The first rays of dawn broke through the clouds, glinting off the new memorial stone in the Skyhold garden. The pink granite was finely polished, and Elissa's gaze lingered on its intricate griffin carvings. A series of candles had been lit around it, and she placed her own with them. As she rose, her eyes skimmed the name Nathaniel Howe, and she let out a breath. For so many years they had been close friends, never realising the ties of history that bound them even closer. She had not seen him since recovering her memories, but had never considered that would have been their last meeting. Yet another familiar face now lost, and it deepened the hollow ache in her chest.
How much more was going to be taken from her?
"Nathaniel was always honourable and true to his duties," Alistair said, as he, Leliana, Lahara and Bethany also stood beside the stone. "He was a good man, and a damn fine Warden. He will not be forgotten." He shook his head. "I should never have sent him in my place. I could've reasoned with Clarel, stopped this madness…"
"If she was so quick to silence Stroud, you would have undoubtedly met a similar fate," Leliana countered. "At least the Wardens still have a Commander outside of Weisshaupt. They would never have agreed to ally with us otherwise."
"Maybe," Alistair murmured. "I'm just…so very tired of this."
His words set off a pang in Elissa's chest, and she bit her lip. Learning of Nathaniel's loss had shaken her enough, but remembering what had happened to Kieran was an even harder blow. Guilt and shame gnawed inside, relentless, and at times she couldn't bring herself to look at Alistair. Not when she could still picture it so clearly; the Corruption spilling from her hands, consuming all it touched, trapping the helpless child in an abyss of darkness.
And all because Flemeth had been pulling her strings from the very beginning.
The thought ignited a spark of rage, but before it caught, a warm touch brushed her arm. Elissa let out the breath she had been holding, leaning closer to Leliana. She yet to tell the bard the full details, but now she was back to normal, she would spare her nothing.
"The Maker smiles sadly upon His Grey Wardens," Bethany said, "as no sacrifice is greater than ours." She stepped forward and touched the stone. "And I'm sure He's smiling on Nathaniel now, for what he's done. For all of us. I'm going to miss him."
"He did more than he needed," Lahara said quietly. "Far too much, in fact."
She shifted on her feet, holding her right hand close. She had been quite fidgety all morning, and Elissa sensed something was troubling her; more than just Nathaniel's sacrifice.
"Sounds just like Nathaniel," Alistair mused, resting his hand on his hip. Silence fell for a moment, until he cleared his throat. "Thanks for arranging this, Lara. I'll see he gets a full Warden's honours once I get back to Amaranthine."
"He deserves way better," Lahara murmured, clenching her jaw. "If I'd had a single fragment of magic left…"
"Lara." Bethany's voice was stern. "It wasn't your fault."
"Yeah, I know." Lahara rubbed the bracelet on her wrist. "But his sacrifice isn't going to be in vain. He's not only bought us time, but dealt a huge blow to Corypheus. And I'm not going to waste any of it."
"You have something in mind?" Alistair asked.
The Herald nodded, standing tall.
"I'm done reacting to whatever that bastard throws at us," she said, bunching her left hand into a fist. "He always makes the first move, and I've had enough of playing second fiddle. It's time for the hunted to become the hunter." Her gaze hardened. "He's lost his Red Templars, we kept him from the mages and Orlesian army, and now he's lost his enthralled Wardens, too. This is our best chance to strike him down for good."
"I'd agree with that," Alistair said, "but do you know where he's hiding?"
"That search is ever narrowing," Leliana reported. "Corypheus's losses have shaken many of his followers, and they have been careless concealing their trails. My scouts are following promising leads. I am certain one will bear fruit."
"And what would you do then, Lara?" Elissa asked. "Confront him directly?"
"The Inquisition isn't the fledgling shambles it was in Haven," Lahara said. "We have the support of Orlais and the Wardens, not to mention the mages and our own soldiers. I'd say our chances are better than good." She rubbed her eyes. "But there's still a few things we need to talk about before we go charging anywhere." She stretched out her right hand, where the rune flickered. Elissa's own Shard prickled in response, and she bit back a wince. "About the Shards, and about what Corruption really is."
