Daughter of Tethras

Disclaimer: Don't own Dragon Age

A/N:

Chapter 47 (The Guardian and the Barrier)

"No," Bianca whispered. Her heartbeat began to race as she examined the guardian from head to toe. His sharp ears rose past his clean, bald head, and his piercing eyes seemed to flicker when they met her gaze. Stumbling over herself, she took a step forward and tried to speak against the quivering of her voice. "It can't be. Solas, you're-" Solas barely moved from his spot, he spoke softly but with a note of urgency in his voice.

"Fen'harel, also known to many as the Dread Wolf." He turned his head to Sera, who was already drawing her bow and glaring at him. "Ah Sera, I mean you no harm. It is I who guards this barrier."

"All this time?" Varric stepped forward. His jaw was locked and his hands were closing into tight fists. "All this time you've known? All this time you've been-why didn't you tell us?"

"It was not your battle to make, and still it is not." Solas looked to the barrier and extended a hand towards it. "You wish to leave Thedas behind, do you not? The lust of adventure, the desire of exploration. I admire the drive, and I would see you cross; but you must know what will happen once you do. Not all of you will leave through this barrier the same as you were."

He stepped down onto the boat and locked his hands behind his back. "I have no ship for passage back to shore." Solas let out a heavy sigh. "And once this boat passes, your captain is well aware there will be no return." Isabela bowed her head and the others began to look amongst each other.

"We're all going to cross," Cole replied. Solas looked upon him with a solemn expression, his eyes closed and he let out a heavy sigh.

"As you wish, Cole." Solas turned towards the others. "I see Dagna is amongst all of you." Dagna hurried forward, her voice excitable and rising above the rest.

"I can't believe it's really you, Solas!" Dagna was chipper and bouncing on heel. "I have so many questions, so many things I'd like to research!" Solas chuckled softly and placed a hand on her head.

"Yes, you have always been quite the researcher. You will have much fun discovering the world outside, for it is filled with many wonders." Solas looked from her towards Sandal, and then Varric. "Varric, I wonder how willing you would be to part with your crossbow."

Varric reached back, grabbing the end of his crossbow gently. "This thing? It would take a lot."

"It is the best material." Solas turned towards Bianca and gestured to her hand. "The mark." Bianca opened her hand and looked down at the anchor with a frown. "The only way I can remove it from you is by separating your hand." She gasped softly and Varric cried out in alarm. "If you tried to carry it through the barrier, it would kill you."

Varric ran over and stood protectively in front of Bianca. She continued to study the anchor, sneering at it as Solas's words embedded themselves in her brain. "It's okay, Dad." He looked back, huffing in surprise as she raised her eyes towards Solas. "I want it removed regardless, and if it would kill me going through that barrier, then it is without question…"

"Hold on," Varric stammered, "Solas, you're just going to amputate her arm?"

"It is her decision," Hawke reminded him, "You're her father. She'll always have you for support." Varric dropped his shoulders and after a few seconds he let out a weary sigh.

"You're right." Bianca hugged her father tight, feeling secure in what was about to happen. She moved next for Solas, extending her hand towards him. "You said something about my crossbow, Solas…How can I use that for her?"

Dagna was the one to answer, instantly grabbing the crossbow from him. He looked at her, stunned and appalled by the abrupt confiscation. "This material would make for a great prosthetic limb!" Dagna looked over it from left to right, chuckling gleefully. "An iron arm or something; but we would have to dismantle it completely." With that, Dagna frowned and handed it back to Varric. "I'm sorry, but that's the way it would be."

Varric held his bow flat atop his palms and stared down at it. Bianca dropped her hand and watched as he closed his eyes and slowly turned around. "This damned thing." He chuckled sadly. "This crossbow, I named it for my daughter because I would never have her by my side." She felt her heart drop into her stomach and mustered a smile. "But now I have her with me, and we are about to take the journey of our lives together…I don't need this bow anymore. I would gladly give it up for Bianca. Without hesitation."

Solas nodded. "A wise choice." He looked towards the others, his gaze soon fixating on Bethany, Oghren, and David. "As for the mage and the Wardens in this party…The full 'price' you will give up is the magical ability that flows in your veins." Bethany gasped and the wardens exchanged anxious glances with one another. "The connection to the fade is within Thedas only, and your connection to the fade will be lost. You will be 'cleansed' of both magic and the taint within you."

He then walked towards Sera, his eyes locking with hers. The deepness of his frown was telling, and it seemed the closer he went the wider her eyes became. "Sera, you know there are know elves beyond this point. That is the one thing I cannot allow." Sera shook her head and Bianca rushed forward.

