The air was filled with the sound of joyous celebration. People were drinking, dancing and singing; the breach was closed.
But Eostre was not in a celebratory mood. Having reached out to the Templars for help, she saw first-hand the corrupting effects of red lyrium and how the Templars had so blindly followed their superiors.
Although she was initially relieved that her brother was not counted amongst the corrupted and dead at Therinfal Redoubt, but knowing that many more Templars would fall victim, she couldn't help but worry.
Cassandra appeared beside her, "Solas confirms the heavens are scarred but calm. The Breach is sealed."
She could tell from the stoic look on Eostre's face that there was something deeper concerning her.
"We've reports of lingering rifts, and many questions remain, but this was a victory."
Eostre looked at Cassandra, her expression pained with worry about her brother. She did her best to hide this, not wishing to burden Cassandra with her personal woes.
"Word of your heroism has spread."
"You know how many were involved. Luck put me at the centre."
"A strange kind of luck. I'm not sure if we need more or less. But you're right. This was a victory of alliance. One of the few in recent memory."
The corners of Eostre's mouth tried to raise into a smile but the ideal of her brother Godric being distorted into an unholy creature weighed heavy in her mind.
Cassandra placed a reassuring hand on Eostre's shoulder. "You should celebrate, we do not know how long this peace may last."
"I guess yo-" The sound of the alarm bells cut Eostre off. Fear surged through her as her body stiffened before breaking into a run, charging towards the front gates.
"Forces approaching! To arms!"
Reaching the front gate, she tried to slow her pace but to no avail, accidentally tripping forward only to be caught by Cullen, who promptly returned her to her feet.
He caught a glimpse of the terror in her eyes before they were overshadowed by determination. It was only a few moments later that Cassandra caught up.
"Cullen?"
"One WatchGuard reporting. It's a massive force, the bulk over the mountain."
They were shorting joined by Leliana and Josephine, who posed the question, "under what banner."
"None."
His response shocked all those present. Eostre carefully moved closer to the gates, hearing the faint sounds of fighting followed by a voice.
"If someone could open this, I'd appreciate it!"
She threw her entire body again the gates in a desperate attempt to open them, but they would not budge, again she tried but to no avail.
Winded, she bent over panting, whilst two soldiers finally came to her assistance. The gates flung open to reveal a man kneeling on the ground defeated, surrounded by the bodies of enemies.
She immediately recognised him as the man she had previously met in Redcliffe's Chantry.
"Dorian!" she cried, hurrying over to help him up. Cullen shortly followed, slightly jealous by her eagerness to assist this otherwise total stranger.
"Ah!" Dorian graciously accept Eostre's help to bring him to his feet. He gently swayed, trying to get steady on his feet. "I'm here to warn you. And as always, it would appear that I am fashionably late. Sorry about that."
Dorian staggered forward but was caught in time by Cullen. He helped Dorian back onto his feet.
"Oh, thank you. Don't mind me," he gestured to the bodies surrounding him, "mite is just a bit exhausted."
"But back to the task at hand. I came to tell you what happened with the Mages at Redcliffe. You're not going to like it."
Cullen had the abrupt urge to step between Dorian and Eostre as if this stranger meant to cause her harm but he dismissed it. He looked at Eostre and she met his gaze before looking back to Dorian.
"They are under the command of the Venatori, which as you might agree is bad in itself, but they, in turn, are in service to something called the 'Elder One'." Dorian turned and pointed to a ridge where a woman stood, glaring down at them.
"The woman is Calpernia. She commands the Venatori. For …. That."
A disfigured creature appeared as if from nowhere. The very sight of him made Eostre sick to her stomach with fear. She recoiled. "That is the Elder One."
The overwhelming force grew closer and closer, fear become more and more evident in Eostre's eyes.
"They were already marching on Haven. I risked my life to get here first."
In a moment of pure desperation, Eostre clutched Cullen's hand, startling him. He could see nothing but desperation in her eyes.
"Cullen," her voice thick with despair, "give me a plan! Anything!"
He pulled away his hand to draw his sword, the act of which hurt Eostre more than he could know.
"Haven is no fortress. If we are to withstand this monster, we must control the battle."
He scanned the surrounding area, his eyes landing on the trebuchets. "Get out there and hit that force, use everything that you can."
He turned to face the crowd of soldiers who had now gathered behind him. Imminent danger loomed before them, but this was not the first time for Cullen. He knew that a rallying war cry would stir his troops into a frenzy, ready to face whatever was thrown at them.
"Soldiers! Gather the villagers! Fortify and watch for the advance forces! Do not let them gain the upper hand!"
"Inquisition, your time has come! With the Herald! For your lives! For all of us!"
A cry erupted from the soldiers as they charged forward, Eostre among them. Cullen stood silently for a moment, watching Eostre in awe as she moved effortlessly from enemy to enemy, slashing and stabbing as she went.
**The trebuchets are launched**
A feeling of triumph filled Eostre as she watched the avalanche engulf everything in its wake. The soldiers around her let out a shout of victory which was quickly silenced by a roar.
"RUN!"
A blast of fire destroyed the trebuchet, the impact throwing Eostre a few feet into the air before she landed with a thud on the ground. She tried to get herself back up but fell, winded by her landing.
A soldier grabbed her by the arm and helped her back to her feet. "Everyone, fall back to the gates."
The remaining soldiers accompanied Eostre as they quickly made their way back to the gate, along the path that was now littered with the bodies of Inquisition forces and Venatori.
Passing the forge, she noticed Harriett desperately trying to move the boxes that now blocked the door. "Fall back!" She screamed but Harriett refused, "I can't leave without my tools!"
With her daggers, she slashed at the boxes, breaking them open and allowing Harriett entry. "I will grab my tools and nothing else, I will not die for this forge."
With his tools secured, Harriett joined the crowd of soldiers, hurrying desperately back within the safety of Haven.
Once everyone was inside, Cullen along with a soldier closed the gates. Whilst he was initially pleased to see Eostre returned, a look of concern crossed his face as he noticed her clutching her side.
"We need everyone back to the Chantry! It's the only building that might hold against … that beast!" He began to run up the stairs only to turn back and see Eostre panting hard, a pained expression on her face.
He exhaled, a sense of dread and defeat dwelled within him. He knew in his heart that the battle was lost, and he had to resign himself to the fact that there was nothing he could do.
"At this point …. Just make them work for it."
**All the townspeople are saved**