Note: Time to go underground again and see what's happening with Team Hawke…
Remember I said things were going to get dark? Well…don't say I didn't warn you…
A shiver ran through Hawke, and her fingers bunched into a fist as several Legionnaires surrounded them. Fenris and Anders braced their weapons, standing shoulder to shoulder, while Merrill bit back her trembling. The bolt in Hawke's shoulder burned, and she hissed.
This couldn't be real.
"Truly, how does a relic of such power choose such weaklings to wield them?" Corypheus rumbled, his eyes intent on Hawke's forehead. He clenched his fist, the red lyrium crystals glowing. "That shall soon be rectified."
"Us 'weaklings' can still kill bastards like you!" Varric snarled, his finger locked on Bianca's trigger. "We've done it before, and we won't mess up this time!"
"Watch your tongue, you sun-touched son of a bitch!" growled a Legionnaire, angling his own crossbow at him.
"What the hell's gotten into you guys?!" Varric spluttered. "You're working for the magister who's the reason we have darkspawn!"
"You understand nothing." Another dwarf stepped forward, sporting a black beard and the Commander's tattoos; Volstock. "For centuries we've fought to reclaim what we've lost, and every day we're pushed further and further back. Now, thanks to Corypheus, we have a means to end it, once and for all." He raised his sword. "Now surrender."
"Never!" Anders growled. "Even the Wardens wouldn't condone this!"
"Your so-called Grey Wardens are weak, fearful of their true potential," Corypheus spat. "As are you, Shard-Bearer." His eyes flashed. "You will relinquish it to me, now."
Hawke bared her teeth.
"You want my Shard, Corypheus?" A dark smile spread across her lips. "Then you'll have to carve it out of my dead skull!"
She sprang, the pain in her back forgotten, and flung out her hand. Her Shard burst into light, and the surrounding Legionnaires cried out, clamping their palms to their faces. Hawke didn't let up, breaking through their mental barriers, making them relive every horrific memory of the Deep Roads as if it were happening this very moment.
Yelling, Fenris charged, cleaving through the distracted ranks. Anders was right behind, swinging his staff like a polearm, and the soldiers scattered, falling to a broadsword or knocked into the Corruption below.
As they made to regroup, Corypheus roared, unsheathing a sword. He seemed immune to her power, so Hawke backed away, drawing her remaining dagger. Her shoulder throbbed, but she knew better than to tear out the bolt.
"That Shard will be mine!" The magister lunged, and Hawke dodged, the blade skimming the air. That was enough for Varric, who unleashed a volley of bolts. Corypheus snarled, stumbling back, and Hawke leapt, landing a savage kick. The impact sent him dangerously close to the edge, but he was able to right himself before he would fall.
Hawke scowled, bracing her dagger as Volstock took point. He raised his shield, his sword-arm tensed.
"You're an idiot, Volstock," Hawke scoffed. "You really think Corypheus will keep his word? He'll only enslave you instead!"
Volstock snarled in answer, charging. Hawke caught the blow with her blade and twisted the Commander's sword aside. She kicked her knee up, cracking his elbow, before grabbing his chest-plate and throwing him over her head. The bolt in her back shrieked, and she howled, grasping her shoulder. Volstock groaned, slamming into the ground and dropping his blade, which Merrill kicked over the walkway.
"Amber, we can't fight them all!" Anders had retreated to the lyrium vein, his staff broken, his cloak stained with blood.
"No!" Hawke stood her ground, blotting out the pain. "We're not leaving 'til he's…"
"Watch out!"
Fenris bolted, pulling Hawke into his arms as he tackled her to the ground. Hawke yelped, her back on fire as the bolt lodged deeper. Not a moment after, the chamber shook. The groan of stone giving way filled Hawke's ears, and the ceiling shuddered. The lyrium arches trembled, but Fenris was already back on his feet, dragging Hawke behind him. Despite the agony in her spine, Hawke scrambled, stumbling as debris rained down.
