Author's Disclaimer: Don't own a thing belonging to "Dragon Age 2/3." Nada thing.
Author's notes: Here we go! The title says it all, that's where we're going. Into the Abyss. Let's do this. Hawke's mabari didn't go with. He's with some of the soldiers elsewhere.
"Catching the Wind"
Chapter forty-three "Into the Abyss"
"Do it. Just a slice. Release your pain. Let it flow….."
Merrill buried her face in the sheets besides Isabela's shoulder. The demon's voice was back and that it had breached the threshold of the captain's house alarmed her. What was disturbing was that she was used to hearing it and she didn't want it anywhere near the children. Isabela couldn't hear it and she'd finally fallen asleep. Merrill was loath to disturb her rest, but now…..
"Stop it….Stop!..." Merrill hissed in a fierce whisper. Isabela's full lips were slack as she breathed deeply in her sleep. Merrill felt the flare to protect Hawke's other mate, and dearest friend. Her cave was pleasantly sore from how Isabela had put her to bed earlier. And more…..
The voice paused, then when it licked the air between them again, it was almost in her ear. Merrill flinched. Her pointed ear twitched.
"Hawke is in danger. Did you know that? Wouldn't you like to see HOW much in danger she is?"
Merrill blanched and gripped Isabela's hand tightly under the sheets. The pirate turned trustingly into her shoulder and she stroked her loose hair protectively. Her mating mark from Hawke twanged, but she still felt a connection. Still alive at least. But that still didn't mean she wasn't enduring very terrible things.
"I…no!" Merrill whispered in a hoarse tone. She kept perch sitting over Isabela, looking around for the voice as if it would materialize any moment. She hoped it wouldn't, anyway….. She REALLY hoped…..
"SUCH DANGER. Hawke does fight very well. But so many against one, what are the odds of survival, hmm?"
Horrific scenarios played though Merrill's mind. Bandits, pirates, legions of soldiers, demons, spirits, all against her mate and her one sword. Hawke was a magnificent warrior, but even the best could be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. She swallowed hard. Briefly, Merrill reached to stroke the mating mark on the side of Isabela's throat with two fingers. The pirate shuddered in her sleep.
"Hawke," she murmured in her sleep and groaned aloud. Merrill flushed but hoped Isabela was having a nice dream about their mate.
"Be gone, demon," Merrill whispered. Her fingers stroked Isabela's dark hair protectively. "Leave us and this house…."
The voice chuckled, fully amused, but then began to sound far off as if it WERE leaving.
"I'll be back for you," he promised. Merrill shuddered.
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Hawke shielded her eyes with her gloved hand, lines of the Inquisition forces behind her. Adamant Fortress stood jagged against the horizon, the land all sand and heat. Hawke was over the heat; no point to it without an ocean and a possible dip in said ocean to counter it. The chatter of the men and women behind her made Hawke feel lonely, but she forced herself to put her heart aside.
She was going into battle either tonight or the next morning and she needed to keep her mind clear of her daily heartbreak and suffering. Saying a silent "hold on" to her family in her head, Hawke kept pace with Cassandra and a few of the Inquisitor's personal party. Luckily the Lady Vivienne was at Cassandra's side, making Hawke miss Merrill all the more. No, not right now. If she was going to get through this battle, the more mages around the better.
Cassandra halted the forces a good distance from the fortress's gates. Didn't want anyone to get hit by a stray arrow, after all. But there was motion from the battlements and some of the soldiers muttered about that.
"What are they DOING?"
"Hey, do they have trebuchets? We should move….."
"Lady Seeker, we should move back 'til we're ready to start!"
Hawke caught Cassandra's eyes as the woman almost rolled her eyes toward her and caught herself at the last moment. The motions were made abundantly clear as Commander Clarel's grotesque entertainment was displayed over the walls. Limp forms were hung from the battlements, legs twining in the strong breeze as they twisted from the ropes around their necks. It was apparent they were already dead, for the Inquisition soldiers did not fight the long drop they'd been given. Each tunic front or breastplate had a jagged version of the Inquisition eye painted large and wide so their allegiance could be seen from a distance.
Hawke heard the first cry of dismay as everyone finally understood what they were looking at.
"No! Bastards!"
"You'll pay!"
"Seeker, let's move in now!"
