Note: And now back to the main attraction, Team Elissa!
Elissa let out a pathetic croak, the charge in Morrigan's staff gnawing at her Shard. The rune had turned numb again, and every breath sent painful ripples through her limbs. Morrigan's lip curled, and the muscles in her arm tensed.
"Morrigan, stop!" Alistair shifted Bethany to his left side, lunging for the apostate's ankle. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Morrigan hissed, kicking his hand away.
"How dare you!" Her amber eyes flared, and she bared her teeth. "Has that pretender enthralled you too, turning you against your own flesh and blood?!"
"I don't know what..." Alistair stopped short, his eyes widening. "Maker's breath, you mean the boy, he's..."
"I see you have still not learned when t'is wise to hold your tongue!" Morrigan growled, turning her staff on him. "I will not have anyone stand in my way, and if you try…"
"Morrigan." Elissa forced the name from her lips, pushing herself to a sitting position. The room spun, and she blinked, hard. "We're not…Megara hasn't…"
That name ignited Morrigan, and her hand darted. Moments later she had Elissa by the throat, her fingers clawing deep.
"Did she tempt you with the promise of your memories?" Her voice was colder than steel. "Is your desperation such that you would sacrifice a child to restore a past that holds nothing but misery and anguish?!"
"Morrigan, that's enough!"
The scrape of a drawn blade echoed, and Morrigan froze.
"Let go of Elissa and just listen!" Alistair growled, his sword against her back. "We're not with the cultists, and we don't want to harm your…our son, either! In fact we just tried to free him!"
Morrigan's breath caught. For a long while everything fell still, until finally the pressure around Elissa's throat vanished. Elissa coughed, slumping against the wall. She grasped her Shard, which continued to flicker beneath her shirt. Maker, would it ever stop hurting…
Morrigan stared, the rage behind her eyes suddenly tempered.
"You called her Elissa…" She shook her head, fighting the disbelief threatening to spread. "Then…you broke my spell."
Elissa could only nod, swallowing the bile souring her lips. Weak as she was, she didn't miss the edge in Morrigan's tone, nor how the apostate gawked at her Shard. And there was no way this meeting had been a coincidence.
How did she get caught up in this?
At last Morrigan sighed, and she let her shoulders slump.
"It seems much has transpired since last we met." Her tone was cooler, almost conceding. "You need not threaten me, Alistair. I will not harm her." She bit back the tremor in her lip. "Kieran has been missing for several days, and it has been no small effort to find him again. I cannot rest 'til he is safe."
Alistair nodded, withdrawing his blade.
"Never thought I'd hear those words from your lips," he muttered, re-sheathing his sword. "But what in the Maker's name is going on? What do these crazies want with your…our boy?"
Morrigan opened her mouth to answer, when a rumble shook the chamber. Broken stones pattered through the gap in the ceiling, and her brow creased.
"T'is not safe to speak such things here," she said. "An exchange of information, however, would be prudent. I shall secure this room, and we will talk further."
She walked to the barred door, raising her hand and muttering under her breath. Elissa hissed, the rune on her chest buzzing as a fresh ward came into being. The glow spread, consuming the walls and ceiling, and Morrigan turned back to the Eluvian.
"Follow me," she said, "else the magic will only unsettle you again."
She brushed her fingers over the mirror, bringing it to life. In the same instant Elissa gagged, the nausea sweeping back in full force. Wincing, she pushed herself towards the dancing swirl of light. Alistair followed, the unconscious Bethany in his arms, and together they stepped through.
A wave of dizziness flooded Elissa, and she was blinded with colour. For a moment she thought her legs would give way, when harsh light broke through. It burned away the sickness, and then solid ground returned beneath her feet.
Blinking away tears, Elissa raised her head. They were no longer underground. A fine mist hung over a hilly landscape, blanketing strange-shaped trees and long-forgotten ruins. Wolf statues lined the horizon, and flecks of grass fought against the crumbled floor tiles. It was unlike any place Elissa had seen, not quite of Thedas, yet not quite of the Fade, either. It was firm and solid and real, but an uncanny familiarity sent a chill down her spine.
I've been here before?
But that's not possible…
As Elissa's eyes grew used to the greyish atmosphere, she began to pick out other features. Criss-crossing aqueducts, bridges and towers, along with many, many more mirrors. Dozens, no, hundreds of them, scattered throughout like ancient gravestones of glass. Most were broken, their fragile shards glistening on the ground, but some remained intact, their panes shimmering.
"What is this place?" Elissa asked, absently rubbing the rune on her chest. At least that seemed to have calmed a little.
