Eostre did her best to move quickly, still clutching her side in pain. As she reached the Chantry, she was greeted by the sight of a battered Roderick, doing his best to guide in the stragglers.

"Move! Keep going! The Chantry is your shelter!" As Eostre passed through the doors, she looked back in time to see Roderick collapse into Dorian's awaiting arms. She watched as Dorian helped Roderick to a chair.

"A brave man. He stood against a Venatori."

"Briefly, I am no Templar."

"Even so, you did your best."

Cullen emerged to greet Eostre, still clutching at her side. The pain was becoming unbearable, but she had no other option she had to endure.

"Herald! Our position is not good. That dragon stole back any time you might have earned us. There have been no demands, no communication. Only advance after advance."

"There was no bargaining with the Mages either. This Elder One takes what it wants."

Dorian was kneeling beside Roderick attempting to tend to his wounds, dread overwhelming him.

"From what I gathered in Redcliffe, it marched all of this way," Dorian raised his hand toward Eostre, "to take your Herald."

"If you have any ideas why he's after me, I'm all ears."

"Besides taking the Templars, I've got no idea what would incur this much wrath. You had such a promising start with the landslide. If only trebuchets remained an option."

The mention of trebuchets gave Cullen an idea, "they still are, if we turn the last of them to the mountains above us. It does, however, mean we will bury Haven. The odds are not in our favour, we will not survive much more. Our only choice now is how spitefully we choose to end this."

Dorian sprang to his feet and confronted Cullen, outraged by his words.

"That is unacceptable! I didn't race here, risking my own life just to be buried in a tomb!"

"Oh? And what do you suppose we do? Submit? Let him kill us?"

Dorian and Cullen were now in each other's faces, the atmosphere thickly veiled with wrath.

"Dying is typically a last resort, not the first!" Dorian eyed Cullen, "for a Templar, you think like a sodding blood Mage!"

"There is a path!"

All eyes fell upon Roderick who, despite the immense pain he was in, was now on his feet, attempting to become the peacemaker between the two men.

"You wouldn't know it was there unless you'd made the summer pilgriMage, as I have. From there, your people can escape."

Roderick staggered forward as Eostre moved to hold him, using her body as support. This aggravated her injured side causing her to grimace. Roderick looked deeply into Eostre's eyes and laid a hand on her cheek, a look of regret on his face.

"She must have shown me. Andraste must have shown me so I could … could tell you." A single tear rolled down his cheek as he caressed hers.

"It was whim that I walked the path. I did not mean to start, it was overgrown. Now with so many in the Conclave dead, to be the only one who remembers … I don't know."

He paused, his voice breaking as he burst into tears. "Herald … If this simple memory can save us. This could be more than mere accident. You could be more."

Her lips softly parted as she heard the repentance within his words. Eostre moved her face closer to Roderick's and laid a delicate kiss upon his cheek. He closed his eyes, accepting her act as forgiveness.

"That could work, provided Roderick can show us the path. But this does mean someone will have to stay behind and fire the trebuchet. There would be no escape."

Dread filled her as Cullen spoke. Her heart was burdened by the truth that now revealed itself to her. If everyone was to survive, she would have to be the one to fire the trebuchet.

"I will stay behind."

A gasp escaped Cullen as the words pierced his heart. Dorian, sensing the mood, took Roderick from Eostre but before they left, Roderick placed a hand upon her cheek. "Herald … if you are meant for this, if the Inquisition is meant for this … I will pray for you."

Leaning on Dorian for support, Roderick limped his way deeper inside the Chantry, leaving Eostre and Cullen alone.

"There will be no escape. It's suicide!"

"You heard Dorian, the Elder One is after me and me alone. If sacrificing my life means saving many, then you know it is what needs to be done."

Cullen grabbed Eostre by the waist, pulling her into a deep embrace. His heartbeat faster in his chest and he fought hard to hold back the tears. She placed her hands on his chest, pushing herself back so she could look him in the eyes.

"I can't let you do this."

"You have no choice in this, neither of us do."

She held his face in her hands, before moving her face close to his, planting a firm kiss on his cheek. He closed his eyes tight and embraced the feeling of her lips on his cheek, conscious that this might be their final farewell.

She pulled away from him and made her way to the door. "Inquisition, with the Herald. Load the trebuchets then return here."

Cullen put his hand on her shoulder, spinning her around to meet his gaze. His heart was burdened with sorrow, a reflection of which flickered in his golden eyes.

"Keep the Elder One's attention …. until we've above the tree line. I will pray that you escape."

She placed her hand upon his, squeezing it gently before removing it from her shoulder. "Be careful Cullen."

And with that, she disappeared out into the night, determined to save everyone. Her thoughts of Cullen spurred the fire within her heart as she fought her way to the last trebuchet.