Cassandra looked dismayed but pursed her lips together into a thin line as she stared at their dead spies on the battlements. "We wait for Commander Cullen's soldiers, then we'll move in."
"But, Seeker!"
Hawke could scent the riling emotions swirling like black storm clouds behind her, the men and women, humans, elves, dwarves and even a few Qun-less Qunari, all angry, all afraid and all ready to charge in for anything. It would be their undoing.
Hawke smashed a gauntleted fist against her breastplate, clanging to get their attention. The first two lines heard her and recognized her beside the Seeker, quieting. The lines behind them caught the mood and quieted. "Hold fast! Seeker Pentaghast says we hold until Commander Cullen meets us. See those men and women up there? Hold onto that anger. Hold it tight and ready it for the time when we push forward!"
Some of the men and women gave a cheer. A few began chanting "Champion" much to Hawke's dismay. She tried not to grimace openly, turning her profile back toward the Grey Wardens and mages moving along the battlements ahead of them. Cassandra sidled up to her and grunted.
"A fine speech. I can see why Varric would follow you so readily."
Hawke turned her face away, glaring hard at nothing on the sand in the distance. "Far too many have. You have to know what to say sometimes…."
Such as the moments alone when she argued and begged with Merrill to leave blood magic behind. Alone with Isabela, she'd complimented her round belly when she carried both of their daughters for a time and gotten wide smiles in return and soft kisses. Oh, her mates….. The marks along her throat and above her breast burned. Their connection still held. Good. Hawke pressed a hand to her breastplate, above Isabela's mark.
"Bela…" she murmured aloud. Cassandra gave her a side long look. Hawke looked away. Her sons, she could swear they were beside her, patting her sides. Her mage daughter, she would smile up at her. Her baby, Sparrow…. Her wide green eyes would stare up at her, but she always wanted Hawke to pick her up. "I'll come back. I swear it."
"What was that, Champion?" Cassandra asked.
Hawke clenched her gauntleted hand into a fist over her breastplate. "I told you not to call me that."
"Sure, Messere Hawke. Oh, look there's Cullen now."
Hawke shaded her eyes with one hand. The sun was arching high in the horizon, towards night and the rest of the Inquisitor's forces led by Commander Cullen. It could only begin soon now. Hawke felt the weight of the brooch in her tunic pocket. She would be carrying her family in with her. One more big battle, and hopefully it would be done soon.
"Dragon!" The cry rose up from the ranks. All heads swiveled up to look, and the spindly form of a dragon high up winged its way toward the castle. Obviously, it was someone's familiar and dread rose through the soldiers, potent as stinking flesh. Corypheus's? Clarel's?
"Well, why wouldn't there be a dragon," Hawke murmured. Cassandra drew her sword and aimed it toward Cullen's ranks.
"Form up! Battering ram and ladders!"
Hawke missed her helm all of a sudden. She hoped she wouldn't need it.
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Hawke charged along the top of the battlements, several of the Inquisitor's soldiers with her. They made quick work of the demons and opponents ahead of them, and for that Hawke was glad. The way would be clear for the Inquisitor, who was entering with her small party from the gates below.
"Hawke!" Varric called from the lower level. Hawke led her soldiers down the stairs, and she clasped her gauntleted fist over her breastplate.
"You made it," she said to the Inquisitor. Varric patted her waist, Bianca slung over one shoulder.
Cadash's blue eyes were dark and stormy behind the slits in her helm. "Will the Grey Wardens not listen to reason?" this she asked of Stroud who paused beside Hawke, sheathing his weapon.
"Some of them I trained myself. I think they can be turned back to the side of reason. But Clarel is twisting them to her side!" he reported. So, there was a chance the tide of battle could be turned. All good news to Hawke.
"Give them the option. If not….well, hell…."
Several armed Grey Wardens were charging toward their location, raising a battle cry. Hawke eased her longsword into hand again. Varric cranked an arrow into position in his crossbow.
Stroud gave a ragged sigh of exasperation. "Call them off if you can!" he announced to the Inquisitor's party. But everyone had to meet steel or answer for it, and they tried not to kill the wave of Grey Wardens who desperately fought them.
