Note: Team Hawke reporting for duty…

Apologies for the lack of updates, I'm just not 'feeling' this story as much as I did Catastrophe, so it's proving that bit harder to write. Thanks for your patience!

A shiver ran through Hawke as she marched through the lower Deep Roads. The torch in her hand flickered, and she sighed, glancing between the pillars and archways. They had been met with quite the frosty reception in Orzammar, and it wouldn't stop playing on her mind. Experience taught her that dwarves—bar present company, of course—weren't a particularly friendly bunch, yet this seemed extreme, even for them. The mere mention of Corruption had earned her dark looks, and nobody had been willing to offer information; not even Varric's contacts, who seemed to have vanished into the Void.

In fact, had Anders not mentioned his Grey Warden status, they'd almost been barred from entering the Deep Roads at all. The dwarves were definitely keeping something under wraps, and Hawke was sure they were being followed, too. Perhaps coming via the thaig had not been as good an idea as she'd thought.

"It's far too quiet," Fenris muttered. His eyes darted around the shadows, and he kept clenching and unclenching his fist.

"Got that right, Broody." Varric held Bianca close, a bolt primed. "We're not far from the darkspawn reaches, and we haven't seen a single one."

"Maybe they've gone for a holiday?" Merrill supplied.

"More like Corruption's been sapping their numbers," Anders said. "It affects them the same as anyone else, probably more since it's right on top of them." His eyes flicked to his map. "In fact, the centre of the reaches is where the thickest concentration should lie."

"Great, I can't wait," Varric chimed.

"Hey, I'd take a blanket of Corruption over an army of dust monsters," Hawke countered. "If those things can take over demons, Maker knows what they'd turn a darkspawn into."

"They can possess demons?" Anders blinked. "Since when?"

"Since Corypheus added a few pinches of red lyrium to the mix," Hawke said. "Luckily, I've found out how to destroy them, so it's not all bad." Her jaw tensed, and a tingle ran through the rune on her forehead. "As many as that bastard makes, I'll tear them down just as fast."

"Lucky, indeed." Anders brushed his fingers over his cloak pocket, where the Tevene book lay. "It's even more fortunate you found Andraste's relic in the first place. Without that, we wouldn't stand a chance."

"Yeah, that was pretty impressive, even for me," Hawke admitted. "Although given what I've learned since, I don't think coming across it was as coincidental as it looked."

"Oh?" Varric raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

Hawke sighed. "I never really thought about it before, but I'm almost certain it was Zevran who tipped us off."

Varric's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"We were approached by a 'Warden' after we dealt with the Corruption beneath Ansburg," Fenris said. "He offered us a map that he claimed would lead to its source. Stroud seemed to trust him, so we took him at his word and thought nothing of it."

"I never got a clear look at his face," Hawke continued, "but his accent was definitely Antivan. And if Tevinter's Chantry couldn't find that relic with all their resources, I doubt anyone would've just stumbled onto it. This guy knew exactly what he was doing."

"But how would he have known its significance?" Anders asked. "As far as I've heard, Zevran travelled with the Hero of Ferelden, but he was only an assassin."

"Elissa tells me he's something more now," Hawke replied. "And from what he almost did to Lara, we don't want to cross paths if we can help it."

"You also realise Crow-Face gave the same lead to Sunshine and Grim?" Varric said.

"Yup, and that makes me wonder." Hawke chewed her lip. "Zevran wanted me there with Elissa, and I'll bet he was banking on Beth dragging Lara into it, too."

"Why though?" Anders pressed. "What made the three of you so important?"

"If I knew, we'd not be discussing it," Hawke said. "Apparently, Elissa needed the relic to regain her memories, and that's the key to everything. But so far nothing else has come of it."

"That's why Sunshine and Grim are on their own adventure, trying to find out," Varric added. "They sure have their work cut out for them."

"And so do we." Hawke tightened her grip around her torch. "Come on, that Corruption isn't going to dispel itself."

She strode faster, the halls stretching into empty silence. Yet despite her resolve, the pang in her chest had already taken hold, and she let out a breath. It never did take much for her to start thinking about Bethany, and the conversation had only stirred things further.