"If it has a true name, t'is long lost," Morrigan said, sitting on a jutting step. "I have come to call it the Crossroads. T'was the place the ancient elves created to traverse Thedas, and I have become very familiar with it."
Elissa nodded. She turned to Alistair, who had laid Bethany down and was raising her legs. It wasn't long before the mage blinked back to wakefulness, and she screwed her eyes tight, grimacing. Thank the Maker, she would be alright.
"So, you must tell me what brought you here, if your memories are already restored," Morrigan said, holding a finger to her chin. "Although I suspect that in itself might be the reason."
"You could say that," Elissa answered, wary.
Morrigan's eyes turned sharp.
"You are wise to be cautious, old friend, but let me assure you, the interest I hold in the Shards of Andraste is purely academic," she said. "In fact, had I not seen that rune with my own eyes, I would remain sceptical they had even been freed."
Elissa's eyes narrowed.
"You know about the Shards?"
"Of course," Morrigan stated flatly. "A portent, almost mythical relic consigned to the wastes of the past, thanks to Tevinter's complacency. T'was something my mother mentioned on occasion."
"Then you lied to me!" Elissa barked. "You said you didn't know of any power that would remove your fugue!" She strode forward, her fists clenched. "Why in the Maker's name did you…"
"Because I also knew that every attempt to unlock their power resulted in death," Morrigan cut in. "You were not the first to have come across them, and I did not want to tempt fate. Thus, t'was not an avenue I considered fruitful."
"Yet I'm still standing here," Elissa muttered, folding her arms.
"You very nearly weren't," Alistair reminded, and Elissa winced. "Don't forget that."
"I truly did not know they would be to your benefit, Elissa," Morrigan answered. "Just as I did not know if I had witnessed your final breaths that eve." She bowed her head. "Perhaps I acted in haste, but t'was all I had to offer, and I wished your last moments to be peaceful."
Elissa sighed, her gaze softening. For all the heartache Morrigan's spell had caused, she had still saved her life, in more ways than one. It was thanks to Kieran the final blow to the Archdemon hadn't killed her, and Morrigan's swift actions had allowed her to cling to life after those horrific injuries. She could not begrudge her for wanting to protect her from the Shards, too.
"I won't be able to repay that debt," Elissa said quietly. "You will always have my thanks, Morrigan. But if you know more about these Shards, then you must tell me. You of all people know the dangers of wielding a power blind, and these cultists are prodding too close for my liking." She stood tall, squaring her shoulders. "In return, I'll do everything I can to see Kieran safe."
A smile creased Morrigan's lips.
"You have not changed, my friend, and I am glad," she said. "Alas, I admit I know little else about the Shards. But what I have, I will share, once my son is back by my side."
"Of course," Elissa stated. "Any idea as to what they want him for?"
Morrigan's scowl redoubled.
"I have no proof to my inklings," she answered, "yet there are a few things you must know about the 'Children of Andraste'. Perhaps then you will forgive my reaction when I discovered your presence."
"That doesn't sound good," Alistair mumbled.
"This 'Megara'," Morrigan practically spat the name, "has knowledge of a power I believed only Flemeth knew." She looked Elissa square in the eye. "She knows about soul transfer, and has been gathering her forces to this end. One even dared approach me, so I have been watching them in turn. I had not worried too much, for it seemed they lacked an essential ingredient, until recently." She clenched her jaw. "I would never have thought them so bold, but they confronted me directly. By the time I realised their intent, Kieran had been taken." She bit her lip. "I was a careless, careless fool."
Alistair exchanged a worried glance with Elissa.
"No way," he said. "That must mean…"
"…Megara wants the old god's soul?" Elissa finished.
"T'is the only explanation," Morrigan said. "And since only you both knew of this outside myself, what conclusion would I draw, finding you in the same place?"
"I see," Elissa murmured. It seemed this ran deeper than she thought.
"Um…" Bethany's voice was hesitant, and she rubbed the back of her neck. "What exactly are you all talking about?"
"We'll explain later," Alistair answered. "More important right now is to get Kieran back, whatever it takes."
"For once, I will not argue with you," Morrigan said. "Now, what can you tell me of the ruins…"
Elissa slipped through the shadows, following Morrigan through the bleak corridor. Alistair brought up the rear, his jaw set. The Eluvian chamber remained behind them, with Bethany standing guard inside. Elissa hadn't been keen to leave the mage alone, but it was the only way to ensure their escape, and Bethany still had to recover fully. Nonetheless, Elissa promised herself she would make this quick.