Eventually the fight spilled over from the courtyard, up the battlements and down to a wide courtyard where Clarel and her spindly second held court. A bloody knife was in the gaunt woman's hand, as well as the body of a Grey Warden. The long cut along his throat told his end and Hawke seethed in her head at the sight of it. The pale scars along her Merrill's arms made her heart long to thrust out of her chest. Blood magic! It maimed or killed where it saw fit and she would not have it touch her mate again….
"Clarel! If you complete that ritual, you're doing exactly what Erimond wanted!" the Inquisitor bellowed, silencing Hawke's stream of emotional thought. She blinked rapidly. Merrill was far from this….and all for the better!
Clarel's spindly second stepped in front of her, answering the Inquisitor's challenge. "What, fighting the Blight? Keeping the world safe from Darkspawn? Who wouldn't want that!" He paused and Clarel had the grace to look at the blood on her dagger with consideration. "And the ritual DOES require blood sacrifice. Hate me for that if you must, but do not hate the Wardens for doing their duty!"
Clarel's gaunt eyes moved over Hawke and the Inquisitor's party. "We make the sacrifices no one else will. Our warriors die proudly for a world that will never thank them."
Stroud wasn't having it from Clarel's impassioned plea. "And then your Tevinter ally binds the mages to Corypheus!"
The look of shock on Clarel's face would have been comical if it hadn't been truthful. "Corypheus? But he's dead!"
Her second weaseled up to her side and hissed beside her ear. "These people will say anything to shake your confidence, Clarel!"
The Warden-Commander looked as if reason may have its day, for she looked troubled, even pressing her gloved hand to her brow as if thinking hard on everything. But then she straightened and her command of "Bring it through!" to the forming portal below couldn't be good.
Hawke couldn't keep silent any longer. She stepped forward calling out to the Grey Warden mages intent on calling something through to their side. "Please! I have seen more than my share of blood magic." Merrill….. sweet, Merrill…." It is never worth the cost!"
"I trained half of you myself!" Stroud was furious. "Do not make me kill you to stop this madness!"
"Be ready with the ritual, Clarel. This demon is truly worthy of your strength!" Clarel's Tevinter second said boastfully to her. Clarel looked uncertain.
The Inquisitor called forth again, hoping to make her see reason. "The Wardens stand for duty and honor, to protect the world. You stopped the Blight at the Silent Plains, at Starkhaven….. This world owes you a debt it can never repay! I wouldn't stand against you if I did not know you were being misused."
Clarel turned to her second who seethed openly at the accusation. "Clarel, we have come so far. You're the only one who can do this."
Clarel swallowed but there was a hint of resolute steel in her stance. "Perhaps we could test the truth of these charges, to avoid more bloodshed."
The spindly man scoffed. "Or perhaps I should bring in a more reliable ally." He turned and stamped the butt of his mage's staff against the stones. "My master thought you might come here, Inquisitor! He sent me this to welcome you!"
The dragon seen from far off before circled overhead, spiraling closer and closer, much too close for Hawke's liking. She and a few others ducked their heads to avoid its tail end as it dragged low, then alighted on a nearby tower top, roaring is displeasure. Clarel turned to strike her second in the back with her magic and the spindly man went down with surprise.
"Clarel, wait!" he pleaded. Clarel did not listen and focused her magical attack on the threat above the Inquisitor's party. The spindly man pulled himself to his feet to stagger off and Clarel was hot on his heels.
"Help the Inquisitor!" she commanded of the Grey Wardens as tall demons poured of the portal they'd created. And then the fight was on.
There were only too many times one fought a demon in this world. Hawke couldn't even begin to count how many had crossed her path over the years. But this pride demon was taller than the rest, more vengeful in its deep throaty laughs, and stronger than the rest. Even with the Inquisitor's party, the remaining Grey Wardens and Stroud, it was far too close to be called an even match.
Many of the Wardens and other warriors were thrown aside several times and flying ten feet in full armor HURT. Hawke staggered to push herself to her feet after another such occasion and finally the demon began to weaken. All warriors with weapons pushed in for the kill and finally the pride demon fell and dissipated into fine smoke.
"Clarel's hurt! We need to help her!" one of the Wardens called.
Hawke barely had time to push sweaty bangs out of her eyes when the party ascended a set of stairs and took off across the battlements. Varric was beside her, urging her to move and she ran beside the stout dwarf.
"Come on, the mage's duel can't be that far off," he commented. Hawke gave a short smile in return. For all her faults, at least Clarel was after her Tevinter second for betraying her trust. Dragon aside, it would all be over soon.