"Solas wait!" He stopped and looked towards her. "She's my best friend." He started to sigh as Bianca hurried in front of Sera. "I want her with me. She, Harding, Sandal…everyone that is here…"

Solas closed his eyes. "I would not want you to lose both of your dearest friends." She raised an eyebrow and Solas motioned for her to step aside. "All will be fine, but what I must do is surgical."

Bianca waited with baited breath as Solas enclosed his hands around Sera's head. "It will only take a moment," he whispered to her. Sera was shivering and her eyes were darting left and right. "You must relax. Look into my eyes." The girl did as instructed and sucked in a deep and slow breath. "You must understand this is for your benefit."

Sera shifted slightly and started to stammer. "W-What are you doing?" Soon, his eyes began to glow an immense blue color with purple smoke leaving them. Sera's head tilted up and she let out a sharp gasp. Her entire body froze and her eyes stared with emptiness at the sky above.

When Bianca saw blood flowing from Solas's hands, she started to scream and reach out. "What are you doing to her!" Solas didn't move, still needing as much focus as he could bear. She tried to grasp at him, but a force repelled her harshly. "You're hurting her."

"I assure you, she is in no such pain." Solas closed his fingers inwards and removed his hand. Sera started to gasp, her eyes filling with tears as she sank to her knees. "It is done." Bianca cupped her hands over her mouth and studied her friend.

The girl's ears had been shrunk, or at least carved and manipulated. "You took away her ears?" Sera reached with trembling hands to her ears and started to scream. Solas shook his head.

"I have given her more 'normal' appearing ears, so as not to incur harsh judgment or her being ostracized. She has also been rendered infertile." Bianca ran to her friend, kneeling beside her.

When she looked up, she saw Solas leaning over her and reaching out with his hand. "Come Bianca, it is time for me to remove the anchor from you." Bianca continued to hold Sera in her arms, still unsure whether to let Solas do what he needed or not. She wanted to give the anchor up, but was curious if there was another way. "Bianca, this is the only way. I know it seems drastic, but it must be done."

"You knew what it was from the beginning, didn't you?" Solas closed his eyes and said nothing. "You did and you kept it to yourself. Why?"

"I had to. I am still weak from my slumber anyway." She wasn't sure what Solas's agenda was, but something didn't feel right. She trusted the new leader of the inquisition, however, and was sure if he would cause trouble, they would be able to stop him.

"Okay." She stood up and moved towards him. "But I swear, if you try any funny stuff…"

"I would not." Solas gently grasped her forearm and looked down towards the mark. "I apologize that it must be this way, but I this will add years to your life. You will fare much better, I know you will."

A sudden flash of light shone from his hand, then a burn shot through her arm. "Fortunately it hasn't spread as badly as it might've in another year or two. You'll only have to lose your hand." She winced and looked away, shutting her eyes as everything from her wrist and below disintegrated. "Now, allow me to take Varric's bow." Varric extended the bow with his hands. "I will create a new limb for you to use. A prosthetic limb …The outside world has discovered these already, but I will gift you with the science they will learn within a few years…and that is control of your arm."

"It's not magic?"

"No, it is scientific." Solas's hand began to glow, and the bow rose into the air. "The rest of the world has advanced in science and mathematics, with new inventions being made each and every day. You will discover a world like none you've ever known."

The bow separated into bits and pieces, and eventually they started to come together. Bianca watched in awe as they combined to form a metal hand and wrist. It had joints in the fingers and looked entirely mechanical from the tips of the fingers and down to the wrist. It was a soft peach color, so it didn't look too off from the rest of her skin.

Solas guided the hand to her and she felt a rush of energy surround her as he used his magic to connect the limb with her. There was a tinge of pain and a surge of adrenaline that caused her to yell out. While it felt like an eternity, the attachment procedure was near instantaneous.

"You will have to learn to use it, and of course you'll have to clean it every so often; but I have no doubt you will be successful in that." Bianca breathed heavily and looked down at her arm. Varric and Dagna gazed over it as well, studying every inch of it.

The hand didn't feel too heavy; but it did feel strange. She wasn't sure what to make of it, so much that it scared her a bit. "It's better," she started to say, "Better than that thing in the center of my hand." She raised her arm and stared at the curled fingers. "Looks like I'll be able to at least hold something with it."

"Yes. Be fortunate as well it is not your dominant hand, but do try to practice with it so that you can maintain muscle strength in your arm."

"I will." There were a few replacement hands as well, made from the bow. This was the cost of the curse that she bore, and now she was glad to be free of it. "What else will you have us lose?" She looked towards Sera, who was busy feeling her ears still and trembling anxiously.

"Sadly, I can do nothing for your friend." Solas turned to Cole, whose eyes grew large. Sera started to glance over and rise to her feet while Bianca felt a rush of fear. "Even though Cole is becoming more human in mind and the physical sense, he still is not the same. He will not survive passage through the barrier." She was floored by the revelation and quickly shouted her disbelief.

