be…to be…" Shaking, I seethe, hatred laced in my malicious tone as I release a small choke, curling over dry heaving at the thought.
"Fen…" Eve whispers.
"Why didn't he tell me? I would have understood. I mean I'm a slave…I was a slave. Eve you can't defend him he lied to you too, he lied to us all!" Angrily, I scream at her.
"What do you…mean?" Perplexed, Eve furrows her brow.
"I…Remember when Solas left after Corypheus had won." Upset, I lean against the mural refusing to look at it.
"Yeah you then left for some time…" Eve recalls.
"Leliana on my travels sent me something, a report." I begin gulping down the bile threating to crawl up.
"What on?" Eve probes.
"The truth of Solas…" Icily, I state the fact.
"The truth?" Surprised, Eve blinks.
"All he had said to me about his past? Lies…" Poisonously, I seethe
"What?" Perplexed, Eve furrows her brow.
"He told me he grew up in a village, the scouts finally found it." Sternly, I state the fact.
"And…?" Eve exclaims.
"It was in ruins, everything he told me were lies all of it I trusted him with my life, my secrets, my vulnerabilities and he fucking spat them back at me with nothing more than lies." Disgusted, I sneer my hands shaking.
"I'm sure there's…." Eve begins.
"Don't defend him! How can you even defend him?! He lied to us about EVERYTHING!" Baffled, I demand from her. How can she defend someone who lied to her about everything, who used her, who…who…ARGH! Enraged, I scream to the high heavens, reeling my fist back, slamming it into the mural, ignoring the brief stinging flowing through me, my marks flaring.
"Because I know he loves you." Assertively, Eve fires back at me taking me aback, my eyes wide.
"Then why did he break up with me Eve? Why did he leave!?" Frustrated, I demand from her making her flinch back from my intense glare, spewing fire at her, my voice breaking.
"Fen we don't know his story." Softly, Eve whispers making my eye twitch at the nerve of her, the nerve to defend this sly bastard, using us, manipulating us, just like him, tricking me into believing I could trust him, I could love him, I could…I could be normal. Pained, I bow my head blinking back the tears threatening to fall.
"He lied to all of us Eve how can you defend him? How can I trust him to be a parent to be a father, to be a partner if he won't even trust me with his real name! I love him but I can't have a liar in mine or my son's life, we already have enough enemies thanks to me you what happened today. I am not letting my son who has no clue who his prick of a father is suffer the sins of his father….ARGHH!" Angrily, I scream to the high heavens.
"I'll kill him. Like I should have done at the beginning it's my fault if I had just cut him down like I sued to do, if I had just slit his throat when he saved me if I had just...if I had snapped that bastards neck as I sat over him…none of us would be happening. He'd be dead and we'd all be happy." Snarling, I growl under my breath, hatred flowing through my burning bubbling veins, sneering, seething enraged.
"All of us? Would all of us be happy?" Warily, Eve suggests making my eyes narrow, my gauntlet twitching throbbing embedded into the cracked mural before me.
"I'd be dancing on that nobody's grave, no tombstone, no nothing for that piece of scum, that knife eared abomination!" Sneering, I seethe in disgust, my muscles relaxing as I draw my fist from the mural, crumbles of plaster comes crumbling down as I spit at the figure so proud, so confident, so arrogant. I turn my back to the mural, storming off, Eve following after me as we continue onwards…
"Welcome and listen to the last words of those who had walked this place. If we get out of here. I will end Fen'Harel! After he held back the sky to imprison the gods. The dread wolf disappeared. Lies! We must tear down the veil! The cities, the pathways…without magic, they're crumbling! You're wasting your time. Fen'Harel's veil has turned our empire to ruins." Pained, a familiar ruby red spirit exclaims to us as I grimace at the last fleeting words before the fall.
"So the ancient elven empire collapses because the veil weakened the magic…" Thoughtfully, Eve gathers.
"To have an entire empire rely upon one singular source is ridiculous though…" I mutter my brow furrowed.
"Can we talk though? I mean dwarves have lyrium, we all have lyrium…" Slyly, Varric reminds me.
"…Perhaps. I don't know." Defeated, I huff shrugging my shoulders.
"If the old elves relied on magic even more than the vints. No wonder things went to crap when it dried up." Bull furrows his brow at the single power source.
"An empire run on more magic than we have ever seen. Perhaps its best its little secrets remain lost." Vivienne reasons as I furrow my brow crossing my arms, not sure what to make of it. I mean she's right to a certain extent considering, pained I furrow my brow at the thought of Merill, if she knew about…it would break her but they have the right to know, if we do we could move on and learn from our fallen empires mistakes.
"Perhaps so but perhaps the elves deserve to know the truth." I argue.