Elissa tensed.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"It's a long story," Lahara began. "And I'm sure you've got a lot to tell me, too, but this is important." She gave a brief stretch. "See, in the Fade, I found my…"
"Inquisitor, Inquisitor!"
A shout echoed from the rear of the gardens. Lahara blinked. Everyone turned, watching as one of the gate guards came rushing towards them. The messenger stumbled over the portico steps, finally halting before the group.
"Inquisitor," she said, resting her hands on her thighs as she caught her breath, "sorry to disturb, but Hawke's companions have returned, and they are desperate to talk to you."
"Companions?" Bethany frowned. "Isn't Amber with them?"
"The Champion isn't here, no," the messenger said, "but Ser Varric and his elf mage friend insisted they had to speak with the Inquisitor right away. There's something coming!"
A surge of dread flooded Elissa's stomach.
Maker, not Amber as well…
Lahara, too, had her brow creased in concern.
"Take them to the war room right away," she said. "I'll meet them there."
The messenger bowed, then sped away. Elissa watched her leave, before turning to Bethany. The mage's face was pale, and she held herself rigid. Lahara quickly noticed as well, and she took Bethany's hand.
"You're coming too, Beth," the Herald said. "And you Elissa, Alistair. Whatever Varric and Merrill have to say, I'm sure we all need to hear it."
"Then Cullen and Josephine should be present as well," Leliana said. "I will send for them."
"Thanks," Lahara said. "See you there."
Squaring her jaw, she led the group back into the fort. Leliana gave Elissa's wrist a squeeze, before she peeled away, hobbling along with her nightingale cane. Elissa swallowed, her pulse thrumming in her ears. Her Shard quivered, and she bit her lip. All number of terrible things could have happened, and they scrambled through her mind. Had Hawke been badly hurt, or fallen to Corruption, or been trapped, or even…
"Heads up, Herald!"
Varric's voice carried across the courtyard, and Lahara hesitated. Not a moment later, a deafening screech tore through the sky, and the residents of Skyhold flew into panic. Soldiers fumbled for their weapons, civilians and merchants ran for cover, but though Elissa scoured the air, all seemed clear. Then a rush of wind sped past, and her Shard became a pinprick of white-hot pain. Gasping, she staggered into a wall, sweat forming on her brow.
The shriek came again, much closer. Elissa froze. It was so difficult to see, but she felt something nearby, raking its gaze over her and leaving her chilled to the bone.
"East wall, three o'clock!" Alistair shouted, his blade drawn. "What…what the hell is that thing?!"
Swallowing back her pain, Elissa righted herself and looked up. Now she could see it; a huge shadow looming on the ramparts, sprawled like a dragon waiting to strike. Its body was lithe and coiled, entirely black and moulting dust fragments that sparkled red in the sunlight. Two broad wings spread from its back, but it had nothing resembling a head. Only a giant gaping mouth ended at what might have been its neck, and it continued to bellow, its tail cleaving the surrounding stone.
Lahara gawked.
"Is that a dust monster?!" she exclaimed.
"Worse," Varric called, hurrying from the courtyard with Merrill in tow. "It's an Executioner!"
"It must have followed us!" Merrill's eyes were puffy and red. "But without Amber…"
"What happened to my sister?!" Bethany shrieked.
"It was Corypheus!" Merrill squeaked, her tears renewing. "He…We thought we'd killed him, but then he…Anders…"
A thunderous roar cut her off, and the Executioner leapt from its perch. For a moment its wings blotted out all light, when it slammed into the open courtyard. Rippling tremors tore through, almost enough for Elissa to lose her balance, and then it lumbered towards the main keep. Several soldiers bolted into its path, only to be swept aside like toys.
"You can explain later," Lahara said, charging her Shard. "We have to destroy it!"
She broke into a sprint, her right hand ablaze. However, when she came close enough to strike, the creature reared, taking to the air. Another wingbeat sent Elissa's hair into her eyes, and she scowled. From the ramparts the archers yelled, letting loose a barrage of arrows. Every one slipped right through, and the Executioner flung out its tail, gouging out a chunk of stone from a guard tower.