Flustered voices murmured ahead, and Elissa clutched her dagger tighter. The cultists had been spread out thin—Bethany's spell had done a lot of damage—but the collapse of the upper floor had limited their own route, too. No doubt Kieran would have been placed under heavier guard, as well, but they would worry about that later. First they had to find the keystone, and Morrigan had that underway.
For a while they walked in silence, until Morrigan raised her hand.
"The keystone is in the last room down this hall," she informed. "Be ready."
Elissa nodded, drawing her sword. Slowly, they edged further down the passage, weaving around rubble and debris. At last the doorway came in sight, and Elissa pressed herself against the wall. A glimpse revealed a familiar guard inside, along with several others. They were gathered around a sarcophagus, their backs turned. Elissa caught Alistair's eye, and he gave a firm nod. Morrigan set her staff tip ablaze, then led the charge.
The guards started, but their cries dried on their lips as Morrigan's spell hit. Time seemed to stop, allowing Elissa and Alistair to cut through the ranks. Helpless, the cultists fell one by one, unable to even call out. Elissa scowled, kicking the last one off her soiled blade. Her Shard purred, sensitive to the lingering magic as she searched the bodies. A polished obsidian crystal hung around the lead guard's neck, and she snapped it off its chain.
"Is this it?" She handed the stone to Morrigan, who rolled it between her fingers.
"Yes," Morrigan said, chewing her lip. "T'is a powerful spell indeed, one that will take time to unravel, but at least Kieran will not be bound to this place. I will remove it once he is safe."
"Where are we going to find him, then?" Alistair asked.
Morrigan closed her eyes, concentrating. A tense silence followed, until her eyelids opened once more.
"He is in a chamber below us," she stated. "I imagine he will be heavily guarded, however. My time-break magic will not work on so many."
Alistair ground his teeth. "Then you're going to need a distraction."
"Alistair…" Elissa began.
"No argument this time," Alistair interrupted. "It doesn't matter what happens to me, so long as Kieran walks free."
"I am not sure they would fall for such a ploy," Morrigan admitted.
"It's our only option," Alistair pressed. "Besides, they won't know we have the keystone, and will assume Kieran can't move anyway. We'll make this work, I swear."
Morrigan sighed.
"Very well, then," she conceded. "Follow me."
Abandoning the corpses, she stepped back into the passageway, making for the west corridor. Elissa slowed her breathing, mindful of the slightest disturbances. They had done well so far, but a mistake now could cost them everything.
Yet something else was nagging her, too. Not everything Morrigan assumed was adding up, and she wasn't sure what to think. After all, if the Archdemon's soul was truly Megara's goal, then surely she would have seized it the instant Kieran was in her grasp. It also didn't explain why her underlings had been at the Shard temple, nor the so-called prophecy that had led them to experiment with the women.
Something's still missing…
Elissa's foreboding only deepened once they descended to lower ground. The new passage was curved, wrapping around a large chamber; perhaps the sanctum. The sight made Elissa's pulse quicken, and she crept between the spirals of dark and light, wary. As they neared, closed double doors appeared, defended by more cultists. Some bore swords as well as staffs, which made Elissa's heart sink further.
"Far too many, and there must be more inside," Morrigan whispered, taking cover behind some rubble. "Alistair, we cannot go through with this."
"So what do we do then?" Alistair hissed. "Ask them to kindly discuss things over tea?"
"There's still a way," Elissa murmured, an idea catching her. "But I'm going to have to be the distraction."
"No, I won't let you!" Alistair took her arm. "If they get their hands on you…"
"You said we had no choice," Elissa retorted, shaking him off. "We don't have time to think of anything else."
"Agreed, though I dislike putting you at such risk," Morrigan said. "What do you propose?"
"Wait here, and when there's an opening, take the chance," Elissa said simply. "Don't worry about me."
She didn't wait for an answer and boldly stepped into the light. It wasn't long before she was noticed, and the guards bellowed.
"The intruder!" They charged their weapons, holding their ground. It took all of Elissa's willpower not to scramble, and she bit back her wince as her Shard flared to life. The glow was unmistakable, and it had exactly the effect she had been hoping.
The cultists stopped dead, and not one could tear their gaze from the rune.
"You…" one uttered, finding her voice. "You're…"
"Yes," Elissa spoke. "I'm the usurper." She spread her arms. "So come and get me!"
The words had barely escaped her lips when she bolted, knowing the bait was too tempting. Sure enough, the hairs on the back of her neck prickled, and footsteps rushed in a mad flurry.
"Do not let her escape!"
