Author's Note: I realize my posting has gotten a little slower (not an apology, just a fact), but don't worry. I'm not abandoning my feisty goddess and her hero.

Chapter 66: The Maker's Will

Nothing compares to the feeling of flying. I've watched birds my whole life, jealously observing how they flap their wings to gain momentum, they way they swoop and dive. Tempestas shows me all of it. It's not long before I'm calling out in excitement, punctuated with short bouts of laughter, which Tempestas joins in on as well. This is the ultimate freedom. My new travel ring brought us to the skies of the Ferelden Frostbacks, and now head toward Skyhold.

I revel not just in the chill air of the sky, or the beautiful view just under the clouds of the setting sun on the horizon, but also my escape from Lucis. I hope that Vita is able to get through to him. His face as we were leaving was full of pain, not anger. But I'm free of him for now, free to return to Varric and the life I have chosen for myself.

I spot the lights of Skyhold, standing proudly out of the snowy mountains surrounding it. Home. The bulk of the Inquisition's forces are just returning, many of them on foot. Tempestas and I look for an area to settle. As we get lower I hear people crying out and see them looking upward at us, but Tenebris rushes to the front of the group, and, pointing at me, shouts commands not to attack.

Tempestas sets down with a crackle of thunder, and the resounding tremor through the earth, as well. She folds her wings tightly against her side and extends her leg for me to get back down.

"Thank you for showing me that, dearest friend," I tell her.

She gives a small nod of her head.

I descend and find myself staring at a sea of people. The faces read a mixture of emotions: fear, hope, and for some, friendly recognition. Tenebris and Cullen are in the front of the group, and from behind them, steps the face I want to see more than any of them. I take a few steps toward him that quickly turn into a full-out sprint into his open arms. Varric manages to catch me in his strong arms, lifting me up before slowly setting back down, and greeting me with a kiss.

"You did know how to make an entrance, Sister," Tenebris teases, but I'm a little busy happily looking at my dwarf.

"You're alright," Varric states, as though it was in question. I remember Lucis's story that I was still ill from the ring's magical drain.

"Yes," I reply.

"No thanks to the twin," Tempestas comments. "I still say I should have eaten him, Ferox."

"What?!" Tenebris exclaims. "What did Lucis do?"

Varric is staring wide-eyed at Tempestas. "Uh...please tell me everyone else understood that too and I'm not just losing my shit."

"Yes, I can speak the common tongue. Hello, mate of the Stormbringer," Tempestas says with a laugh, the rumble causing purple light to flare under her glistening scales. "I have been looking forward to meeting you."

I smile. "Varric, this is Tempestas, the Ancient dragon of lightning - my best friend."

"That thing is an Old God?" a voice asks from the other side, and I look over to see Cullen is the one who spoke, his jaw slightly slack before he notices and closes it.

I grin. "Technically, I'm the god, but yes. And she understands you just fine, so you can address her directly."

"Sorry," he quickly mutters, trying to find his composure. "I've never spoken with a dragon before."

"I should expect not," Tempestas acknowledges graciously. "I take no offense. Those of us who can speak your language have kept ourselves away for a long time. Too long, it seems."

"You didn't answer my question," Tenebris states. "What did Lucis do? I was just there, you were ill."

I shake my head. "No, I wasn't. But perhaps we should discuss this in private." I look to Tempestas, and then to Cullen. "Um, Cullen?" I ask pointedly, gesturing toward Tempestas. "Where should my friend stay?"

"I…" he starts, clearly still at a loss.

Thankfully, Declan has made his way to us, and I see Dorian with him. I'd wondered when I hadn't seen him with Tenebris.

"Dragon Girl," Declan says, smiling, and I go to greet both of them. I'm surprised when each of them pulls me into a hug, one after the other.

I exhale. "It's so good to see both of you."

"That's supposed to be our line, Ferox," Declan protests with a smile. "It sounds as though we're going to need to have a meeting. And here I was looking forward to a soft bed at last."