"Damn it, we have to ground it!" Alistair yelled.
A cry from the newly built mage's tower echoed, and Elissa gasped. A group of mages stood on the upper balcony, and they threw out lances of thunder and fire. Her eyes widened.
"No!" she yelled. "Don't attack it with magic!"
Her warning was too late. The spells sank into the Executioner's belly, and it rumbled, as if finishing a heavy meal. Then it shook itself, and a mane of fire appeared on its back. The flames licked up and down, and the creature opened its gaping mouth, releasing a burst of lightning. It struck the edge of the tower, and the mages fell back in retreat. The monster growled, still airborne, turning its eerie faceless neck to Elissa.
Snarling, Elissa drew her sword.
"Alistair, Beth, help get everyone out of here," she ordered. "Lara, try to flank it, then we'll take it together!"
"Gotcha!" Lahara dashed to the rampart steps. Elissa ran the other way, climbing the opposite wall onto the connecting bridge. The Executioner bawled, snapping its neck from side to side as it determined which prey to pursue.
"Hey ugly!" Lahara cupped her hands to her mouth. "How are you supposed to hit anything if you haven't got any eyes?"
The Executioner howled, twisting in mid-air for a dive. Lahara braced herself, her right hand glowing. The distraction was all Elissa needed, and she bolted. Before the creature could react, she jumped over the rail, slamming her sword between its wings, the rune on her chest sparking white.
The Executioner screamed, its fiery mane vanishing. It lost height and thrashed, trying with all its might to remove the agony in its back. Elissa clung on for dear life, digging the blade deeper, twisting the hilt as hard as she could.
At last the beast groaned, collapsing to the ground. Elissa released her sword, then plunged her hands into the creature's torso, scouring for the core. Yet her fingers grasped at nothing. Her eyes widened, her palms searching frantically, but the chance was lost. The Executioner staggered to its feet, then violently jerked, throwing Elissa into the courtyard. She gasped, scraping her shoulder against the frosted ground.
"Elissa!" Bethany was there in an instant. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm alright," Elissa hissed, forcing herself back to her feet. "But…it doesn't have a core…"
"What?" Bethany clenched her jaw. "Then how are we…"
She was cut off by the cries of more soldiers; they had regrouped and were making a full-on charge. The Executioner slashed through the first rank, but the others were able to get close enough to wound it. Iron Bull and Cassandra were amongst them, carving chunks of dust from the monster's body. The red speckles flew into the wind, and the creature seemed to flag. As the soldiers pressed their advantage, however, it suddenly took to the air once more, flinging out its wings and slicing through the connecting bridge. The soldiers scrambled, trying to avoid the falling debris, though not all were so lucky.
"Damn it!" Iron Bull swore, brushing rubble from his shoulders. "Why didn't your trick work, Elissa?"
"It doesn't have a core!" Elissa snapped. "There's nothing for my Shard to…"
"Not quite," a new, yet very familiar Tevinter accent suddenly broke in. "Just hang on!"
Elissa blinked, glancing up. Dorian and Solas were weaving through the damaged courtyard towards them. Both looked exhausted, and Solas was holding a scroll, looking particularly grave.
"Sorry we're late," Dorian puffed, holding a hand to his chest. "But it's not over yet."
"Care to share, Vint?" Iron Bull asked.
"Pfft, I do wish you'd stop calling me that," Dorian sighed.
"Heh, that's not what you said in bed before you left," Iron Bull chuckled. "I've missed ya."
Dorian rolled his eyes, though they still sparkled with amusement.
"Elissa, you and Lahara need to attack that creature in unison," Solas explained. "The two Shards in harmony will be enough for you to dispel its core."
"And you know this because…?" Elissa raised a brow.
"We'll have a long chat over tea afterwards, I promise," Dorian said, "but there won't be enough of Skyhold left if you don't act right away." He faced Iron Bull. "Any chance you could try and hold that beast still, Bull, give our Herald and Hero an easier target?"
"Hmph, sure, though it takes most of the fun out if it," Iron Bull scoffed. He squared his shoulders. "Chargers, on me! We're going to tie that bastard down!"