"He has to. He didn't come all this way just to die here."

"He will not survive. I cannot do anything about that, I am sorry." Cole covered his hand with his mouth and began to shake and cough. Varric growled in anger, but held his tongue. "I also cannot aid him in returning to Thedas. It is likely that he would die attempting to return on his own."

"I won't go back," Cole said under his breath, "I said I was going to be with my friends…"

"Then your decision is made."

Solas turned to Bianca and knelt before her. "Bianca. I wish to say this to you." She furrowed her brow and held her breath. Her heart pounded from within and she fought to think of anything she could say, but nothing came to mind. "I know I was not who I seemed, and I apologize for deceiving you. I still have the utmost respect for you and I hope you will be so fascinated by all of your journeys, wherever they may take you."

She steadied her breathing and felt the tears begin to rise over her eyelids. Solas placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled warmly. "You are someone with a truly good heart, despite all that you have suffered. You and your father both. I'll say goodbye here, and I know you will be missed…At least I was able to say goodbye."

It wasn't as though she hated him, no she couldn't hate him for anything. "You were always a wise and good friend to me," she replied. A sad smile spread across her face and she carefully hugged him. "I will miss you too, whatever happens."

"Thank you." Solas looked over his shoulder, his eyes moving slowly across all the awed and anxious faces. "I will cherish our friendship, every one of you. I grant passage through the barrier." He stood up and closed his eyes. "Farewell."

Without another word, he began to fade away. Bianca let out a shuttering gasp and everyone's gazes seemed focused on where Solas had been standing just seconds before.

They all turned to Cole, remembering Solas's words. Cole had his head bowed and the brim of his hat covering his face. "I imagine it is better this way," Cole said with a soft voice, "If I don't make it. I accept my fate."

"No," Sera cried, "No!" She hugged Cole's neck, much to Bianca's surprise. Cole smiled sadly at her. Bianca hurried over to him and threw her arms around him as well, her tears dripping down to his shoulders.

"Don't cry guys." He shed a tear as well. "I came through as a spirit of compassion, took the form of Cole so that he may live. I've aided the Inquisition and helped stop Corypheus. My...work is done."

She couldn't stand the thought of him dying, not after all this. "Cole," she cried, "I am so sorry." Her chest ached and her muscles began to burn. "If I knew this was going to happen…I wouldn't have even asked."

"I'd rather it be this way." Cole smiled. "Surrounded by my friends, surrounded by people that care about me." He raised his head. "I know that while the real Cole died broken and alone, I won't have to die like that." She was starting to see that he was making peace with the reality of the situation.

She didn't understand how he could; but what could be done? She prayed that Solas was wrong, he had to be. "I bet Solas wasn't right. I bet you make it." She took a few steps back and started nodding. "You don't have too."

"It's okay." He turned around. "Isabela, you can start moving the boat now." Isabela hesitated, then slowly walked towards the captain's wheel.

Bianca held her breath as the ship began to move once more, slowly pushing through the barrier. Everyone aboard stood together and watched as the barrier seemed to grow closer.

The end of the ship faded on the other side, but clearly didn't crumble as the boat wasn't sinking. Oghren was first, grumbling with impatience. "I'm not afraid of any old barrier."

He rushed forward, against Felsi's protests, and dove into the barrier. Unexpectedly, he wound up letting out a large belch before turning his wide-eyed gaze towards the others. Light began to erupt from his lips like smoke and rose into the air, and his eyes started to glow.

Within seconds he was gone, vanishing onto the other side of the barrier with no one knowing his fate.

Next came David, who was standing arm and arm with Leliana. Between them stood Kieran, and they had their arms draped around him in a hug. Leliana buried her face into David's chest while the warden looked bravely at the barrier closing upon him.

Once he touched the barrier, David raised his head to the sky and opened his mouth. Much like Ogrhen, clear smoke left his lips and erupted from his eyes, something like the appearance of a lyrium statue; but not as sinister. Leliana looked towards the others, then faded with David and Kieran as the barrier moved past them.

Still anxious, the others continued to back up; but Bethany stood firm. She closed her fists and glared with determination at the barrier. "I don't know what's going to happen," Bethany stated, "But I'll be damned if I back down from this after everything else I've been through. My brother's not going on a journey without me this time."

The barrier overtook her like a shroud, and a white aura appeared around her body. Her hair flew almost dramatically and she stretched her arms out, screaming as she faded onto the other side.

Seeing who all was left, Bianca took her father's hand in hers and pressed her lips firmly. Sera grabbed her hand as well and motioned for everyone to come together.