She swallowed, the ache between her ribs deepening. It was pathetic—they'd been through almost eight years of exile anyway—but no amount of time would make their ongoing separation any easier. Much as Hawke pretended otherwise, being apart from her sister had taken a huge toll, and she fervently prayed this would be the last time.

The passages began to broaden, and eventually they arrived at a chamber. Barricaded doors spanned the far end, and they were heralded by crumbling bridges. Hawke bit her lip, recognising the scratch marks and blood splatters. They'd come to the gates of the reaches. Yet the air was stale and silent, and nothing moved amid the lifeless stone.

"This can't be right." Anders stepped to the bridge edge, peering into the abyss. "It should be filled with darkspawn!"

"See, I told you they'd gone on holiday," Merrill insisted. "There's not a drop of Corruption here, either." She held out her hand, and a spark of Veilfire appeared. "See?"

"That's a point," Hawke murmured. "Though nothing to say both aren't deeper inside."

"I'm a little concerned we haven't found anyone," Varric commented, shuffling on his feet. "There's usually a Legion patrol prowling, and I didn't see any of them hanging around in Orzammar."

"They might be pressing the advantage Corruption has given," Fenris said. "I would surmise they too lie further within the ruins."

"Well, standing around talking won't tell us much," Anders said. "We should check it out."

Nodding, Hawke took the lead once more. The bridge groaned under her feet, sending a cascade of stones to the pit below. Varric made short work of the locks, and soon they were weaving between fallen pillars and half-gnawed corpses. Hawke gagged, the stench overpowering, and she fanned her nose with her hand. Some things she would never get used to.

"Ugh, couldn't Corruption find someplace nicer to hide?" Varric groaned, brushing grit from his sleeves. "Like in the middle of the countryside, where it doesn't smell like a Deep Stalker brought back every meal it's had for the last week…"

"You'd still find something to moan about," Fenris pointed out.

"Oh admit it, Broody, you've missed my whining," Varric answered, lightly punching the elf's shoulder. Fenris's lips twitched, forming a faint smile.

"Remember, it was either this or waltzing it up in Halamshiral," Hawke reminded him.

"True, but that doesn't…"

A sudden shriek cut the dwarf off. The party froze, and Hawke snatched a breath. The sound was faint, but unmistakably coming from ahead.

"That doesn't sound good," Anders muttered.

"Tell me about it." Hawke drew her dagger. "Watch yourselves."

She walked briskly, scanning the darkness. However, not ten paces down, she finally felt it. A heaviness around her chest, forcing her to take deeper breaths. Her Shard shimmered, and at the same moment, Merrill's Veilfire spluttered out.

"Maker's breath, it's everywhere." Fenris snatched out his broadsword. "I have never sensed so much Corruption in one location before."

"Yes, there's an awful lot," Merrill said, her nose twitching. "I wonder why we couldn't feel it earlier?"

"Something tells me we both want and don't want to find out," Varric said. "Least it means your map isn't too shabby, Blondie."

Another scream echoed, much closer, and Hawke gritted her teeth. The pressure around her ribs strengthened, and she winced, her Shard pulsing.

"Amber?" Fenris took her shoulder, but she shook it off.

"I'm good, really," she said. "We have to see what's happening!"

She broke into a jog, jumping over the rubble, and finally emerged above a ruined amphitheatre. Tall stone curved around chipped steps, and the inside swarmed with darkspawn. They howled and snapped, many sporting injuries or missing limbs, but that didn't stop them clawing for the two dwarves in the centre. The latter were only armed with a pickaxe and shovel, and one held her side, stemming a bleeding wound.

"We'd better give them a hand!" Hawke tossed her torch to Merrill. "Fenris, go!"

She bolted down the worn steps, pulling her second dagger free, and it sank into the first darkspawn's neck. It gurgled, crumpling, and she charged straight into the next one. Soon she found her rhythm, and the creatures swiftly fell beneath her merciless strikes. Fenris came at her heels, carving his own path through the hoard, and Varric hailed bolts from above. It was enough for the dwarves to renew their assault, and quickly the darkspawn found themselves outmatched.

At last, it was over. Fenris kicked aside a fallen genlock, and Hawke shook the blood from her daggers.