"Sorry, Declan, but I have a lot of information you're going to want to know," I confirm, nodding. "Oh, introductions. This is Tempestas, my best friend, and an Ancient dragon. Tempestas, this is Declan Trevelyan, the Inquisitor, and our dear friend, Dorian Pavus."

"A pleasure," Tempestas states, with a small dip of her head. "But I'm staying for your meeting, Ferox."

I look at her, and nod. "Alright." I turn to Declan. "Where can we meet with a little privacy, but where Tempestas would fit?"

He smiles. "There's a clearing just up the hill from here that should suffice. Let me find Leliana and Josephine."

"You're going to want Morrigan for this, as well," I tell him, thinking about Mythal. It seems that Morrigan is as of yet unaware of her mother's special role, but she'll want to hear what I have to say about the temple, no doubt, and would likely appreciate meeting another Old God.

The rest of the crowd keeps moving, but Tempestas, Cullen, my brother and I make our way to the clearing in question and wait on the others. I'm happy to see Dorian staying by Tenebris. Varric, while not technically invited to the meeting either, doesn't leave my side, but I would have balked at separating from him so soon anyway. Holding his hand again feels amazing. For the hundredth time, I find myself meeting his eyes and it's a struggle not to get lost in their amber depths.

"I didn't see Hawke down there," I point out, in an attempt to concentrate.

"Yeah, he told me about the promise he made to you in the Fade. He headed north, toward the coast to go look for her."

"So he didn't have any after effects from the magic going wrong, then," I conclude, sighing in relief. "Good."

He frowns, and I can tell he's struggling with something. "Not that I'm not grateful you did, but why would you go back for him?"

I pause, and have a hard time looking him in the eye. "I did it for you. I couldn't stand to see your unhappiness, not when I had the power to change it."

"Firefly…" he responds.

"I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have, but if I had it to do over, I can't say I wouldn't have done it again. But we're together again now, that's what matters. I promise I'll answer any questions you have later, Love."

He sighs, and squeezes my hand, but then looks down in surprise. "Where's your other ring?"

"I'll explain everything when the others get here. But the short answer is, I had to make a new one." I wiggle my fingers on my left hand, showing off the ring he gave me, and that does make him smile.

Tempestas settles down but doesn't add anything, allowing us to have our conversation uninterrupted. I'm grateful for my friend's understanding.

Declan returns with Leliana, Josephine, and Morrigan. Tenebris walks to stand on the other side of me, and pats my shoulder. I give him a wistful smile. I'm not really looking forward to explaining this all to them. Look at their face...all three advisors are faithful Andrastians. Morrigan won't care, but my news isn't going to go over well with the others.

Morrigan watches Tempestas with a soft expression, one corner of her mouth turned upward. If I didn't know her better, I would almost call it awe. Of course, Morrigan had been pretty open about wanting to preserve the old magics - so much that she'd had Kieran to save Urthemiel.

"Greetings," Morrigan says to her.

"And to you, child," Tempestas answers, studying her.

Leliana and Josephine tread carefully around the dragon, eyes wide, which makes me laugh. Tempestas laughs too, the magic rippling, and both women jump.

"Tempestas is with me. She won't harm you," I explain.

So many questions in their eyes. I take a deep breath.

Tenebris is the first to speak. "Tell me what Lucis did, Ferox, so that I might know what I'm killing him for."

"The Darkness can kill him, and then I will digest him," Tempestas adds, the low growl of a chuckle coming again from her.

"We're talking about the Maker, right?" Declan adds. "Your brother, Lucis, is really the Maker?"

"Yes," Tenebris and I say in unison, and I move my hand in a small wave, indicating I'll be the one to take this line of questions. "Once, in ancient Tevinter, all four of us were close with the humans. We met with them, guided them, taught them magic. Lucis had infinite patience and loved the world, and the people adored him in return. He seemed to lack the temper that Tenebris and I were both cursed with, but everything changed when he fell in love with a mortal woman named Andraste."