"And what use it against us?" Snippily, Vivienne sneers making my eyes narrow.
"No in hopes of learning from that mistake to improve and be better…." Tiredly, I state the fact as it is.
"Hope we're not too late…" I mutter as we enter the Eluvian.
"Survivor of the breach, herald of change. Hero of the south." The Viddasalla greets us.
"Wow…" In awe, Sera whispers as I sigh at my friend, reaching up to place my forefinger on Sera's gawking mouth swiftly shutting it by the chin.
"Be careful of flies Sera. Oh, look at you with the titles…" Cheekily, I remark.
"And you…murderer of the Arishok, slave liberator of the imperium, Qunari killer, and silver shroud of the world…" Disgusted, the Viddasalla sneers at me making my eyes widen at being recognised.
"Seems you have your own titles too." Mischievously, Eve remarks.
"Don't I feel honoured?" Mockingly, I raise a brow.
"The Viddasalla I presume…" Eve greets her.
"After fulfilling your purpose at the breach, is it astonishing to hear you still walked free among your people. Your duty is done Inquisitor. It is time to end your magic." Sternly, the Viddasalla greets us.
"We don't have to fight. The anchor means no harm all it does is repair the tears in the veil. I would think you'd approve of that." Peacefully, Eve reasons.
"Is that all it does? Tell me, why hold your hand as if it's begun to pain you? I am no stranger to catastrophe but this chaos in the south defies comprehension. The Qun left your people to cure your own magic. You've amply proven we should have stepped in long ago." Firmly, the Viddasalla decides.
"And do what? All you have done is proven time and time again that your order defies freedom, it defies what makes all of us people." Irritated, I step forward pointing out the obvious issue.
"This coming from the Qunari killer! You murdered the Arishok, even if he were a shame of an Arishok, you still killed dozens of our brothers and sisters for your Tevinter Master! No more! No more will my brothers and sisters fear you and hide! I shall end your madness personally…" Maliciously, she snarls at us glaring icily at us.
"Just like you had tried to do all those months ago…" Snippily, I remark unimpressed crossing my arms irritated.
"You may have escaped me once little Fox but not this time." Determined, she promises me, vowing to me almost.
"You know her?" Surprised, Sera gawks at me.
"You could say that…" I trial off, glaring down at my fist, shaking, quivering as urgently, I clench my fist, bawling into a fist, steeling my nerves as internally, I scream at the gruesome memory of him.
"Is that why you went missing for some time I thought it was…?" Eve trials off only to flinch back from my harsh glare shouting at her to shut up. If they knew, if they knew he existed, no he already has to suffer enough thanks to me I won't let the Qun know of him either.
"It is a part of it." Curtly, I cut her off.
"This dragon's breath is this what is it? Mass genocide on tons of innocent people, people that don't even wield magic just to control our magic? Innocent lives should pay." Scowling, Eve furrows her brow, glowering.
"Not all of them are innocent though…" Slyly, I remark scowling at a pair of ambassadors, not minding seeing them beaten to a bloodied pulp.
"Not helping Fen." Hissing, Eve scowls at me, irritation laced in her impatient tone.
"Do you believe closing the breach solved everything, that it's consequences stopped there? The day we saw the breach. The Qun decided it's actions. We would remove your leaders and spare those who toil. This agent of Fen'Harel has disrupted everything. Lives that were to be spared, lost for him!" Angrily, the Viddasalla argues.
"Him? Who is this agent?" Sternly, I command from her.
"Why would you think they worked for the Inquisition?" Eve queries.
"Kill the Inquisitor. Then follow me to the darvaarad." Stoically, the Viddasalla orders her troops making my eyes narrow.
"Well…that was helpful…" Sarcastically, I huff as we watch her and a taller figure my eyes narrowing recognising the tall giant as a Saarebas following her into the Eluvian as her troops fall in, weapons at the ready armed and ready to fight. We get out our blades and staffs, my grip tightening around my blade as we charge at the troops, ready to deal with them and chase after the Viddasalla.
"Your agents confirmed there are Gaatlok barrels in Denerim's palace?" Surprised, Josephine gasps at Leliana's report once we return back to the palace, immediately rushing over to Eve's side once noting her pained features as I had to guide her down to the meeting room to report in.
"Yes and in Val Royeaux and across the free marches. The winter palace is not the only target." Gravely, Leliana reveals to us.
"Maker…" Eve whispers horrified.
"War is the Qunari's speciality of course they would start things off with a bang. They are not to be taken lightly in their element." Grimly, I state the fact leaning over the table.
"The Qunari are one order from destroying every noble house in the known world." Worried, Cullen whispers.
"There is a bright side: warning the ambassadors will remind them of the inquisition's value." Positively, Josephine offers.
