MoonPriestess30: Thank you so much for your lovely reviews, oh it made me so happy to read them. I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long. We're two thirdsish through the story and I hope you enjoy reading this chapter! Thank you again.

Chapter 24

Amelie pushed her way through the crowd, there was blood, screaming and the overwhelming atmosphere of panic and fear. She panted, her breath red raw at the back of her throat as she shoved past men and women. 'Catherine!' She called, desperate to be heard. 'Catherine where are you?' Tears filled her eyes as despair set into her heart. Amelie couldn't see anyone she knew, the square was filled with everyday people, merchants, families and guards. 'Catherine please,' Amelie begged as she stood on a bench desperate to get a better view.

'Run!' A man shouted at her as he pulled her by her wrist down off the side. 'You need to run! They're coming,' he warned as he all but dragged her along with him in the crowd. 'We have to get to the Keep! Come on, keep moving!'

'No!' Amelie shook her head trying to pull her arm free, 'no! I have to find my friend, I have to find Catherine!' She dug her heels in and yanked at her wrist. He stopped and turned to face her grabbing her by the shoulders as he spoke, grunting as people rushed past.

'If she's Downtown she'll either be in dead or hiding!' He had to shout to be heard over the panic. 'You cannot help your friend now, it is too late! Young miss, I know you're scared but if we get to the Keep we'll be safe,' he tries to reassure.

Amelie shook her head and looked at the kind stranger. 'No, we won't,' she says honestly. She uses the moment of surprise to brush free from his grip and disappear into the thrashing throng of people. The mage wiped her eyes, her tears blinding her. It had all happened so quickly, again she didn't see the signs. I should have seen the signs. For maker's sake, I've been here before I knew this would happen and I still fucking failed! Too busy literally fucking around with Fenris, stupid, stupid bitch. Mentally berating herself as she managed to reach the edge of the crowd she thought about where Catherine could be. She wasn't at Hawke's estate, she wasn't in town, she must either be at home or maybe the smith? Either one spelled trouble, their home was right in the path of the uprising and the smith got hit hard in their timeline when Qunari wanted weapons. Catherine almost died last time. Amelie placed her hand on her chest wishing her heart would calm down, what would Catherine do? Think, think you silly bitch. What would she do? Where would she go? Garrett would be fighting his way up through the city, he could have bumped into her, what do I do? Fenris... he's with Garrett, they'll keep each other safe. Leto is with Aveline. Maker almighty, come on you silly cow, think! A flash of inspiration hit her, she needed to find somewhere safe and hidden. Looking around she saw some stairs, there, I can hide under there, she smiled and ran over to the dark area, she was just small enough to get down and deep under them. Using some crates and sacking she managed to create a fragile wall to hide behind. Sitting cross legged she closed her eyes and focused. 'Catherine? Can you hear me?' She felt Catherine respond and allow her in which in return made relief flood through her.

'Amelie!'

She jolted at her name, the Smith sounded terrified. 'Catherine where are you?'

'Damien. Dead,' she replied. 'There's fire, Ami, help! I don't know how much lon-'

'Catherine? Cat? Kitty?!' Amelie screamed in her mind and heard nothing but silence. Something had happened but it meant that Amelie knew where she was and that was enough. 'I'm coming for you Cat,' Amelie promised as she shoved her makeshift wall down. She scrambled out of the hiding hole, the square was almost deserted nothing but broken stalls and wagons, some things were even on fire. Anger pulsed through her, she wasn't going to let this happen again, this time it would be different. This time she had the knowledge and things were going to change. Amelie made good time to the forge and smith, dodging possible hazardous encounters. When she arrived she couldn't help the fear that seeped into her bones. Half the building was on fire, beams had fallen; one smouldering pylon had landed across the door. 'No!' She said half under her breath as she stepped forward, the heat searing her skin. 'No, no, no, no,' she shook her head and ran towards the fire looking for a way through. 'Catherine! Can you hear me?!' She shouted desperately. Looking around and seeing no-one Amelie began to concentrate her mana, with a powerful blast she managed to remove the door and obstruction but she was thrown aside by the fire blowback as it billowed out the hole. She wheezed and gasped as the oxygen was ripped out her lungs, she couldn't hear anything but the overpowering roar and crackle of the flames. Shaking her head she shakily got to her feet only to be grabbed and pulled to one side by Aveline.

'What in the Maker's name are you doing here?' She yelled over the noise. She was breathing heavily and covered in blood. Leto came jogging up beside them as soon as he realised who Aveline had found. He cupped Amelie's face and began looking for injuries.