When the party erupted toward the scene at hand, Clarel had her spindly second on the ropes. His fireballs bounced uselessly off her wards as she talked forward, staff in hand. "You've destroyed the Grey Wardens!"
Another strike and he was on his back, staff flung far from his hand. "You...hehehe, you did that to yourself, you stupid bitch! All I did was dangle a little power before your eyes, and you couldn't WAIT to get your hands bloody!"
Clarel struck him with a magical blast and the man went flying thirty feet. He doubled over on his side, cradling himself. "You could have served a new god…"
Clarel's words were concise and strong. "I will never serve the Blight!"
As if waiting for affirmation, Corypheus's dragon landed beside her, engulfing half her body with one swipe of its jaws. Her legs kicked as the dragon rose, flew a short distance then swung its head, throwing her bodily to the ground a good fifty feet below. Impossibly, Clarel was still alive, trying to crawl away on the stones.
She was whispering something, but Hawke was too far away to make out her final words. But she got off a magical surge that forced the battlements apart, and the dragon lost its footing, tumbling head over tail far below.
But its crash upended the stonework, causing the battlements to split and fall apart beneath them. Varric grasped Hawke's arm with a strong hand and tugged her forward, both of them charging up beside the Inquisitor's forces. But then the world upended, the stone splintered asunder to nothing beneath them, and they were all falling.
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When Hawke opened her eyes, the world was sideways. She winced and scrambled to her feet. The ground seemed to be above her and rushed up to meet her. Her faltering steps made her trip as she tried to adjust to the vertigo-inducing landscape. She was literally on the side of a mountain!
"Oh no, no no…" Hawke mumbled. Her hair even flipped up, indicating she was not on the right side up. Her footsteps took her closer to the ground where several figures stirred. She could make out the Inquisitor, Varric, and other companions. Varric was looking around rapidly and he looked visibly relieved the closer Hawke got.
"Well gee, Hawke, walk on air, you do it all," he tried to tease. But the dwarf looked visibly shaken. Hawke reached down, or was it up, to grasp the Iron Bull's strong hand. He pulled her down and luckily her boots settled on the level everyone else was on. She even tensed, arms spread, expecting to fall back up into the sky. After a few moments of dread and vertigo, Hawke relented she was not going to and let go. Her grip had left a mark on the Iron Bull's forearm and she let go, blushing. The Bull just rolled his large shoulders in a shrug.
"It'll get better, Hawke," he said. But he looked troubled. Qunari never looked troubled. Inquisitor Cadash leaned against her beau, looking almost green.
"We're in the Fade, aren't we? Really in it. We're not just dreaming," she muttered. Cassandra had her sword drawn and was scanning the surroundings. Rocky steps were carved into the sides of the mountain near them, enticing them to advance. Hawke didn't like how laid out the path was.
And when the deep voice erupted from somewhere yet nowhere near, making everyone jump, Hawke liked it even less.
"What in the!" Dorian cursed, holding his staff in front of him like a weapon. Light enveloped his lean form. Blackwall had his weapon drawn, face pale behind his beard. He swallowed.
"So you all fell right in here. Well, good. More to play with…."
"What are you?" Cassandra demanded. She didn't like an opponent who remained unseen no more than anyone else did.
"Nightmare. Or more specifically, your nightmare. You won't be glad to meet me…."
Blackwall snorted. "That all you got? He can't even show up!" His words emboldened the group as they made their way forward.
"Ah, Blackwall." The voice sounded decidedly giddy. "There's nothing like a Grey Warden and you are nothing like a Grey Warden…"
As to what the voice meant was for Blackwall alone as the warrior's shoulders slouched and he paled further. "I'll show you a Warden's strength, Beast…" he mumbled. No one inquired further.
Iron Bull hefted his heavy sword over one shoulder. "Come on, boss, we should get moving. Find a way out…." He urged Cadash. The dwarf looked up at him, and the trust in her gaze was palpable as Bull's large hand settled on her shoulder.
"Okay…" she began when the deep voice interrupted the soothing moment between lovers.
"The Qunari will make a lovely host for one of my minions. Or maybe I will ride his body myself…."