"Not when the Inquisition is responsible for that threat." Sternly, Leliana shuts down the positive.
"And it could risk Qunari spies knowing of our knowledge and could try to guard the gaatlok." I point out crossing my arms as I push myself off the table.
"Surely they wouldn't…" Josephine argues.
"The Qun do not care for lives like I said they care more about the result than the sacrifice behind said result." Coldly, I state the fact grimacing at the memory of how malicious they could be.
"What do you mean Leliana?" Eve asks her.
"The elven servant handling the barrels has disappeared. Notes in his quarters suggests he was a Qunari spy." Leliana reports to us.
"But the servant was Orlesian. That implicates Orlais not us." Confused, Josephine argues.
"He was under your banner." Fairly, I point out.
"And the barrels arrived at the winter palace on the Inquisitions supply manifest." Leliana adds.
"How are we supposed to fight a war when we can't even trust our own people?" Frustrated, Cullen scowls.
"Do you know who got the barrels onto the inquisition manifest?" Eve enquires.
"Yes, several of the Inquisitor's elven workers have gone missing." Leliana informs us.
"Elven…" I whisper my brow furrowed.
"I had their backgrounds checked. They joined the Inquisition after fleeing the chaos in Kirkwall…" Leliana informs us making me flinch grimacing.
"We remember when Kirkwall was at it's worst…don't we Fen?" Grimly, Cullen looks up at me as I sigh nodding my head.
"We do. Most of the city elves' converted to the Qun, they seek a better life an escape. The Qun provided protection against the mage and templar issue." Stoically, I recall.
"And the Qunari turned them into spies." Josephine's eyes narrow.
"All in the Qun have a purpose." Simply, I shrug besides it was a smart move, the idea of an elf being Qunari would be unbelievable back then even now.
"A few years ago, we railed at the mages at Redcliffe for becoming corrupt. We did the same to the Grey Wardens, look at us now." Disappointed, Eve shakes her head.
"I fought to protect the Inquisition in this exalted council and for what? So we could deceive and threaten those we claim to protect?" Pained, Josephine whispers.
"Once we locate the spies"- Calmly, Cullen begins.
"This isn't about the spies! You hid the Qunari body. You've all but seized control of the winter palace!" Frustrated, Josephine snaps cutting Cullen off surprising me.
"We did what was right, not what was politically convenient." Sternly, Cullen scowls.
"Do you know what this has cost us with Orlais and Fereldan? They are planning to dismantle us as we speak! And perhaps they are right." Angrily, Josephine reasons her rage softening pained as she turns away only then as the two dispute for my blues to widen when seeing Eve's hunched over form, tears of pain cascading down her temple as she clutches her hand releasing a cry of pain piercing the tension.
"Eve!" Urgently, I rush over to her side, steadying her as she whimpers leaning on me.
"Enough! Squabbling is helping no one!" Sternly, I snap the two out of their anger who turn wide eyed at the scene. Horrified, Cullen's browns widen in horror at the pained expression of Eve seeing his own pain in his eyes at the sight of her.
"Shit! Damn it! We save Fereldan and they're angry! We save Orlais and they're angry! We close the breach twice and my own damn hand wants to kill me. Could one thing in tis fucking world just stay fixed!? I need to get to the Darvaarad. You all can fight amongst yourselves once I'm…I'm back!" Enraged, Eve curses taking me aback alongside the others.
"Thank you, Inquisitor." Leliana whispers tenderly.
"Would you…would you like us to inform the exalted council of the danger?" Meekly, Josephine asks.
"Do what you damn like I don't…I don't care." Irritated, Eve dismisses her.
"I will inform them personally." Leliana steps up.
"Leliana I can…" Gently, Josephine begins a look of remorse on her features.
"No, your job is hard enough already. This is my responsibility." Leliana steps up.
"I'll get Dorian or Vivienne down here …Cullen you know what to do." Frowning, I turn to the stairs brushing past Cullen, placing my hand on his shoulder as he nods his head.
"Right." He whispers lowly.
"She needs you do not let her down." Seriously, I tell him.
"I won't." He assures me his stoic brown meeting my stern blue. I nod letting him go as he places his hand on her cheek as she leans into his touch, her glassy greens looking into his brown.
"I'll have the guards ready in case the Qunari try to attack the palace. Maker watch over you…" Tenderly, Cullen whispers to Eve nodding her head as he cradles her in her arms. Cullen leaning in his lips meeting her temple as they both refuse to leave one another's side.
"I don't want to die…" Pained, Eve's voice breaks making my features grimace pained to hear her hurt voice as I place my hand on the railing, clutching it tightly. I go upstairs to go and retrieve Dorian, leaving the couple to hug, seeking solace within one another.