Chapter 15 – Before the storm

Darkness enveloped him like a thick blanket and opening his eyelids did not bring back the light. He closed them again in an effort to stimulate his remaining senses. When he moved his hands the metallic clang of thick chains filled the air. Both of his wrists were pinned to the cold stone wall. He must have been here a long time because he slowly started to feel tingling in his fingertips, and with every movement, his stiff muscles ached. Additionally, an intense chill ran through his body, making his jaw tremble slightly. Recent memories were hazy and he had to take a moment to sort them out. The last thing he remembered was his team fleeing through an active eluvian. After that, there was a black void. A sudden shudder shook him. Sweet Maker, where had this darkspawn dragged him? He sighed quietly. If he made a mistake, the consequence would be the end of the world.

The silence of the dark cell was broken by familiar whispers. He listened to their reassuring tone. Suddenly, the door opened with a clatter and a blinding light flooded in. Ayden squinted, trying to adjust his vision to the sudden change. The chains holding his wrists and ankles made a quiet rattle. Two individuals entered the room. He couldn't make out their faces in the harsh light coming through the door, but he could recognize the clothes they wore. Mages of the Grey Wardens. So any negotiations were out of the question. One of the individuals approached him and, tinkering with the chains, freed his iron-clad ankles. Herald also felt that his hands were not pinned to the walls. The chains themselves, however, remained on his wrists.

-Get up. - a clear female voice said. He obeyed the order and with a little help got up from the stone floor. Only now did he realize that he was not wearing the metal parts of his templar armor. The breastplate, shoulder pads, and gauntlets had been removed as had the armored boots. The cold stones stung his bare feet but he tried not to focus on that.

Wardens led him outside. He blinked again a few times feeling his vision begin to adjust to the light. He looked around. At first, he didn't recognize this place. Only when they had walked a few dozen meters, buried memories came to the surface. When they passed a snowy rocky protrusion, he froze as if paralyzed. The black, somewhere melted stone was overgrown with red crystals of tainted lyrium which filled the gloomy crater. Maker's breath, he was in the ruins of the temple. His head rose violently upwards. A light green glow flickered across the sky as if waiting for something. He felt the blood begin to flow faster in his veins. Gray Wardens led him to the center of the crater. This is where it all began. This is where he was found and where huge explosion opened the heavens. Corypheus brought him to this place to rehearse again.

-I didn't think this path was still open. - came a strong bass voice. The darkspawn stood beside a massive rock column, staring up at the sky. After a moment, his dark gaze shifted to Herald.

Once again Ayden heard quiet whispers somewhere from the bottom of his consciousness and once again he knew they were not directed at him. His green gaze glanced at Coryphaeus, who turned his head slightly as if listening. The Inquisitor discreetly glanced at the assembled guards. Their reaction was similar.

Suddenly, Corypheus seemed to shake himself off and his gaze focused on the sky.

- Bind him. - he commanded.

Ayden heard the iron chains fall on the parched rocks. Confused, he looked around quickly. The group of mages around him uttered their spells and threads of orange light wrapped around his wrists. His right hand was pinned to the ground, forcing him to kneel. His left hand hovered upwards. The magical threads forcibly stretched his clenched fingers. Ayden jerked reflexively, even though he knew how pointless the gesture was. His heavy breathing betrayed fear.

- Now we will continue when we left off. - Corypheus has spoken. - Calpernia was supposed to be in your place. My apprentice left me however, and the scroll with ritual was lost. You almost thwarted my plans, Inquisitor but you slipped.

Ayden clenched his teeth as he scanned the darkspawn's back with his green eyes. A moment later a familiar sparking sound pierced the air and his left arm exploded in pain. He growled loudly, clenching his jaws. The green glow circling in the sky flickered.

Corypheus turned around, giving Herald a stony stare.

-You see, it turns out I don't need that scroll anymore. The Well of Sorrows has given you knowledge. I know you can hear her whispers because I can hear them too. Whispers that offer a solution.

Ayden lowered his gaze, trying not to let the agony overwhelm him. His heavy breathing was interspersed with quiet moans. Sweet Maker, he felt as if his hand had been dipped in liquid metal.

-The Anchor will serve me one last time. I will tear the carelessly stitched Veil, this time for good, and Fade will finally be open to me. Be honored, Herald. You have witnessed the birth of a new God.