Elissa sprinted faster, retracing her steps to the floor above. Her Shard thrummed, excited by the gathering magic. Seconds later a fireball flew past her shoulder, striking the wall and showering her in embers. Ignoring the pinpricks of heat, she scrambled to the next passage, recalling the path to the pool chamber. She had to keep them as far from the Eluvian as possible.
Another lightning spark, scorching the bricks, but Elissa didn't look back. Twisting east, then north, then up a staircase, across a broken landing, then down once more, and finally she found the room. It remained unchanged, and she bounded for the gnarled roots. It was easy to find footholds in the bark, and soon she'd scaled her way through the gap in the ceiling. She emerged into dense woodland, the scent of pines and petrichor washing away the dusty staleness. Catching her breath, Elissa drew her blades, and waited.
Minutes later, a cultist's hand poked through, and she lost no time dealing the first blow. He screamed, falling and taking several of his comrades with him. Still their attempts did not let up, but then neither did Elissa's. She whittled through their numbers as they were forced through the bottleneck, until one set the oak on fire. Elissa flinched, the flames bringing a flush to her cheeks, and she backed away, the old wood crumbling to ashes.
Yet as it dissipated, so did the onslaught. Elissa swallowed, peering through the hole, to find the chamber deserted. She swore; they must have gone back to the sanctum. And now she had no way back inside.
Sheathing her bloodied sword, Elissa jogged into the trees, mapping a route in her head. The forest was formless, every trail appearing the same as the one before it, but at last she picked out the rotting houses of Stonewar again. From there the Chantry's broken spire stood out, and she dashed inside, slipping through the hall and back through the trapdoor. She squeezed past the narrow rocks, her only thought to reach the Eluvian. She hoped she had bought Morrigan and Alistair enough time.
The sealed doorway couldn't appear soon enough, and Elissa was almost thankful for the return of her nausea. Clasping her Shard, she halted at the bars, ramming her fist against the stone.
"Beth, it's me, open up!"
The iron bars slid back, and Bethany opened the door, her staff charged.
"Thank the Maker, you're okay!" She let her spell dissipate. "Where's everyone else?"
Elissa opened her mouth to speak, when thumping steps thundered from the passage. Her hand flew to her sword, but then she caught the sparkle of armour, along with harsh wheezes.
At last Alistair broke from the shadows, drenched in sweat, and in his arms he clutched Kieran. The Warden-Commander sported a burn to his neck and his shield was missing, but otherwise he appeared unhurt.
"Get through, now!" he roared.
Bethany clenched her jaw, running to the Eluvian. She plunged through the rippling light, Alistair and Kieran right behind, and Elissa jumped after them. She staggered, her vision swimming in the colourful void, when Bethany took her shoulder. They landed back onto solid ground, and the mage smiled, relieved.
Alistair released Kieran, before promptly collapsing, breathing as if all the air in Thedas could not quench him. Bethany hurried to his side, while Kieran sat on a step, rubbing his eyes. The shackles remained on his wrists, but their runes were dull and lifeless.
"Are you alright?" Elissa asked, crouching beside him.
"Y-Yes," Kieran answered, lowering his hands. His eyes shimmered. "Thank you."
Elissa nodded, turning back to the Eluvian. The kaleidoscope of iridescence continued to bubble, but otherwise nothing changed. The minutes began to tick, and she tensed.
"Where's Morrigan?"
Alistair pulled himself upright, still gasping.
"She's not here yet?" He raised a brow. "But she was literally right behind me…"
Heart in her mouth, Elissa watched the Eluvian, but there was no sign of the dark-haired apostate. Another minute, another minute; still nothing.
"Damn it, something's happened!" Elissa swore. "I have to look for her!"
"You can't!" Bethany protested. "I'll go, I can…"
"You need to keep the Eluvian open, and Alistair's too exhausted," Elissa argued. "I'll be right back, trust me!"
"Elissa, wait!"
Bethany tried to grab her, but Elissa was too quick. She leapt into the portal, and her nausea erupted all over again. She forced herself to swallow the bile, her head spinning, and then she was back in the ruined chamber. Disorientated, she had to lean against the wall, unable to stop herself retching. Her sickness was getting worse, and it took most of her strength to remain on her feet.
Spitting out saliva, Elissa pushed herself onward, into the main corridor. A horrible taste filled her mouth, and she coughed. It didn't matter how awful she felt; she had to find Morrigan. She could endure one more trip through the mirror…
I have to.
She broke into a jog, checking through every room. Each step jarred the rune on her chest, and she pressed her palm against it, wanting to throw up there and then. Ugh, come on, this was nothing. If she had managed to beat a Pride demon in such a state, this was hardly any more difficult.