They had just left the bridge when a chuck of roof slammed down. The walkway screamed, buckling from the weight. The howls of Legionnaires unlucky enough to be caught shortly followed. Volstock swore, jumping onto a lyrium arch, as did several of his companions. Corypheus hissed, retreating to the entrance passage, right as a boulder crashed down, sealing him off.
Eventually the tremors ceased, and Hawke grimaced. She rubbed her stinging shoulder, glancing over the ruins. Volstock and his men were trapped on the upper path, and there was no way to reach the other side. No way to reach Corypheus and finish the job she'd so miserably failed.
But it was more than that that made her gawk. With the arches broken, the Corruption had become agitated. It bubbled and frothed, eating into the veins, and the lyrium began to crystalize, like a poison spreading inside.
"Oh no!" Merrill held her hands to her chest. "The Corruption, it's…"
Soft chuckling echoed from above, cutting her off. Bemused, Hawke raised her head. Her eyes widened. A tall figure stood atop the single intact archway, surveying the chaos. His silver-blonde hair gleamed in the light, revealing a tattoo on his face. He had a dagger embedded in a lyrium vein, and he removed it, the blade glistening.
"Sorry for cutting in," Zevran said, grinning. "But you looked like you could use a hand."
The rune on Hawke's forehead sparked. Snarling, she snapped up her dagger.
"Get lost, Zevran!" she hissed. "Don't come any closer!"
"Aw, you wound me, Champion," Zevran answered. Ignoring her warning, he jumped, landing on the path beside them. Hawke held her ground, her teeth bared. Zevran simply folded his arms, tilting his head to one side.
"I know what you must think," he went on, "but what happened with the Herald was an accident, a miscalculation, if you will. I promise I will not be so careless again."
"You think I'm going to buy that crap?" Hawke scoffed. "Look at what you've just done!"
"You've turned this place into a death trap!" Anders snarled. "If Corruption breaks into the Deep Roads, nothing will be able to stop it!"
"I am well aware," Zevran answered calmly. "But I did not act without thought, as you believe. I could not let Corypheus take your Shard, and so I loosened the lid on this cage. All that needs be done is to tighten it again."
"And so Amber has to risk her life?" Merrill's voice was sharp. "You're not playing fair!"
"There is no such threat," Zevran stated. "All it requires is a rechannelling of lyrium in the next cage back here." He gestured to the far wall, where one of the arches ran straight into the rock. "A simple enough feat with your power, my dear. All you need to do is command the lyrium where you choose."
"No." Hawke clenched her fist. "I'm not going to just contain it. Not when I can do more."
"You will not." Fenris clamped her wrist. "You can't risk yourself, not when Corypheus is close enough to take advantage!"
"That's precisely why I have to do this now!" Hawke barked, shaking him off. "If he makes an army of dust monsters, he'll be unstoppable!"
"Amber…"
A cry from the adjacent path interrupted; reinforcement Legionnaires were emerging from the passage, heading straight for them. Volstock and his surviving men were also navigating the fallen arches, the Corruption edging higher and higher.
"We should continue such pleasantries later," Zevran said, dropping into a defensive stance. "Do as you will, my friend. Accommodate or eradicate, but do not leave this unattended. I will buy you time."
"They will not get past me, either," Fenris declared.
"I'll back you up, too," Varric added.
Hawke felt a prickle in her chest. The Corruption was spreading too fast; she wouldn't have time to erase it before it caught them.
"But…"
"Blondie, Daisy, keep our hot-head from doing anything stupid," Varric went on, reloading.
"Make the right choice, Amber," Fenris said. "For all our sake's."
Before Hawke could argue further, a crossbow bolt flew past, striking the wall.
"Damn it," she muttered, "you'd both better stay alive!"
She broke into a run, Anders and Merrill on her heels. Every step jarred her shoulder, and she bit her lip, nausea never far away. Her muscles sang with exhaustion, and she shook her head. Eradicating Corruption would take too long, and when she had no guarantee it would remove the mist she was leaving behind…
Alright, guys.