"Ah, that's more like it." She sheathed her weapons, turning to the dwarves. "Are you two alright?"

"We are, thanks to you," the first said, dropping his blood-soaked pickaxe. "Praise the Stone!"

"Mind telling us what happened?" Varric asked; he, Merrill and Anders had descended to join them. "It's not like miners to pick brawls with darkspawn."

"It was the Legion who threw us here!" the other dwarf spat, sitting on a lower step. Merrill knelt beside her, tending her wound. "Bastards have been throwing their weight around, and the King won't do a thing about it!"

"The Legion of the Dead?" Anders blinked. "That's odd. I've fought alongside them before, they seemed very honourable."

"They were, 'til someone started putting ideas in their thick skulls!" The female dwarf shook her head. "Since they found out about Stone-darkness, they've been obsessed. They've no clue what they're messing with!"

"Stone-darkness?" Hawke repeated. "You must be talking about Corruption."

"Not sure what you surfacers call it, but sure," the male dwarf said. "We've known about it for a long time, but recently it's been spreading, pushing the darkspawn into the lyrium mines. That's why we asked the Legion for help." He let out a breath. "Although it seems that's backfired quite spectacularly."

"This is insane." Anders kicked the ground. "The Legion are fools if they think they can control it…"

"That's exactly what Commander Volstock believes," the male dwarf went on. "He's been forcing us to work on ways to contain the blasted stuff." He ran his fingers through his beard. "My sister Nalda here came to bust me and a few others out. But the Legion cut through, and left the darkspawn to finish the job."

"This Commander sounds charming," Hawke chimed. "Thoughts, Varric?"

"First I've heard of this," Varric admitted. "The merchants' guild hasn't voiced any concerns about lyrium supplies, either."

"That's 'cause the Legion's got the carta involved, too," Nalda hissed. "Anyone who dares speak against Volstock 'disappears'. When I heard nothing from Rennar for so long, I had to fight to find out what was going on."

"Well this is just shit," Varric grumbled. "But I have to agree with Blondie, it's not like the Legion to act like this. The nobles, sure, but not them. They're not that power-hungry."

"So maybe someone's pulling strings we can't see," Hawke said, resting her hand on her hip. "Looks like it was worth swinging by this way."

"Just who are you guys, anyway?" Nalda asked. "Wardens, or something?"

"Sadly not," Hawke said. "Just friends passing through."

"Then you need to get clear, now," Nalda said. "If the Legion doesn't get you, the Taint will."

"I appreciate the concern, but don't worry, we'll be fine," Hawke answered. She gave a brief stretch. "My name's Hawke, by the way."

"Hawke, huh? I'll remember that," Rennar said, rubbing his chin. "Well, thanks again. We owe you."

"No problem," Hawke said. "But what you've said about the Legion concerns me. We need to look into this."

"Agreed, and I'd be happy to tell you what I can." Rennar pointed to the upper path. "If you take that west tunnel, you'll find one of the 'containment cages' Volstock's been making us build. The Legion don't patrol that side 'til later, so you should be alright."

"What's a containment cage?" Varric asked.

"It's easier if you see it for yourself," Rennar answered. "I don't know if you can do anything about them, but we've no allies anywhere else, and we're not in much condition to help. Sorry."

"It's fine, we'll see what we can do," Hawke said. "Can you make it back to Orzammar?"

"We should be fine, thanks to your elf friend," Nalda said, bowing at Merrill. "Stone protect you."

Rennar took his sister's arm across his shoulder, and they slowly limped out of the amphitheatre. Hawke sighed. She turned, taking the steps in the opposite direction. Once back on the path, she continued west. As the miner had said, another passage stood there, reinforced with stone supports.

"Looks new," Varric commented. "I hope we don't regret this."

"Think positive, Varric," Hawke said.

She strode inside, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. The tunnel twisted and turned, following an upward slope, and the vice-like tightness grew with every step. Hawke took a breath, and her Shard flickered, painful. Scowling, she pressed a palm to her forehead.

Maker, what's gotten into this thing?

"Amber, are you certain you're alright?" Fenris hovered by her side, his brow creased.

"Couldn't be better," Hawke replied, letting her arm drop.