'You should not be down this part of town, you know what happens here!' Leto says to her shielding her from the heat with his body. 'We are simply trying to find survivors!'

'Catherine is in there!' Amelie said simply as she looked at Leto, 'I have to save her!' She explained.

'You can't! It's suicide!' The Guard captain shook her head and began to run to the stairs. 'I have to get to the Keep, don't be a hero, Amelie Hawke!' She called back as she ran. Aveline knew that she couldn't save everyone but she owed it to those she lost to save the majority, which meant that she had to get to the root of the problem. Amelie looked at Leto as she summoned her mana.

'I have to try,' she whispered knowing what it might mean. The elf sighed and nodded before kissing her lightly tasting the tears that ran down her cheeks. 'Please, Leto,' Amelie says looking at the fire that licked the sky. She was sure she was too late from the moment she got there but she had to try.

'I will be beside you,' he said softly as he hugged her tightly. Amelie nodded and wove a shield around them, it wouldn't stop the heat but it would prevent burning. Just as they started to enter the building Amelie heard her name being called. Her heart sank as she recognised the voice. Garrett. She paused for just a moment to look over her shoulder and she saw Hawke and Fenris, followed by Varric running towards them.

'Amelie! Don't!' Hawke shouted.

Amelie locked eyes with Fenris, she blinked away tears as she saw the terror cross his face. It all happened in seconds and she couldn't waste time. Ignoring her lover and alternate self she found Leto's hand searching for hers as they walked into hell itself. The pressure and smoke was stifling but they gripped each other tightly as they precariously wove their way through the alight wood and hissing coals that made the forge. Leto swore as a beam fell down beside them and sparks crackled and spat at them, worming their way through Amelie's barrier and stinging their bare skin. 'We have not got long! The building is coming down!' Leto bellowed over the cacophony. Amelie could do nothing but nod, her concentration focusing on keeping her shield up. Leather and metal screamed and shrieked in the heat as pre-made blades and sheaths began to curl in the heat. They continued on ducking under half a fallen arch, Amelie slipping on something that caused her to fall over. Her barrier flickered out of existence and for a brief moment she felt her skin bubble and the torturous inferno danced through her. Pain brought her back to her senses and seeing the grimace of pain across Leto's face made her work on instinct. She recreated her shield and gathering more power she summoned a cage of gravity, literally holding the building in place.

She glanced down at what she had slipped on. A hand. A burnt, half melted hand. 'Leto!' She screamed as she tried to move what was covering the rest of the body. He quickly made his way over and shoved the large cabinet to one side. Underneath was Damien, the Smith. His throat had been slit and he was half burnt. 'It's the Smith of this world,' Amelie explained, closing her eyes as she looks away from him. 'Catherine must have come this way!' She reached out with her mind. There was something there, which meant that she wasn't dead. There was hope yet, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and threw a spare at Leto who was also struggling. Amelie's mana was draining by the moment and exhaustion was setting in. 'You'll have to look, I can't...' she gasped. Leto nodded and began to search, he thought quickly. The safest place in a forge? Shelter? No, could become trapped. Then realisation hit him. The trough.

'Water trough!' Leto shouted. Large enough to hold several great swords and deep enough that a person could submerge themselves and have a good few inches to spare. Amelie jolted into action and they both scrambled over to the trough. Fire was close to the large container but the amount of water was keeping it cool, Amelie almost stuck her head underneath the water but she saw bubbles. Catherine had been coming up every few minutes to inhale as much air as possible before diving back under. It had been enough to keep her alive.

Catherine rose out the water like a swamp ghoul, her face streaked with blood from a head wound, her hair falling over her face in a dark veil. She gasped and coughed, 'Ami?' She stuttered, spitting water out her mouth as she saw her friend. 'Leto?' She shakily pulled herself out the trough. Leto grabbed her arm and pulled her up over his shoulders in a lift.

'Move!' He shouted simply. Amelie nodded and motioned for him to go first as they fought their way back through the blaze. 'Keep moving!' The elf encouraged as he saw the flickers across her barrier. Amelie was losing strength fast and things were going to go to hell quickly. Leto swore and shifted Catherine over the one shoulder before half picking up Ami around the waist. 'Amelie, I will not lose you,' he said in her ear, she nodded and gripped hold of his arm as they stumbled out the building. She could finally let her barrier and cage fall for good, within a few moments there was an avalanche of burning woo and shattered stone as the building disintegrated behind them. Amelie slumped to the floor, panting and coughing. She could hear voices but they were lost on her as she blacked out.