Blindly Elissa wandered, unsure where to search, when Morrigan's scream shattered the quiet. It was coming a few rooms to the east. Elissa snatched her sword free, hurrying towards the source. She wound through the chipped bricks and dead ivy, her brow clammy. She was nearby, she was sure of it.
At last she found Morrigan; she was in a side room, pinned against a wall and surrounded by several cultists. Her staff lay broken at her feet, and her face was bloody.
Hot rage burst through Elissa, and she yelled, sword held high. Swiftly the blade tasted flesh, splattering blood everywhere. Morrigan dropped to her knees as Elissa continued, mercilessly ripping through any who came too close. More mana tainted the air, poisoning her Shard, and Elissa stumbled, caught by a sudden retch. It was enough to provide an opening, and she screamed as icy metal sank into the back of her leg.
"Elissa!" Morrigan grabbed a fallen staff, shooting a blast of frozen air. The cultist cried out, encased in a block of ice, and Elissa finished him off. Her sword cleaved through his torso, shattering it like glass. He crumpled, and Elissa almost did the same, her energy spent. Morrigan was just quick enough to catch her.
"Hurry, we must escape!" The apostate pulled her to her feet, and Elissa howled, her leg a burning wreck. Blood was trickling thickly, soaking into her boot, and her vision was clouding. Morrigan hissed, draping Elissa's arm across her shoulders. Elissa managed a hobble, desperate not to be sick.
"Get…to Kieran…" she muttered, trying to push Morrigan away. "I'll…catch up…"
"Do not let delirium rule your judgement," Morrigan chided. "I will not abandon you, Elissa. Hold a moment, I must stem the blood loss."
She crouched, touching Elissa's wound with her borrowed staff. Elissa yelped, her leg stinging, the scent of burning flesh soiling her nostrils. Morrigan clenched her jaw, taking Elissa's arm again and picking up their pace. Elissa winced, struggling to keep up.
"I am sorry," Morrigan said, "but I have not the mana to heal you properly. We must get…"
"There they are, stop them!"
A flash of lightning streamed from the passage, and Elissa shoved Morrigan into the wall. The bolt missed, but barely, and the rune on her chest rumbled, for a moment numbing the pain. Morrigan bared her teeth, throwing a barrier to block their pursuers. She grabbed the back of Elissa's shirt.
"Just run!" she shrieked.
She bolted, and Elissa chased after, not caring as the wound re-opened and flooded her calf once more. Lightning and fire danced around her, and her leg shuddered every time she put weight through, but adrenaline was enough to keep pain a distant memory. It did nothing for her sickness, however, and every spell was like a blow to her stomach, filling her mouth with bile.
They rounded the corner, just as a spear of ice shattered in front of Elissa. Her foot caught on the shards, and she tripped. She managed to catch herself on her hands, hoping to scramble back, when a ripple shivered around her. Suddenly her limbs fell dead, a vice-like band snared her chest, and then her Shard burst into agony.
Elissa screeched, as if hundreds of flamed daggers had torn through her. She couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't breathe. Next she knew, the cultists were onto her like a swarm of ants. Her arms were yanked back, bound together with rough cords, and she was thrown to the ground. That was too much, and she finally vomited, the taste of blood sour and vile. Still the rune was a venomous arrow, burning, roaring, rushing through her veins like a boiling cascade.
No…no!
"Forget the witch, we have the usurper!" an apostate snarled, kicking her in the ribs. A flash of memory gripped Elissa—the dark fortress, Cauthrien's merciless assault—but she was hauled to her feet before it would unfold. Her leg cried out, but all she could manage was a pathetic whimper.
Another savage elbow to the side, knocking her breath, and then she was dragged down the corridor. She couldn't walk, and her heels scraped the floor tiles, catching every loose stone and torn vine. Not a single part of her could recall anything but pain and pressure, so it was a shock when she was thrown onto icy stone. Someone pulled her arms apart, and the jingle of chains rang through her ears. Cold, heavy iron adorned her wrists, and then she was left to hang, her own weight more than enough to send her back and shoulders screaming.
Soft chuckling echoed, followed by clacking footfalls. A shadow paused over Elissa, but she couldn't look up. All she could see was the blade of a mage's staff, and fur-lined boots.
"Well, it's about time."
Megara's suave voice broke through, and gnarled fingers wrapped around Elissa's cheek. Her head was tilted upwards, and brilliant amber eyes shone back, almost cat-like. An amethyst dangled around her neck, glowing with power. Elissa froze, and Megara's smile widened.
"It's good to see you again," she purred, "Sixteen."