"Don't lie," Fenris rumbled. "Your Shard is behaving strangely. Perhaps you should not…"

"I can handle it, Fenris," Hawke growled. "We've got better things to focus on."

She picked up her pace, severing the conversation. The rune continued to burn, and she bit her lip.

It's just a headache, get over it.

Gradually, the shadows began to lift. The light grew stronger, almost blinding, and Hawke had to squint. Her head was pounding, and it was all she could do to keep her concentration. Swallowing, she pushed herself the last of the way, into brilliance. Merrill and Anders gasped, and Hawke forced her eyes open. Yet nothing could have prepared her for the sight, and her jaw hung slack.

Giant lyrium veins filled the new chamber, stretching in all directions. They formed eight 'arches', which joined the ceiling like an enormous chandelier. Several walkways criss-crossed between them, not a single stone escaping the blueish glow.

And right below lay the biggest sea of Corruption Hawke had ever seen.

"Andraste's grace…" Her Shard throbbed, and she hissed. So much lyrium; no wonder she felt so terrible.

"Look." Merrill pointed to the undulating mist. "It's not corroding the stone!"

"Impossible…" Anders held out his hand, concentrating, but no spell came to being. "Yet it's still blocking our magic. How can that be?"

"The amount of lyrium in these walls…" Fenris shook his head. "This could not have formed naturally."

"Yeah, it's been filtered from the main reservoir, looks like," Varric said. "It seems to be holding back the Corruption, though."

"For now," Hawke scoffed. "One brick out of place, and it'll be unleashed in an unstoppable flood." She snapped her fingers. "That must be what Volstock's planning. Gather as much Corruption as he can in one place, then pull the cord. The darkspawn won't stand a chance, and neither will Orzammar."

"Forget Orzammar," Varric scoffed. "If this spills into the Deep Roads, it'll have a direct ticket to the surface, too. Then we'll really be in the shit."

Anders punched his fist into his palm.

"He truly is an idiot!" he spat. "He's that desperate to destroy the darkspawn that he'd doom all of Thedas? Even the Wardens would never go this far!"

"Well, too bad for him." Hawke ground her teeth, her rune coming to life. "I'm just going to have to rain on his parade."

"You have a plan?" Fenris asked.

"Same as usual," Hawke replied. "I'll make it up as I go along."

She made for the nearest walkway, trying not to stare at the abyss below. It had been awhile since she'd come this close to raw Corruption, and even without her headache, it sent chills down her spine. And one careless step would be the end of everything.

Merrill followed, and they halted at the first arch. The stone was overflowing with lyrium, and the pressure in Hawke's forehead flew to bursting. She grimaced, holding a hand to the shivering rune.

"The lyrium's hurting you, isn't it?" Merrill said.

"Hardly," Hawke murmured, the pulsations starting to make her dizzy. Maker, this was getting ridiculous.

"All the Shards react the same," Merrill countered. "But yours never used to…"

"So?" Hawke challenged. "I'll deal with it."

She tensed her jaw, Elissa's words of warning creeping through her mind. Her Shard was definitely playing up—perhaps dangerously so—yet she couldn't turn back now. It was her only weapon, and consequences be damned until she'd completed what she'd set out to do.

Except that was precisely the problem. Here she was, face to face with the threat she'd spent so long fighting, yet for every encounter, she'd barely taken any steps forward. They were still no closer to truly understanding Corruption, and that wasn't all. She'd failed to stop the Red Templars, she'd let Corypheus discover the dust monsters, and Lahara and the Inquisition had nearly paid the price for it. Shard or not, she might as well have spat in the wind, for all the good she'd managed.

Bitterness rose, and Hawke clenched her fist. It wasn't fair. So she could do a little party trick with people's thoughts; Lahara could bend the elements to her will, while Elissa could tear dust monsters apart with her bare hands. Both of them had proven worthy of their powers, while Hawke had been left in the dust.

Maker, why am I so useless?!

Snarling, Hawke lashed out. Her fist smashed into the lyrium arch, shattering the stone. A pulse of heat burst free, and her Shard flared. Hawke froze, her hand consumed with light. The cracks widened, bleeding lyrium into the pit below, and Merrill caught her breath.

"Amber, look!"