Everyone shuddered, looking around as wisps of spirits or demons played at the edges of their surroundings. Possession would be possible? It was a harrowing thought. Hawke gazed at each stricken face, trying not to panic herself. Iron Bull's face was downcast though, as he looked far from his usual self at the statement.
"I'd like to see you try…" he mumbled. The Inquisitor took his free hand, squeezed it.
"Let's keep moving," she urged. Hawke and Cassandra kept pace. This place was hellish. Hawke was glad her mates weren't with her. Merrill may do alright, but so many demons about meant more temptations for her to touch blood magic…. And she'd be damned if she'd let that happen.
As if tempting fate, the deep voice chuckled, almost in Hawke's ear. She shuddered, fear roiling down her spine.
"Ah, Hawke. Did you think you mattered? Did you think anything you ever did mattered? Kirkwall fell in flames and it was all your fault. You couldn't even save your city; how could you expect to strike down a god? You're a failure and your family died knowing it."
Varric's panicked gaze met hers. Hawke swallowed, knowing her face was very pale.
"Well, that's going to grow tiresome quickly," she tried to jest. The Bull quirked a small smile at that bit of humor and the Inquisitor squeezed his hand. The party made their way to a stone courtyard, through strange crops of stones that were oddly familiar. Tombstones. But whose? The names they read were their own and several of the party gasped or cursed aloud.
"This isn't true," Cadash said firmly. She kicked at a stone as they passed to make her point. It shook and Hawke half caught it as she moved past before it could squish her. Her eyes dropped to the front of the engraving and she blanched. Isabela and Merrill's names. What in all Thedas!...
The voice was back, very amused, playing on her fear. "Oh, did you find my gift? Isabela will die. Merrill will die…Just like your family. And everyone you ever cared about…."
"I'm going to enjoy killing this thing!" Hawke growled. She moved through the graveyard, angry. Fear dragged at her steps though.
"Too true," Dorian sniffed. "We'll run this bugger through and find a way out."
"Greetings, Dorian." The tall mage flinched. "It is Dorian, isn't it? For a moment, I mistook you for your father."
Dorian shrugged and his words were light. "Rather uncalled for." But there was a sense of dread in his eyes. Cassandra nodded.
"You can't listen to this….thing. We have to keep going."
"Your Inquisitor is a fraud, Cassandra!" The voice of Nightmare was back, for her. The Seeker flinched. "Yet more evidence there is no Maker, that all your faith has been for naught."
"Die in the void, Demon!" Cassandra spat toward the empty air.
Varric gripped Hawke's wrist, keeping pace with her. "There, those shiny lights gotta mean a portal ahead. Think we can get out through there?"
Hawke was nodding when the voice edged back in. She shuddered. "Once again, Hawke is in danger because of YOU, Varric. You found the red lyrium. You brought Hawke here…."
Varric set his jaw so hard, Hawke almost heard him grind his teeth. "Just keep talking, Smiley." His fingers were taut on the trigger of Bianca. Hawke clapped him on the shoulder, to keep his mood on track.
"I would have come, anyways," she tried to assure him. His smile was shaky but there was a look of resolute understanding in the dwarf's eyes. Varric nodded.
"There, what's that…." Cadash made out. The golden outline of a spirit seemed to be leading the way, and when she spoke, Cassandra blanched.
"Divine Justinia! Most Holy?..."
"I greet you Warden, and you, Inquisitor…"
Stroud paused beside Cadash who stared dumbfounded.
"Cassandra, you knew the Divine. Is this really her?"
Cassandra swallowed and grief lined her face. "I…. I don't know. It's said the souls of the dead pass through the Fade, and sometimes linger….but….. we know the spirits lie. Be wary, Inquisitor."
Stroud was more absolute. "I fear the Divine is indeed dead. It is likely we face a spirit….or a demon."
The spirit of the Divine, if it WAS the Divine, chuckled. "You think my survival impossible, yet here you stand alive in the Fade yourselves…. Truthfully, proving my existence either way would require time we do not have."
Cadash nodded. "Whoever you are…. Can we trust you?"
The image of the old woman paused. She nodded. "Please follow me, and I will guide you out of this realm."
"What choice do we have?" Iron Bull complained lightly.
The way was treacherous, with spirits and demons alike falling upon them in waves. Hawke was glad to do the familiar, lifting her sword again and again, killing or dissipating many. Iron Bull roared beside her and Cadash's war hammer rose and fell.