"Inquisition, help them!" Cassandra shouted, and a mad rush ensued. Still the Executioner hovered, starting to circle the turrets.
Elissa ran through the debris-strewn courtyard, managing to scale the broken staircase to the rampart where Lahara remained. The Herald was covered in score marks and her hair was a mess, but her mismatched eyes remained determined.
"What's going on?" she asked, brushing her cheek. "Couldn't you find its core?"
"No," Elissa said, "but Solas is confident if we attack it together, we can still destroy it."
"He's back?" Lahara blinked. "Well, he usually knows what he's talking about. Not like we have any other plan, anyway."
"The others are going to try and get it on the ground again," Elissa explained.
"Right." Lahara clenched her fist. "I'm ready."
Jaw tense, Elissa stood beside the Herald, watching the Executioner. It remained at the height of the towers, but below the courtyard was a flurry of activity. Several soldiers were clearing the debris, while four more along with Varric carried modified crossbows. Each of those were bundled with coils of thick rope. They formed a circle around the courtyard, while Iron Bull, Cassandra and the Chargers stood in the centre.
Iron Bull raised his axe, emitting a loud rumble from his throat. The Executioner sent an answering groan, deigning to descend a little. Cassandra brandished her sword, her teeth bared.
"Come get us, then!" Iron Bull goaded.
The creature snarled, finally breaking into a dive. Its aim was dead-on, but Iron Bull and Cassandra met its charge unflinching. The monster collided into their weapons, and Cassandra dropped her shield, shifting her sword and thrusting it into its shoulder. Iron Bull hacked into its neck, before throwing himself over it, trying to pin it to the ground.
"Now!" Cassandra bellowed.
The crossbows fired almost all at the same time, the ropes furling around the creature's neck, shoulders, chest and back. The Chargers sprang, snatching the stray pieces and fastening them into deadly knots. The Executioner flapped its wings, screaming, but it was trapped.
"Won't hold," Elissa said. "Go!"
Together she and Lahara ran across the rampart, their steps in perfect rhythm. At the edge they leapt, Lahara's right hand entwined with Elissa's left. A surge broke from the Shards, turning Elissa's fingers into pure white, and they landed right on top of the creature. A rope snapped, but it wasn't enough, as the pair drove their hands through its spine. Elissa grimaced—it was like raking through freezing slime—but then she finally clasped something solid and hot.
Forcefully she and Lahara ripped it away, pulling free a glowing core of blue light. Elissa made to crush it, when it abruptly turned lifeless. Her Shard shuddered, and she gasped, dropping to her knees. Lahara also cried out, hugging her right hand to her chest.
Elissa felt her vision darken, and that horrible, snarling rage-fire stirred within. Icy terror flooded her, and she gripped the ground, clawing her fingers into the dirt. No, she couldn't lose control, not again, not again!
Steps crunched nearby, and a supportive hand held her shoulder.
"Stay with us, Elissa," Alistair said. "The creature's gone, you did it."
Elissa weakly nodded, focusing on her breathing, Alistair's touch, the bitter air, the scent of spent lightning; anything to keep her from slipping into the shadows. Several tense minutes passed, when eventually the burning began to calm. The rune on her chest jittered, and Elissa swallowed, daring to relax her shoulders.
Far too close…
Lahara, however, had tears in her eyes. She looked like she was going to be sick. Her bracelet had turned almost completely gold, and her whole body was pale and quivering. Bethany swiftly took her in her arms, cradling her against her shoulder.
"This…is not good," Dorian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Tell me about it," Varric muttered. His voice was subdued, and had completely lost its jovial tone.
"We are going to need quite the catch-up, indeed," Solas said.
"Once Lara's better," Bethany interjected, curling her arm around the Herald. "Come on, I'll take you to Eliza." She made to lift Lahara, but the Herald shook her head.
"No." Gently she pushed Bethany away, managing to sit up on her own. "Can't delay. Need to know what's going on."
"But…"
"I can handle it," Lahara insisted, grabbing a lyrium bottle from her pouch. "Everyone, war room. Now."