Hawke blinked, following the trail of sparkling droplets. It touched the Corruption, hissing, and the mist rippled. The wave shot downwards, for a split-second sundering the darkness. Hawke caught a glimpse of the floor, before the mist fell back on itself again. Her eyes widened.

"Maker's breath, did you just do what I think you did?" Anders scrambled, kneeling on the walkway edge. "You combined lyrium with Corruption and got them to disappear!"

"I did?" Hawke pulled her hand free, her fingers coated in the glowing liquid. It was warm, tingly against her skin, and her Shard quivered.

"Try it again!" Merrill encouraged. "But not from the vein, we'll use a smaller potion."

"Sure," Hawke said, fighting to keep excitement from her voice. No, it could have just been luck. She had to calm down.

Merrill fished in her pouch, pulling a bottle free. Hawke cupped her hands, and Merrill poured the contents between her palms. Again her Shard blazed, and she clenched her teeth, a shudder racing through her temples.

Suddenly the lyrium flashed white-hot. Hawke yelped, and she flung it into the ocean of Corruption, her palms burning.

The effect was instant. The lyrium sank like a stone, eating away the mist in its path. Once more a glimmer of floor appeared, until the darkness rolled to plug the gap.

"It works, it works!" Merrill danced on her tip-toes.

Hawke broke into a grin, but her triumph was short-lived. Searing pain slammed into her skull, and she dropped to her knees, a silent scream trapped in her throat. Then saliva flooded her mouth and she violently retched, coughing out dark bile. Her palms were on fire, peeling and raw, and she could barely breathe.

"Amber!" Merrill was at her side in an instant. Hawke barely acknowledged her, trembling. Another heave gripped her, and she spat out vile acid. Her vision swam, and it took all her willpower not to let the blackness take over.

"Amber, can you hear me?" Anders's voice, and another hand rested on her back.

Hawke managed a weak nod, the back of her neck clammy. She dug her fingers into her scalp, the rune throbbing like a venomous arrow-head. She had never known pain like this.

"Here, drink this." Something cool was pressed to her lips, but before Hawke could take a sip, heavy steps stormed. The vial was pulled back, and Anders cried out.

"You will not touch her!" Fenris barked.

"I'm trying to help!" Anders shot back. "I can't heal her with magic here!"

"And you'd give her a potion infused with yet more lyrium?" Fenris shoved Anders back. "Can't you see it's done enough damage? I will not have you poison her further!"

"Fenris…" Merrill began.

"You have no right to open you mouth, either!" Fenris snapped. "You saw the Shard was making Amber sick, yet you still pushed her…"

"Fenris!" Hawke's voice was hoarse, but sharp. "Shut…up!"

Groggy, she pushed Merrill aside, stumbling to her feet. Fenris tried to offer a hand, but she ignored him. Her head was spinning, and she gripped the lyrium pillar, desperate not to lose her balance. Catching her breath, she wiped her soiled mouth, reaching for her flask. Maker, was this what Elissa had felt when the Breach lost control…

Fenris glared, his eyes betraying his pain.

"You will not try that again," he ordered.

Hawke began to chuckle.

"C'mon…" She took a sip of water, the icy coolness soothing her burnt throat. "I've had worse hangovers after a night at the Hanged Man."

"Hawke, this isn't funny." Varric strode onto the walkway, his jaw tense. "Even I can see this isn't a good idea. You can't afford to mess around, not this time!"

"I'm not messing around!" Hawke snapped. Rage was enough to dull the pain, and she glowered. "You guys need to stop it, I know what I'm doing…"

"No you damn well don't!" Fenris grabbed her shoulders. "That tiny vial removed barely a drop of Corruption, and it's left you like this!" He gestured to her blistered hands. "If you use all the lyrium in this room the same way, it'll tear you apart!"

Hawke's eyes flared.

"I'm not asking permission!" She broke free, elbowing Fenris in the chest. Fenris snarled, and snatched her wrist. Hawke seethed, reaching for her dagger.