-x-

Amelie found herself sitting on a barstool. 'What the-?' She said as she looked around, she was in the Hanged Man. The place was deserted apart from a woman behind the bar facing away from her. Amelie stood up scraping her stool back across the floor with a horrid screech. She winced and swore under her breath, she looked over at the woman who had turned around.

'Hello again,' the woman said simply as she poured Amelie a glass of wine.

'You!' Amelie said in surprise as she realised who this person was. 'Flemeth! What? Where? Why am I here?' She said spinning around as she looked at the empty bar. 'Wait... there's no-one else here, there's always someone in the Hanged Man,' she said narrowing her eyes as she looks at the witch.

'Oh this isn't real,' Flemeth laughed. 'Though we have met here before,' she grinned.

Amelie slowly slid back into her seat and picked up her wine. This place wasn't real, which mean that she must be unconscious which meant that for the moment she was safe from the uprising. She had a slight concern about how much time was passing and if Catherine was okay but Flemeth hadn't presented herself as a threat before, and their deal was done years ago so for the moment Amelie could allow herself to relax. 'I didn't meet you here, I saw you on the mountain,' she said as she sipped the wine. 'Well this place definitely isn't real, this is actually drinkable and wouldn't be used as paint stripper,' Amelie said with a smile.

Flemeth started to laugh as she leaned on the bar. 'Oh dear girl, I do like you,' she chuckled. 'I am glad I helped you.'

'What do you mean?' Amelie asked curiously.

'Whom do you think it was that took you to your current reality?' The older woman smiled as she watched Amelie's expression change. 'You see, I thought who is this girl who insists on doing everything off her own back? Even when I asked you to take the amulet to the mountain you travelled up there on your own. Refused all your companion's help. The moment your family had entered Kirkwall you left to complete our deal,' she said as she ran her fingers over the top of the bar. 'I watched you for a few years, no matter how hard you tried or what you did, it just never went right,' she shook her head. 'You tried so hard, dear girl.'

Amelie looked away for a moment as she felt a tear drop down her cheek. 'I just... wasn't good enough...' she mumbled.

'Hah!' Flemeth said sharply as she slapped the table. 'Is that so?'

'Well you just said yourself that no matter what I did it wasn't good enough!' Amelie retorted, feeling a wave of anger rush through her. She wiped her cheek and sniffed as she calmed down, this wasn't the place to get worked up. 'I didn't recognise you in the bar. I'm guessing you gave Catherine and me the drinks,' she sighs as she twiddles the wine glass stem.

'It's called a glamour, child, any talented mage can create one. Even you,' she shrugs a shoulder.

'Why? Why did you do it?' Amelie asked.

'I was curious, plus I felt like you deserved to actually have a life. I don't do these things lightly,' Flemeth says as she walks around the bar and takes a stool opposite the young woman, she crosses her legs and flicks a bit of imaginary dust of her knee. 'You wished for everything to be different, so I moved you and your friend here. I thought you might acclimatise easier if you had someone and the Smith doesn't have any family. Well, she considers you family so that worked nicely. You seem to have slotted into this reality with ease. One thing does bother me though, you wanted everything to be different; so why are you letting everything become the same?' Flemeth states simply.

Amelie frowned. 'What... what do you mean? I can't interfere, I tried that once and I got Hadriana's slime ball bastard boyfriend after me,' she pulls a face.

Flemeth taps her nails on a coaster, she looked out the window and smiles to herself. 'Who said that you couldn't interfere?'

Amelie stuttered, 'it's... it's... well it's common knowledge. It's the whole step on an ant thing and you'll change the future.'

Amelie couldn't understand why the woman was laughing at her. 'Well it changes for the ant certainly. If you wish things to be different, make them different. You already have a lover don't you? Your friend has a lover as well, she seems happy.'

'Why did you bring Leto over?' Amelie asks as the thought hits her.

'I don't like loose ends. The man was driving himself insane. I thought that this way it would be much neater,' she explained.

Amelie leaned back against the bar and exhaled heavily as all the information hit her. 'I have one more question. Why? Why did you do all of this? It literally gives you no benefit. I just can't wrap my head around what you're getting out of this,' she says wishing that Catherine were here. She had this way of making people relax around her.

Flemeth reached over and brushed Amelie's hair out her face. 'You remind me of my daughter, Morrigan. So fiercely independent. I am allowed my frivolities in my old age,' she laughs. 'When you wake up, dear girl, remember this, you can change the whole damn world. Bring it to it's knees,' she smiles before clicking her fingers.

Well now you know how Amelie and Catherine got there :D