As if to crown his words a green ray shot from the Inquisitor's hand and soared into the sky. Huge vortex covered the sun. Ayden anchored his gaze to the black rock-covered ground. He had to endure this torture until Corypheus used the spherical artifact. He only had one chance to end this nightmare.

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Skyhold became a prison. Hawke wandered around the complex like a ghost, unable to find her own place. Several times she stood outside the door of the Inquisitor's private chambers without remembering how she got there. Each time she gathered herself to go inside and each time she lacked the courage. Her mind was filled with a numbing emptiness. For a moment she wondered if this was the life of a tranquil mage.

It had been three days since they walked through that cursed mirror without Inquisitor. Three days of uncertainty, conjecture, and trying to pick up the pieces after the loss. Herald's three main advisors, along with Cassandra and Morrigan, practically didn't leave the War Room trying to devise a further plan of action. Hawke stopped attending these meetings after a while, as every single one ended in shouting and blaming each other. The situation seemed hopeless. Morrigan was right. They were left with nothing.

She stood under the stone archway, staring at the residents who were busy with their own affairs. The Inquisitor's absence was not yet apparent, but it would not be for much longer. In the distance, she heard the nervous neighing of horses. She left her half-shadowed hiding place and made her way to the stables. The white stallion was pacing restlessly in his stall. A few times he stood on his hind legs almost hitting the straw thatch with his muzzle. His constant neighing made the other horses nervous as well.

-Astral. - said Hawke warmly and walked closer to the stall. Hearing its name, the animal shifted yellow eyes to her. The pacing had calmed down a little. Marian reached out her hand slowly, touching the stallion's soft snores. He groaned a few times and stopped nodding obsessively. - I know you miss him. - muttered Marian under her breath stroking a velvety spot between the horse's nostrils. - I miss him too Astral. I miss him so damn much.

-I'll be damned. - she suddenly heard the familiar voice of the horse master behind her. - How did you even get close to him? For the last three days, he has been acting as if he was possessed by some demon. In addition, he's been eating so little that I've begun to worry. When he's not trying to break the stable, he just sticks his head out and stares off into space. I really don't know what is happening with this animal. - the man sighed loudly and then added. - If the Inquisitor doesn't come back soon and calm him down, this stallion will hurt himself.

Marian stopped stroking the animal's muzzle and lowered her gaze.

-I'm sure it won't be long now. - she said quietly and then patting the horse's muscular neck she added. - Hold on, Astral. Everything will be fine.

-You have to teach me that trick. - Dennet admitted admiringly.

Hawke turned to him and a faint smile bloomed on her cherry lips.

-Some day I will. - she replied and headed toward the fortress. Her legs, which seemed to have a life of their own, led her to a small room with inactive eluvian. She stood before the device staring at it impassively. The ancient elven artifact had an unsettling aura about it. Merril would probably die of happiness if only she were here.

The wooden door opened with a quiet creak. Hawke turned slightly. There was no sign of surprise on Morrigan's face standing there. Witch approached the Champion without taking her eyes off the mirror.

-Fascinating item. - she announced.

-I once knew an elf who sacrificed everything to make one of these devices work. - Hawke said. - She even made a pact with a demon but in the end, nothing came of it and you do it with such ease.

Morrigan smiled flirtatiously. She liked the compliment.

-It has taken me a good part of my life to learn how eluvians work. - she admitted after a while. - And it is probably only a small part of what they really are anyway.

Hawke shifted her blue gaze to the woman.

-If it can't help us find him, it's useless. - she muttered.

Morrigan sighed in slight displeasure.

Suddenly the inactive mirror flashed a clear blue. They both looked towards the artifact. Hawke reflexively grabbed the handy knife she always carried at her belt. Her twin blades unfortunately rested at the bottom of the trunk in her chamber. Every muscle in her body tensed like a string waiting for events to unfold. Morrigan, standing next to her, grabbed the staff slung across her back.

-We should have smashed it into little pieces. - admitted Hawke in anger.

After a moment a woman's figure appeared against the bright glow. The burgundy leather outfit was tightly fitted to her slim figure, which did not belong to a young person. Deep wrinkles accentuated the small smile on the mature face.

-My my. What have we here? - asked the woman in a thick bass voice. Marian furrowed her forehead and recognition quickly appeared in her blue eyes.