You win.
The next containment cage appeared, almost identical to the previous one. This held six lyrium arches, towering above another pit of Corruption. Two arches were also joined to the walls, forming a more complex bridging system.
"That vein, it must be linked to the other chamber," Anders pointed out. "Hurry!"
Nodding, Hawke made to climb the arch. Before she touched the first stone, however, Merrill gripped her hand. Her eyes were glistening.
"Please, Amber," she said softly. "We love you. I don't…I don't want to lose…"
"It's alright, Merrill." Hawke squeezed her fingers. "I'll fix this, I promise."
She hauled herself up the pillar, then jogged to the bulging vein. Taking a breath, she twisted her fingers inside, the liquid tingling against her skin. Her Shard flared with warmth, and she closed her eyes, picturing the vein. She urged it to change direction, and the vein pulsed, seeming to respond to her thoughts.
Merrill gasped, and Hawke opened her eyes. The left side of the arch had turned dull, while the right was now bathed in brilliance. It shimmered, streaming towards the previous cage. As the lyrium seeped deeper into the stone, however, Hawke's Shard flared. Wincing, she held her forehead, her palm buzzing.
"Yes, I think you did it!" Anders said.
"And the Corruption here isn't changing, either," Merrill added. "That was close."
Hawke nodded, a cool sweat settling on the back of her neck. Her first thought was to return to the others, when a throbbing shriek echoed through her temples. She cried out, clamping her palms to her face. A wave of dizziness followed, and she stumbled. But there was no ground to catch her, and she yelped, falling.
At the last second a hand grabbed her wrist, and her injured shoulder howled, almost torn from its socket.
"Anders, help!" Merrill struggled to keep her grip, as Anders came running. He hooked his hands under Hawke, and she groaned. She clawed at the stone, trying to regain footing, when a bellow rocked from below. Bolts flew upward, and Merrill screamed, blood spraying from her arm. Anders yelled, his hold jarred, and another flurry of projectiles sent both him and Hawke tumbling.
They spiralled through the empty air, slamming into the lower arch. The shock tore the breath from Hawke's lungs, and she lay on her front, her temple trickling blood. Anders groaned, holding his leg.
Fighting through pain, nausea, exhaustion, Hawke forced herself onto all fours. The glow of lyrium hurt her eyes, and the chamber swirled, losing form. She coughed, wanting to be sick again, when armoured steps approached.
"Give up." Volstock's voice broke through the haze. "Or I'll throw them into the Stone-darkness."
Hawke squinted, trying to focus through the spots of shadow. When clarity returned, her breath caught. Varric and Fenris were on their knees, beaten and bloodied.
And there was no sign of Zevran.
He'd cheated them…again.
Hawke's shoulders slumped. There was only one choice left.
"Take me, then." She offered her wrists. "But let them go."
"I'm afraid I can't do that," Volstock said. He turned to his men. "Secure the mages, and bring them all with me."
The Legionnaires scattered, and Hawke flinched, hauled to her feet. Her weapons were discarded, and then she was dragged back through the passage.
As they re-emerged into the first cage, her jaw hung slack. The Corruption had settled again, controlled by the over-powered single arch, but the stone itself had been pulled out of form, creating a new criss-crossing set of walkways.
And in the centre stood Corypheus, untouched and unblemished.
Just like last time.
Volstock brought her before him. There he elbowed Hawke in the back, deliberately over the bolt, and she hissed, dropping to her knees.
"Such power," Corypheus murmured, his eyes hungering. "To subvert the minds of so many, to bend the flow of lyrium to your own will…"
His hand shot out, clamping Hawke's throat. Hawke couldn't even scream as he lifted her off the ground, unable to breathe. Corypheus gave an amused chuckle, bringing his other hand to her forehead. Her Shard burned, and Hawke writhed, pain and fear and sickness merging into a deafening cacophony.
Stop…
Make it stop, make itstop!
