ANDERS
The square was filled with templars. The encased helmets made it impossible to see faces but Anders could sense their readiness. The devouring magic aura was almost tangible. Justice drilled into his mind waiting eagerly for release. The spirit would certainly be useful in the coming battle. Between a row of shining armors with the flaming sword emblem stood Meredith. Her aura was the strongest but somehow different. A cold stoic gaze looked at Marian.
- So it has come to this. - she said in her hoarse voice. - The Champion of our city, who swore to protect these walls, stands against its defenders.
- You brought this on yourself, Meredith. You and your templars are to blame.
- Did my templars and I kill dozens of clerics to deliver a message? Did my templars and I cause this chaos? No, Hawke. My templars and I have served this city faithfully for years. We protected it from blood magic. The same magic that took your own mother.
- Leave my mother out of this! - Marian growled. Anders noticed her fingers tighten on her daggers. He stood at the ready. It wouldn't be long now. In a moment the fight would begin. A red glow drew his attention. Meredith held a glowing pointed blade in her hand. He squinted his eyelids then froze.
-Do you recognize this Hawke? Yes. I see you do. - Meredith said throatily. Crystals of red lyrium were embedded in her weapon. The same crystals that drove Varric's brother to the brink of madness. - The dwarf charged a lot for them, but it was worth it. - she added after a moment.
Anders saw the same madness seize the Knight-Commander. Bloodlust was in her eyes. The blond templar, standing nearby, moved slightly away from his superior.
-What is the meaning of this? - he stewarded firmly.
-Cullen it's the red lyrium! - screamed Hawke. - It drives people insane. Your commander is under its influence!
-The Champion and her companions are a threat to this city. I order you to kill them. Immediately! - barked Meredith.
The templar stared at his superior not knowing what to do.
-Hawke was to be captured and tried for her crimes. - he answered after a moment.
Meredith approached him nervously.
-I have given you an order templar. You are to carry it out. - she growled.
-Don't do it, Cullen. - pleaded Hawke again. - Can't you see she's out of her mind?
The Champion's words worked. Cullen stepped back from the commander and drew his sword, pointing it in her direction.
-Commander Meredith, step aside or I will use force. - he commanded. One by one, the other templars followed his lead.
Meredith lowered her head.
-I see that the corruption has reached my own templars. Alright then. I will save this city myself. I will destroy the corruption that has taken root in it.
Time seemed to stand still for a moment. Meredith raised the glowing blade and drove it impetuously into the cobblestones beneath her feet. Magic flowed across the concrete tiles. It didn't take long to see its effects. Huge brass statues began to come to life one by one. Anders had witnessed many things, but he had never seen anything like this before. It was as if the templar had poured her will into the red lyrium and it had obeyed. This was going to be a hard fight. Instinctively, he reached for the small pouch attached to his belt, checking if his supply of blue lyrium was still there. Fortunately, there were no surprises.
A squad of templars aided them in the fight by weakening the magical connections between the blade and the statues. Long minutes passed before the first statue collapsed to the ground. It was not easy, but it meant that knocking down the colossi was possible. Meredith began to revive more statues. If they don't do something they will be squashed like vermin. They divided their forces. The templar squad took care of the statues while Hawke and the others focused on Meredith. This tactic seemed to be working. The commander couldn't focus all her attention on the blade which greatly weakened the animated statues. Anders slowly began to feel his limit.
"Just a little longer. Hold out a little longer." He repeated in his mind. He was so focused on the statues that he didn't notice when Meredith approached him. She took a swing and struck. The blade stopped on the transparent barrier. Hawke emerged from the nothingness bumping into the templar with all her momentum. They both skidded to a halt on the concrete pavement. Slightly dazed, Marian rose to her feet, kneeling on one knee. Unfortunately, Meredith recovered faster. She growled throatily and struck with her glowing blade. Anders dispersed his barrier and transferred it to the Champion. Too late. The tip of the sword sank into her right bicep and only reflex saved Marian from a worse scenario. She hissed loudly but she took advantage of her opponent's moment of inattention and one of her daggers sliced through the exposed part of templar's knee. Meredith shuddered. Despite her injured arm, Hawke was at her other knee in a flash. The templar lost her footing and collapsed to the concrete. With the last of her strength, she grabbed her sword, which exploded with a red glow. The magic, however, did not bring any more statues to life. Meredith's face was distorted with fear and pain. Piece by piece, her body turned into solid brass. A shrill scream tore through the air, but when the corruption reached her throat, the scream cut off abruptly. The revived statues froze again, becoming mere lifeless decorations in the courtyard. Anders got down on one knee feeling a wave of fatigue wash over him. When he felt a greater surge of strength he rose and approached Hawke. She stood beside the metal-turned templar holding a hand to her bleeding arm.
-Is it over? - came Bethany's quiet question.
-It looks that way. - Anders answered, looking at the terrible grimace on Meredith's face, which was sealed in a metal shell for eternity. Hawke, standing next to her, was panting with exhaustion and relief.
-We have won. - she whispered and, gasping slightly, fell to her knees. Anders was instantly at her side. He put his hand on the fingers that were clasping her hand.
-Show it to me. - he asked. She raised her blue eyes to his. The mage closed his eyes and muttered an incantation. Pale blue light wrapped around his fingers, which he pressed against the nasty cut. The wound momentarily stopped bleeding and healed slightly. He opened his eyelids. - I'm afraid I don't have the strength to do any more. - He explained hurriedly. Hawke gave him a warm smile.
-Ummm Hawke, I think we have another problem. - said the dwarf. Anders lifted his gaze. A squad of templars surrounded them in a circle pointing the blades of their swords at them. The mage helped the Champion stand up. They both kept their eyes on the knights. After a moment, Cullen approached them. He looked at them with focused and tense eyes and then, standing aside, ordered the knights to make way. Marian and her companions understood the gesture and without thinking too long they left the Gallows, leaving everything behind.
The End
***And we came to the last chapter. This was a fun experience for me and I hope you enjoyed reading it :). The story of Marian Hawke is to be continued in my next work: Dragon Age Inquisition: Herold of Andraste and Champion of Kirkwall ***