Leliana frowns at me. "Yes, you told me you knew her."

I nod. "I did. She was...a little unstable, but she was a wonderful woman, and loved my brother very much. Lucis decided that he wanted her to undergo the same ritual that extended our lifespans, to make her like us, so they could be together for eternity."

"You are talking about immortality," Leliana commented, her nose wrinkling; whether in worry, or disgust, I can't tell.

"Is that how she rose to his side?" Josephine asks.

I shake my head. "No, the ritual never happened. It takes the power of all four of us together, and we were scattered all over the world then. Lucis had to find each of us and bring us back together. By the time we all gathered, Andraste had already been betrayed, and we were too late. We got there just in time to see her burn."

"Andraste...just died?" Leliana asks, horrified at the concept. "No holy fire that cleansed her, no ascending to be with the Maker?"

I shake my head. "Your Chantry made up pretty lies to hide their guilt," I tell her. "Andraste was just a woman, and when she died, it broke my brother."

Tenebris takes over. "We wanted to punish the ones responsible, wanted them to suffer. But he wouldn't let us: he cared too much for the humans. Still, he couldn't bear his anger and grief and retreated from them, from the world, and from us. We chose to support him, instead, pulling ourselves back to the Black City, as well."

"Which is where we remained, until recently," I state. "His story was the only one that persisted, even if the Chantry got it wrong. The rest of us were all but forgotten."

"But you returned," Cullen points out. "We have a real way to know the Maker's will."

"More fanciful Chantry tales. Lucis is not who you think he is. He's changed." I take a deep breath, swallowing. "He...he's done terrible things. You would be better off not knowing what he wants."

Tenebris stepped forward, sliding an arm around my shoulders. "Whatever it is, whatever our brother has done, just say it. Say it all, imp."

"Lucis is helping Corypheus." Gasps sound from all around me, but I keep going, increasing my volume. "My brother is responsible for Corypheus having that dragon. He wants the world to end, and all of you with it. That is the Maker's Will."

"The Maker was us dead?!" Leliana cried out. "No, I won't believe it."

"Well, shit. That's a new one," Varric comments in a dry tone.

"It's worse than that. Etiam is helping him, along with another god."

Tenebris's eyes are shut, and his jaw ticks. "That's it, I'm going to kill the bastards. Let go of me, Ferox, I'm going."

"Hear all of it first, Tenebris," I beg. "Please."

Dorian nods. "Listen to her, Amatus."

He stills. "There's more?"

I nod. "Do they know about Solas?" I ask.

"What about Solas?" Declan asks. "He disappeared after Adamant, none of us knew what happened to him."

"Tricky elf," Tempestas comments with a huff.

"Solas isn't what he presents himself to be, either. He's been hiding among you, the same as I first did. I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, but he was our friend when we were young. We grew up together."

"That's right," Josephine added, frowning. "There was a feud of some kind between your families. Why did I not remember that?"

Leliana looks at Josephine in confusion. "I...had forgotten too."

Tenebris sighs, understanding. "Etiam's work, I take it."

I nod, and look at the others. "Solas is a god - elven pantheon, obviously, not one of ours. My brother Etiam used spirits to make you forget things, not notice either of them, but Solas is the Dread Wolf, Fen'Harel."

I expect more cries of outrage, but I look around and all I see is silence. No one will look me in the eye, except Cullen.

"Then we are doomed. Our end is imminent, and our cause is impossible," he says, hope leaving him.

'No, it's not!" I shout. "Gods are powerful, yes, but you have two of us on your side. I will not abandon you, you have my word."

Leliana shook her head, her expression vague, "But to fight the very Maker himself…"

"I don't know that it will come to that. At least, I'm hoping it doesn't. Fen'Harel's plan is to raise up the elves again, return them to their former glory, just as the Dalish stories tell. That's what my brother is helping him do. They mean to tear down the Veil, to return spirits and magic to this world as it was before."