An enraged bellow broke from behind, loud enough to sunder the heavens. Panicked cries and shouts rang out, and a raging wind stormed past. Next Hawke knew, the pressure around her neck vanished, and she was back on her knees, wheezing for air.
Another inhuman screech, along with the blinding flash of lyrium, and Hawke blinked. Fenris's markings had come to life, his eyes wild with blood-lust. He tore into Corypheus, shrieking like a man possessed. Corypheus groaned, his red lyrium crystals ripped clean off, and the blows were never-ending, severing anything they could reach.
Corypheus staggered, seemingly overwhelmed, but it was a ruse. As Fenris made for another punch, he caught the elf's wrist, snapping it backwards. Fenris hissed, stumbling, and then Corypheus finally countered. Red lyrium sprouted in his palm, and he tore into Fenris's stomach, shredding through skin and muscle.
Fenris howled, the red lyrium burning into the tattoos on his body. Slowly, the blue lines started to turn red, and he choked and writhed, his arms falling uselessly beside him. Corypheus scowled, clenching his fingers, making Fenris groan and shiver.
"Know your place, slave!"
"Fenris!" Hawke tried to stand, but heavy hands pinned her down.
No, please, please!
Corypheus twisted his hand one final time, before throwing Fenris to the ground. The elf warrior was a mess of blood and torn flesh, barely still breathing. His markings were now completely red, with tiny crystals sprouting along his chin and neck.
"Bastard, bastard!" Varric shrieked, fighting against his captors. "I'll tear your throat out, I'll…"
A sharp blow to the head broke his words, and he spat out blood.
"Now." Corypheus shook his hand, as if he'd touched something vile. He stepped over Fenris, and Hawke's arms were twisted behind her, forcing her head up. Tears were frozen on her face, and she couldn't move. She'd lost everything.
If he'd…if he'd just let me…
Corypheus's soiled fingers gripped her cheek, plastering Fenris's blood on her skin. The coppery scent triggered her nausea again, and he pressed his thumb to her forehead. Her Shard burned, provoked into life, and she tried to let out the scream locked in her throat.
But before the world went dark, Corypheus suddenly choked. Hawke was released, and she caught the gleam of a blade in the magister's chest. Corypheus's eyes widened, and he glanced back. Fenris was panting, his hand clenched around the sword's hilt. With impossible strength he stood once more, his entire body corrupted, but his eyes were whole, his own.
"I…" His voice was a raspy whisper. "…am…no…slave!"
He ripped the blade free, then threw himself at Corypheus. The magister yelled, locked in a deadly embrace, as Fenris dragged him to the walkway edge.
"Fenris!" Hawke bawled. "No, don't!"
Fenris closed his eyes, a final smile gracing his lips.
"Goodbye…Amber…"
Then he fell backwards, straight into the ocean of Corruption. Corypheus howled, but he was trapped. Together they plunged into the mist, and the magister's screams faded to quiet echoes.
"NO!" Hawke broke the Legionnaires's hold, their grip suddenly lax, and scrambled to the walkway edge. All she could see was undulating darkness, and she sobbed, the ache in her chest unbearable. "Fenris, Fenris!"
"Hmph." Volstock huffed, wiping the blood from his face. "Finally, it took damned near long enough!"
His tone ignited Hawke, and she stood, adrenaline blotting out the pain.
"You piece of shit!" She made to attack, but he easily caught her wrists, throwing her back to his men. They locked her arms behind her once more, and she hissed.
"You dare say a word to me, when you almost ruined everything?!" Volstock barked, aiming a savage slap. Hawke yelped, burning pain ringing through her cheek.
"What…the hell…are you talking about?" Varric's voice was quiet, but not yet broken.
Volstock snarled.
"You honestly think the Legion is that stupid, that we'd sell our loyalties on the turn of a sovereign like those corrupt Noble fools?! That'd we'd follow a madman like him?" His fists shook. "I had these cages made so we could trap Corypheus, block his powers and send him to the Stone where he goddamn belongs!" The vein on his temple bulged. "Do you know how long it took to convince him to come here, without his Red Templar honour guard…"
"Then why didn't you say something?!" Hawke spluttered. "Fenris is dead because of you!"