Bianca expected a surge of energy, something electric and possibly painful or euphoric; but when the barrier passed over her, she felt nothing. A dull hum rang in her ears, but aside from that, she may as well be walking through a door.

After it passed over them, she was relieved to see all those that went through first. Ogrhen was still standing at the bow with a huge grin plastered on his face as he pumped his axe victoriously in the air. David and Leliana were in the middle of an embrace with their son while Bethany was on bended knee, her head bowed and her hands in prayer position under her forehead. She lifted her head up and smiled at the group.

Then came a thud, one that sickened her heart. Turning, Bianca saw Cole collapsed on the ground, the barrier at his waist. "Cole!" Sera screamed aloud and ran to his side, Bianca soon followed, her heart racing faster than it had even when fighting the strongest dragons.

She turned Cole onto his back and rested his head in her lap while Sera hugged him tight. "No," Sera wept, "No, Cole." Bianca prayed mentally that he would survive, that this was just a fluke; but the cold sweat on his face struck her with a sense of grief.

His eyes searched the area and a mournful smile spread across his face. "At least…" He began to cough and Sera pleaded with him to save his words. "At least, I got to see outside of Thedas, if only for a second."

"Cole, it'll be okay." Bianca hugged him tight, urging him to save his breath; but he shook his head.

"No…No, I don't have long." He began to tremble and Bianca looked down, gasping as the barrier was sliding down his thigh. She wanted to call for Isabela to stop the ship, everything in her pounded with the might of a thousand drums; but she knew her pleas would only go unheard as Isabela was on the other side. "Thank you," Cole whispered. "Thank you for being my friend, for caring and showing me that it was okay."

"Cole." She leaned down, her lips quivering and her eyes connecting with his. A tear fell from her face and landed on his cheek, only to slide slowly down his face. "I'm so sorry. If I had known before-"

"I-I would have still come." He put his hand over his stomach and tried to muster a smile. "I would have wanted to be with my friends. No other way would have been enough." As the barrier reached his ankles, Bianca felt her stomach and chest tighten. The others were frozen, their gazes large and mouths hanging open.

Sera wailed beside her, sounding like a siren singing it's loathsome song.

"Take my daggers." He chuckled sadly. "One for each of you. To remember. That way…" Tears formed under his eyelids and seeped out, the sight of them nearly broke her to see them. "I'm always with you, and I can see the new world just the same."

Bianca nodded firmly. While coughing up a sob, she gingerly reached for one of his daggers. Sera did the same and turned her head away as the barrier slid off Cole's foot.

When that happened, his body fell heavy and the life faded from his eyes. "Cole." Bianca flinched and her word seemed to shatter her like glass. Sera clenched his shirt in her hands and buried her face into his chest.

Soon, her cries were all that echoed in the clear blue skies. Bianca closed her hand firmly around the leather strapped handle of one of Cole's daggers and brought it to her face, her eyes closing as she brushed her forehead against it. "I will never forget you, Cole. I promise."

It wasn't long before Isabela finally made it across, looking relieved to see everyone. Still, when she saw Cole on the ground, her smile quickly faded.

Bianca rose to her feet and helped Sera to stand. Hard as it was to accept, and difficult as it was to stomach, she knew this was how Cole wanted to go. He was surrounded by his friends and those who cared about him, and unlike the real Cole, he knew what it was like to not have to die alone.

' "None of us have to be alone anymore," Bianca whispered. "Cole can be at peace…" She looked up to Isabela, and the others soon followed her glance. Isabela turned around to look at the barrier as the end of the ship exited from it.

Once it did, the barrier seemed to be sucked into the air as though it were one of the rifts being closed by the anchor Bianca once wore. Her heart flickered and her stomach turned over when he purple had been replaced by air.

Isabela ran to the railing that was behind the captain's wheel and hung over it, screaming at the top of her lungs. "It's gone! Whatever land was there, it's all gone." Soon, they all joined Isabela, gasping in amazement, shock, and horror.

They knew there to be rocks and other fixtures in the water where they had been; and even Thedas itself could be seen in the distance. Now, when they looked back, the rocks were gone as though eroded and there was no visible land mass in the distance.

They were in the middle of the ocean, and it was as Solas and Abelas had said, there would be no return to Thedas. The reality sank in like a bitter tasting wine and everyone aboard the ship shared knowing and inquisitive looks.

"So Thane," Varric said under his breath, "And Isabela." Hawke and his wife turned to him. "When Solas let you through, and let you back, you were able to see the barrier upon your return?" The couple nodded. "If you turn around now and head the way we came…"

"We'd be lost," Isabela replied shakily, "Thedas is…no more."

A lot of sacrifice. Cole didn't survive. The anchor's gone. The crew is now in the middle of the ocean headed for whatever land they can find. The next chapter is the last of this tale; but the sequel "A New World" will begin soon