"Hey, hey, no need for that!" Varric pulled the two apart, keeping between them. "Listen Hawke, you need to cool it. Broody's got a point. We're playing with fire, and you're the one who's gonna get burned. We shouldn't rush into this without at least thinking about it…"

"I'm done thinking things over, Varric!" Hawke couldn't control herself. She threw her dagger to the ground, the inferno of pent-up frustration finally consuming her. "I'm tired of all the dead-ends and wasted effort and getting absolutely no-where!" She clenched her fists. "This is it, and you know it. I've finally found a way to destroy Corruption, and you're not going to stop me, even if I need every drop of lyrium in Thedas to do it!"

"Amber, do you hear what you're even saying?!" Anders spluttered. "You're not a mage, your body can't tolerate that much exposure. And it wouldn't just be Corruption you'd destroy; you'd erase the same amount of lyrium as well!"

Hawke let out a mirthless laugh. "Why so reluctant, Anders? I thought Corruption was a 'threat to all mages'?"

"Removing our source of mana along with it is hardly a solution!" Anders retorted. "There has to be another way!"

"It's too late for that," Hawke growled. "It's taken us years to get this far, and I won't keep going round in circles when there's an answer right in front of us!"

"And what about your sister?" Anders went on. "You'd destroy her magic, too? Endanger her without thought or reason?"

Hawke snatched his collar, her grip like knives.

"You have no right to make Bethany a scapegoat!" she snapped. "Were you there all those nights she cried in my arms, showing me where her magic had burned her? When she'd scream awake from a nightmare in the Fade? When I watched every morning as she prayed to the Maker, begging Him to take her powers away?" She threw Anders into the pillar. "The greatest wish she ever had was to be normal, so don't you dare try to use her to guilt me!"

"You're the one using her as an excuse!" Anders roared. "You can't sacrifice magic like this! I won't let you!"

"I knew it, you haven't changed at all," Hawke scoffed. "I should have dealt with you when I had the chance…"

"Amber, please, enough!" Merrill begged. "Corruption isn't worth your life, you don't need to do this!" Her eyes glistened. "I don't understand why you won't listen to us!"

"You're making no sense to me, either," Varric added. "What's happened to you?"

An ache pulsed through Hawke, and she bit her lip. The same ache that had been ripping her apart all these years, until there was almost nothing left. Tears began to creep, and she could barely hold them back.

"None of you get it, do you?" She looked away, her hands shaking. "Every time, every single time I've tried to set things straight, the Maker always throws it back in my face!" She dug her nails into her palm, setting the blisters bleeding, but that pain was nothing to what raged inside. "I couldn't protect Carver, or Mother. I had to watch Lothering crumble away, I lost Bethany to the Wardens, our family home fell apart, Kirkwall got destroyed; and nothing I ever did made a blind bit of difference!" Her voice cracked. "And then I set Corypheus free." Her eyes hardened, and the hurricane of flame reignited. "Thousands have had to pay the price for my mistakes, and you won't stop me getting it right for once!"

"Amber…"

"I won't be useless anymore!"

Hawke thrust out her hands, bringing her Shard's power to life. Fenris reached for his broadsword, but he was too slow. His gaze turned blank, and Varric dropped Bianca. Merrill and Anders also froze, completely under her thrall. Hot tears rolled down Hawke's cheeks, and she choked back a sob. She didn't care. Even if they were her friends, even if Bethany would hate her forever, she had to do this.

It was the only way…

Blind-siding pain suddenly hit the back of her shoulder, and Hawke screamed. She lost her hold, and fell to her knees. Warmth trickled down her spine, sticky and wet, the bolt in her skin sharper than any knife.

"Amber!" Merrill rushed to her, crouching protectively and checking her wound. Anders scanned the walkways, picking up Hawke's dagger, as Varric and Fenris reclaimed their weapons, returned to their senses.

A low laugh echoed, and the hairs on the back of Hawke's neck stood on end.

"So, the Shard-bearer would even turn against her friends to rid the threat of Corruption," a dark voice spoke. "How pathetic, indeed."

Hawke couldn't move, trapped with fear.

No…impossible…

Not him…

He can't…

He can't be here!

At last she forced herself to look up, only to find a crystallized visage staring down at her. Corypheus smirked, surrounded by ranks of Legion soldiers.

"You have put yourself on a fool's errand, child," Corypheus said. "And you will not best me again."