"How was I to know you stupid surfacers would interfere?" Volstock sneered. "I couldn't break the façade! And when you were the ones who started this disaster in the first place…"
He trailed off, and Hawke flinched.
"How…How do you know that?" Varric asked.
"Please, the carta told me everything," Volstock growled. "How you killed this…thing, only for it to come right back, with a fresh darkspawn army under its wing!" He brushed the cut on his face. "The Wardens were absolute fools, they never should have…"
Suddenly Anders let out a terrifying howl. Hawke shuddered, a horrible tightness gripping her. All eyes fell to the mage, who was still in the grasp of three Legionnaires. He was shaking violently, every muscle twitching.
"Anders!" Merrill's voice was panicked.
Anders didn't hear. His body trembled, and then he threw his head back, screaming in a voice that wasn't his own. At the same time, the markings on his body blazed, and his eyes turned to pure, brilliant light. The Legionnaires tried to hold him, but the light surged and they yelped, forced to let go.
"What in the Stone's name is this?!" Volstock cried, snatching a knife from his belt.
"He is not yours!" Justice's voice rumbled from Anders's lips, shrill, distressed.
"Justice!" Hawke tried to move, but she'd barely managed a step when her Shard erupted. She cried out, every sense consumed.
What's…
What's…happening…
Another screech broke from Anders; his own voice, this time. The light burned stronger, until finally it burst into flash-fire. Anders' eyes turned hollow and lifeless, and the ghost of a spirit escaped his mouth. Like a rag-doll he flopped, landing on his knees, and then his body rippled. Red lyrium began to sprout over his skin, distorting, twisting, stretching bone and sinew and forming altered proportions.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Varric shrieked. "Blondie…he's…shit…he's a Warden, a goddamn Warden, just like Larius! That's it, that's how the bastard survived, he…"
The rest of his words were drowned out, as Hawke screamed. Her Shard was agony, tearing into her skull like a hundred hammer-blows at once, and she felt another presence, hungry for the rune's power.
Please…the Fade…I need…I must…
"No, no!" She dug her nails into her temples, fighting with every last bit of herself. No, not herself; Justice. "Get out, get out, get out!"
Her thought started to shift and dissect, that other trying to silence, to drown, to take over, merging with her Shard.
I must…return…
No, leave me, leave me leave me leave me!
I…we must…we are…
Not you, not you!
And then her mind fell silent. Every thought was cut away, and calmness overwhelmed. The soothing coolness spread, banishing the pain, the heat, the feelings. Her Shard thrummed, filling her with new strength, and she stood quiet, aware but unaware, seeing but unseeing.
"How fortunate." Corypheus stepped forward, giving his new form a stretch. "I would never have thought to see your treachery, dwarf."
He snapped his arm out, shattering armour, and Volstock bawled. Gasping, he tried to counter, but Corypheus twisted his neck, and he fell, lifeless. Smirking, the magister tossed the Commander's body aside.
That was enough for the Legionnaires, who lost their nerve and sprinted in retreat. Merrill and Varric cried out, trying to reach Hawke, but they were dragged in tow, unable to escape.
"Amber, wake up!"
Merrill's cry died on the air, and Corypheus huffed, turning his back to them. He stepped before Hawke, and touched her Shard. The rune flared, turning red, as Hawke remained motionless.
"Heed me, spirit of Justice," Corypheus began. "You have a sacred power bestowed upon you. You above all know Thedas is chaotic, filled with pain and suffering and needless death. Join me, and I will see justice restored, and your purpose fulfilled."
Hawke closed her eyes, her new powers taking hold.
"Yes." She knelt, crossing her arms. "I am Justice. I am Vengeance." Her eyes glowed crimson. "And blood can only be repaid in blood."