-Flemeth. - she mumbled but did not put away her handy weapon yet.

-Mother? - there was genuine surprise in Morrigan's voice. Hawke looked at her briefly and without a word shifted her gaze back to the woman.

-Of all the people I have met, it is you who I meet at the most important hour. - the witch said mysteriously. - Once again I wonder if it is fate or coincidence. And I see you are accompanied by my dear daughter.

-What are you doing here, mother? - Morrigan asked suspiciously.

-A warm welcome as usual... and that eternal impatience. - answered the woman. - But I must admit that this time the rush is welcome. - she added after a moment. - Your Inquisitor is in the Temple of Sacred Ashes. - she got straight to the point.

- How do you know that? - Hawke snapped.

-Because I told Corypheus to take him there. - she said.

At these words, Marian's hand tightened on her dagger and before she could think, she rushed at the woman. Flemeth extended her hand carelessly, causing all of the Champion's muscles to turn into solid scale. Hawke froze in place like a stone statue. Fortunately, her mouth remained free.

- I'll kill you, I swear! - she growled in anger.

- Before you do anything, listen to me first. - said the woman calmly.

- What do you mean by that? - Morrigan asked.

- Oh Morrigan, I thought you were such a clever girl. - laughed the woman lightly. - The ancient magic that slipped out of your hands has a use.

- The Well. - mage answered quietly.

- Yes. I gave both of them answers to desperate questions.

Marian, still under the influence of the spell, gnashed her teeth.

- You tricked him! It's because of you he stayed. It's because of you Corypheus won! - she growled. Maker's breath, she wanted so badly to rip this witch to shreds.

- You gave the answers? - Morrigan was surprised. A moment later understanding dawned in her eyes. - You... you are Mythal.

- Bravo my child.

Morrigan wanted to speak again but Hawke's desperate voice interrupted her.

- He trusted you! You ran away from the Blight yourself, why are you helping it now? - asked Hawke desperately.

- You draw conclusions based on incomplete information, Champion. You charge like a bull when you need a gentle nudge. - replied Flemeth mysteriously.

- Stop talking in riddles witch! - hissed Marian.

-I gave your Inquisitor the information he was looking for. He made the decision to confront Corypheus.

Marian's face resembled the rest of her frozen body. Suddenly she felt the spell had stopped working and she almost fell to the floor. She remained silent and her blue eyes demanded answers.

- The elven artifact in Corypheus' possession is filled with immense power. The spell he originally used was stolen by Herald but that did not strip the orb of its properties. If Corypheus slipped away from the Arbor Wilds he would eventually find a way to reopen the sky using the orb itself. If that happened, no one could stop him anymore.

Flemeth went silent waiting for this bit of information to be received. After a moment, she continued.

- The only solution was to convince Corypheus to use the Anchor again instead of the orb. To use the same spell.

- But the effect would be the same. - Hawke protested.

Flemeth shook her head negatively.

- The Anchor and the artifact are now connected. The mark can open heavens but whether they are opened for good depends only on the owner of the Anchor. Your Inquisitor lured the darkspawn into a trap. The moment Corypheus uses the orb, its power will be turned against him.

-But the bastard can't die. - Hawke protested again. - We saw with our own eyes how he took over the corpse of the Grey Warden.

-The key to solving this problem is his dragon, but you don't have to worry about that anymore. - the witch replied mysteriously.

- If you say that the Inquisitor has everything under control then why are you here, mother? - Morrigan asked suddenly.

-Inquisitor cannot face the darkspawn alone. Coryphaeus has gathered too much power. Send all your troops to the temple. Distract him. Help your Herald.

- Are you the sigh he spoke of? - Hawke asked quietly.

Flemeth laughed in amusement. Suddenly a distant bang could be heard outside the door. The women stepped out of the small room into the wide walls. Their gaze momentarily went to the sky. A green swirl of light floated gloomily in the distance.

- This is the sign he spoke of. - muttered the witch and then added. - Hurry up. There is not much time left.

As she disappeared behind the blue mirror, the eluvian glow dimmed. Hawke and Morrigan rushed to the War Room.

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I want to thank all of you, fantastic readers, for staying with this story despite my irregular posting. Chapter 16 with its grand finale is just around the corner :)