"And I'm guessing that doesn't end well for us," Dorian comments wryly.

"No...the Nightmare demon is but one such entity that would be unleashed upon the world, and we know how powerful it is. Some of you might survive, but it would mean the end of much as we know it."

"Failing to see how this helps us, Firefly," Varric states quietly.

"I'm getting to that. If the Dread Wolf could have done it alone, or even with my brothers' help, they would have done it already. He isn't powerful enough yet."

"He needs the orb Corypheus carries," Declan states, realization dawning on him. "The one that gave me the mark."

"An orb gave you the mark?" I ask, looking at him.

"I regained my memories in the Fade," he states, looking at the glowing slash on his hand. "Corypheus was using it, but dropped it and I touched it, that's how it happened. It caused the explosion."

I look at Tenebris. "Fen'Harel means to use the orb, yes, that makes perfect sense. The elven gods all had artifacts they used to store their power. After he slept, he was probably not strong enough to open it. That's why they're using Corypheus. The magister was never the real threat. Without the others helping him, Corypheus can be defeated. And if we can keep them from getting their hands on the orb, we might be able to stop them from accomplishing what they plan."

Morrigan, who has so far remained silent, looks at me with her bright eyes. "Fen'Harel and your brother wish to bring back the old magics. I am surprised to hear you oppose this goal," she observes. "Given that you protect the soul of an Old God, I would have thought you would have been on their side."

"I admit, I might have, once. Before I came here, I was so removed from the world that I barely knew it anymore."

"That's not entirely true," Tenebris corrects. "You were the only one of us who still cared at all about the humans. You spent a great deal of time watching them in the Watcher's Well."

"Yes, but it was mostly for my own amusement. I never stepped in to help, not until the Inquisition started seeking out high dragons. After I arrived things changed for me, for the better. I gained friends, helped to save dragons, and witnessed the old magics still here in this world. I fell in love," I say quietly, quickly nudging Varric. "I love this world, and I would not see it fall to ruin. No magic is worth that price."

"Tell them the rest, Stormbringer," Tempestas pushes. "Tell them what Lucis did to you in the Black City."

I nod. "Using the magic of my ring without a charge drained it, and me. It was killing me. Lucis did help, he wasn't lying about that. But after, I wanted to leave. He prevented it, saying that he was trying to protect me by keeping me away from the world that was ending. He took my travel ring and my pendant, meaning I couldn't communicate with Hawke or Tenebris."

"We wondered when we didn't hear from you. Hawke tried every day for two weeks," Varric says.

"Every time I tried to leave, he grew more and more angry. He finally resorted to using magic to make me sleep."

Tenebris clenched his jaw again. "I was there, though, I saw you. You were ill."

"I'm pretty sure that was a side effect of being asleep too long," I tell him.

"How long did he have you under?" Tenebris asks, concern and anger mingling on his face.

"Of the three weeks I was gone, I was awake for about five or six days of it."

Tenebris disappears.

"Shit, why was no one holding on to him?" I ask, looking down at my ring. "Damn it, Tenebris, I can't go back there. It took the help of three ancient dragons to get me out. If I go back, he'll either trap me so I can't ever leave, or I'll end up killing him."

"Seems to me Tenebris is already working on the latter," Varric growls, "and I wish he'd taken me with him to help."

"I think I like your dwarf, Ferox. But despite your bravery, you would stand no chance against a god, Child of the Stone. Your death won't help her."

Varric looks at me, pain written in his features. "I hate this feeling. Bianca and I can usually handle anything we come across, but with you, Firefly, I'm forever out of my depth. Do you have any idea how I felt when you were lying there screaming? I couldn't do anything to help you. Then your brother took you away, and I didn't even know if I would ever see you again…"

"I promise I'll always come back for you, Varric, as long as we both live. No matter what I have to do. If it comes to it...I'll kill Lucis myself."