As soon as night fell, the Inquisition forces began their attack on Adamant Fortress. The atmosphere was incredibly tense, especially as no one was sure whether they would be just facing the Grey Wardens or an army of demons as well.
As per Cullen's request, Eostre held back whilst the trebuchets fired, endeavouring to clear a way for the soldiers on ladders to get a strong foothold. As the battering ram approached the main gate, Eostre followed up behind.
Having a small cluster of soldiers in a protective formation around her seemed a bit excessive to Eostre, but again, this had been Cullen's decision and she was not in a position to correct him.
After only a few blows, the main gate broke open, providing an entry point for Eostre. She was joined by Cassandra, Varric and Dorian, who had wished to join her in the assault. Initially, she thought that Blackwall would have wanted to join but he had declined, opting to stay at Skyhold.
"All right, you have your way in. Best make use of it. We'll keep the main host of demons occupied for as long as we can."
"I'll be fine Cullen, just keep the men safe. Keep yourself safe."
"We'll do what we have to Eostre, it may cost lives, but the men are prepared. Warden Stroud with guard your back and Hawke is with our soldiers on the battlements. He will be assisting them until you arrive."
The screaming of an Inquisition soldier being thrown from the battlements brought their attention away from each other. The demon snarled upon seeing Eostre.
"There's too much resistance on the walls, our men on the ladders can't get a foothold! If you can clear the enemies on the battlements, we'll cover your advances."
Even though every second in this battle counted, Cullen couldn't help but spare some to kiss Eostre. "Do not take any unnecessary risks, I need you to come back to me," he whispered before returning to the soldiers.
Eostre pressed on, determined to spare any Wardens who did not resist them. Upon reaching the battlements, she elegantly slashed her way through the various demons overwhelming her men.
Reuniting with Hawke, they pushed on through the demons, determined to prevent more innocent bloodshed for this insanity. The closer to the courtyard they got, the quieter the fighting seemed to have become. Eostre had spared all those who did not wish to stand against her.
Nothing could have prepared her for what she would see in the courtyard. Several Grey Warden mages stood in a circle, their focus on a currently sealed fade rift. Upon a balcony stood Warden-Commander Clarel with Erimond; the fresh blood of a sacrifice covering their clothes.
"Stop them! We must complete the ritual!" Erimond snarled on seeing Eostre, determined not to have anything ruin the perfect plan of his master.
"Clarel!" Eostre exclaimed, her voice filled with purpose. "If you complete that ritual, you're doing exactly what Erimond wants!"
"What, fighting the Blight? Keeping the world safe from Darkspawn? Who wouldn't want that?" The smugness in Erimond's tone made Varric aim Bianca squarely at this throat, however, Eostre gestured to lower his weapon. As much as she would have been delighted to see an arrow through Erimond's throat, it would only strengthen his cause.
"And yes, the ritual requires blood sacrifice. Hate me for that if you must, but do not hate the Wardens for doing their duty." Crossing his arms in defiance. The arrogance that radiated from him disgusted Eostre.
"We make the sacrifices no one else will. Our warriors die proudly for a world that will never thank them. Bring it through!" Eostre sensed the despair in Clarel's voice, Erimond's deception had clouded her judgment.
The mages began to open the fade rift, revealing a hideous demon on the other side. The Wardens who were not bound by magic recoiled in fear, an action that both Eostre and Clarel noticed.
"You need to listen to me Clarel!" Eostre clenched her fist in anger. "I have no quarrel with the Wardens, and I have spared those I could. But Erimond is lying to you!"
"Erimond will bind your mages to Corypheus!" Stroud called out, breaking through the deception. Clarel gasped, "Corypheus? But he's dead!"
"He was alive and well when we last saw him!" Varric interjected, bringing even more clarity to Clarel's mind. She turned to Erimond, a look of terror covering her face. "Is this true?"
"What does it matter? I knew I should have found more reliable allies." Erimond slapped Clarel, knocking her to the ground.
"My Master thought you might come here, Inquisitor! He sent me this to welcome you." With one thump of his staff on the ground, a haunting roar filled the sky. Eostre witnessed with terror as the archdemon she had narrowly escaped from in Haven appeared. Its mere presence stopped the fighting.
The silence that fell over Adamant at the arrival of the archdemon was almost deafening. At that moment, he knew he had to get to Eostre. He got to the courtyard just in time to see Clarel knock Erimond to the ground with a single lightning bolt.
"Eostre!" He cried but her name was lost in the returning noise of battle. Erimond quickly rose to his feet before sprinting away.
"Help the Inquisitor!" Clarel rallied her Wardens before quickly following after Erimond with Eostre and the others in tow. Determined not to lose her again, A furious rage swelled within him, bolstering him to pursue her, slaying demons that stood in his way.
Every swing of his sword through a demon propelled him forward. The hatred and anger from Haven that he tried to suppress were now on full display, he was not going to lose her, or the Heavens would be more than just scarred.
Catching up to her, he called out her name. She glanced back towards him, her eyes urging him to stay away, turning back in time to see the archdemon grasp Clariel in its jaws, taking flight only to land on the battlements.
With a vendetta, it threw Clariel's body to the ground before steadily creeping towards Eostre, hissing at it does so. She kept glancing between the archdemon and Cullen, her eyes wide in terror. "Run! RUN!" She mouthed to Cullen, but he refused, advancing towards the archdemon.
Her body broken, Clariel manoeuvred herself with great difficulty. She had been blinded with the promises of ending the Blight once and for all, for which she had paid with innocent Warden blood.
"In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice." With her last breath, Clarel spoke the Grey Warden motto, extending her hand to fire a lightning bolt towards the belly of the archdemon as it pounced towards Eostre and the others.
This last act of repentance by Clarel cause the archdemon to hit the ground with such force, that it bounced its way off the edge of the broken walkway and into the depth below.
"RUN!" They charged forward as the walkway began to collapse, stumbling and tripping as bit by bit, it broke away. "EOSTRE!" cried Cullen, running forward to help her.
He watched helplessly as Eostre fell, his hand still outstretched towards her with a vain hope that he would still be able to catch her. He could feel his heart breaking from despair as he desperately called her name, the anguish prominent on his face.
"I love you, Cullen," her voice breaking as she plummeted, knowing full well that this would be the end. Her heart was strangely at peace, like everything in her life had led up to this moment.
Unexpectedly, the mark glowed brightly. Looking behind her, she noticed that she was falling towards a sealed rift. Returning her gaze to Cullen with love in her eyes, she blew him a kiss. With one flick of her wrist, the rift opened, and she fell through, along with the others.
"EOSTRE!" He screamed as she disappeared from view, his breathing heavy. Some nearby soldiers who had heard the commotion came to his side, trying their best to pull him away. "GET OFF ME!" He roared, anger threatening to consume him. For the second time, he had witnessed Eostre go to her death.