Hawke shielded her eyes with one hand as the golden spirit claiming to be the past Divine floated ahead of them, helping to clear the way. Whoever she was, she was proving to be helpful.
Finally, they ascended the top of another set of mountainous steps to a rocky courtyard of some kind. There was a large glowing ball waiting, almost taunting them closer.
"Portal!" Dorian announced. He grinned suddenly. "Well, let's get moving….."
There was a screech of terror and a tall figure that could only have come from someone's darkest dreams appeared. It was tall, as tall as maybe twenty feet, clothed in a robe adorned with spikes, or were they legs, poking out from the shoulders. Its face was masked and covered, grinning long teeth only visible. The very sight of it, and Hawke had to admit it she couldn't tell its sex, spread dread through everyone. A large…..thing, many legs, large gaping maw and jagged teeth waited behind it.
Hawked swallowed, but she formed up beside Cadash and the Iron Bull.
The Divine's spirit was having none of it, floating forward to clash against the aspect of Nightmare and its large buggy friend. "Please tell Leiliana, I'm sorry. I failed you too!" And then she was gone, dissipated against the two creatures.
And she'd done some damage. The tall figure of Nightmare was not happy, anger apparent in its every jerky movement. The large bug creature salivated behind it.
"I grow fat on your fear!" Nightmare boasted, as Dorian launched his spells and everyone charged forward, weapons drawn.
"Stay strong!" Stroud yelled. It was almost hard to hear him. There was a steady buzzing in Hawke's head that she didn't like, that threatened to slow her boots, freeze her in place. She gripped the hilt of her longsword tighter, gloves rubbing almost raw against her palms. The slight pain made her see past it and she yelled, darting in to strike the side of the Nightmare thing.
"The portal! It's closing!" Cassandra yelled in dismay. Hawke swung her head. The glowing ball of light did seem to be dimming and shrinking in size. They had to get out of there. They had to make it back to the real world….
"Move!" she bellowed. She grabbed Varric's arm and thrust him in front of her. The Iron Bull and Inquisitor forced the figure of Nightmare back with victorious blows of their weapons and decided to make a break for the portal in the creature's hesitation.
But the giant bug-like entity crawled over the top of the portal, planting itself directly between the party and it. Everyone stopped so suddenly some smashed into the backs of others. No one wanted to confront that freakishly huge monstrosity, but…
"We have to clear a path!" the Inquisitor sounded dismayed beyond belief.
"Go! I'll cover you!" Stroud commanded. "The Grey Wardens caused this. A Warden must…."
"A Warden must help them rebuild!" Hawke insisted. "That's your job!"
Cadash stepped between them. "Stroud…." She made his name a command.
Stroud inclined his head. "Inquisitor, it has been an honor."
Hawke watched, jaw agape as the Grey Warden charged toward the many legged thing. Just like that, the decision was made, and she couldn't begin to be glad. But she had never gotten a chance to ask Stroud about Bethany's whereabouts, if she was even alive…. But Varric grabbed her arm and urged her with the Inquisitor's party toward the portal as the creature was distracted.
Then one of the tall legs slammed down in front of Hawke, and her sword was out before she realized it, striking at the carapace covered insect leg, urging it out of the path. Cadash led her party past it and Varric realized too late Hawke was still behind, striking the leg.
"Hawke!" he yelled. But the Iron Bull bodily picked him up in one strong arm and pulled him through the portal. As the last person passed, Dorian of all people, the portal vanished on his heels. Hawke couldn't begin to mourn that when Stroud needed her help.
"Hawke!" he shouted. Hawke made her way to his side. Both of them were heaving staff and sword mightily, sweat streaming down their faces, striking the creature's legs away from them. Nightmare chuckled beyond them, and the sounded echoed Hawke's loss and frustration. They'd lost their chance to get out! They were stuck here…. Perhaps for all time….no, they had to find a way out! They had to…..
Hawke barely had time to meet Stroud's eyes before Nightmare's large spidery companion reared back, an enlarged limb striking him down from above. And then it turned on her and everything went dark.
End for now
End notes: In the Fade! In the Faaaaade. I went with the option in the game, let Stroud stay behind. Hawke just got caught up in it for the story. Leave a review. More to come.
Pen 1/20/20