Chapter 68: The Plan

Varric and I walk into the War Room to find the usual assembly: Declan, Leliana, Josephine, Cullen and Morrigan. I sigh. "No word from Tenebris, I take it."

"Not as of yet," Cullen answers as he paces. "But we need to devise a strategy."

Josephine's normally controlled features give way to a worried frown. "We must act quickly. From what we discussed yesterday, I gather all is lost if we do not get to this temple before Corypheus."

"Our armies will never make in time," Cullen says, pausing to look at her.

"Then we send scouts, to get there ahead of the army," Leliana suggests.

"Without support? We'll lose over half of them!" he protests.

I look at Declan, who has been listening to the debate already so far. He looks up to meet my eyes, and smiles.

"We need to work together," he says, taking charge. "Josephine, contact the nobles on our side, have them send their fastest people. They'll meet up with Leliana's scouts. Cullen, I know we've only returned from Adamant, but I need your troops ready to go as soon as possible. You'll join the bulk of our allies' forces. We'll see this done."

Morrigan scoffs. "The Arbor Wilds are not so hospitable to visitors; old elven magic lives in the forests there."

"And of course, we'll be needing your assistance, Morrigan," he adds.

Morrigan smiles. "'Tis is good to know it is appreciated."

In a blink, Tenebris appears in front of me, slumping against the War Table and toppling the miniature pieces. I rush to him, looking him over. He has a black eye, and seems a little unsteady, but otherwise okay.

He meets my gaze and grins. "Don't worry, Sister. He looks worse than I do," he states, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"You idiot, why would you do that?" I ask, pulling over one of the nearby chairs.

"Lucis crossed a line; he needed to be taught a lesson. Brother or no, nobody does that to you. He was just so damned pathetic, kept apologizing over and over, pissing me off. But then he had the gall to beg me to bring you back. That's when I hit him."

"You punched the Maker?" Cullen gasps, and I'm reminded that we have an audience.

Tenebris smiles from ear to ear, and I can tell my brother is feeling quite proud of himself. "I sure as shit did," he says. "Lucis never was a match for me in a fistfight."

"Um, I hate to ask, but can I have a minute alone with my brother?" I ask the others.

"Just a few, we need to move on this soon," Declan says, and the group files out. Varric squeezes my hand in silent support before exiting.

After they leave, I turn to my brother again. "Looks like he got in at least one lucky punch," I say, reaching up to check the small cut in his eyebrow. Tenebris winces, and I summon my healing magic to knit the wound back together.

"That was Etiam, actually," Tenebris responds. "He saw us fighting, and tried to break it up. I caught an elbow to the face."

"Lucis didn't even fight back?" I ask, absorbing that piece of information.

"He knew he deserved what he got."

"I'm just glad he didn't trap you there," I tell him, ending the spell.

"He didn't even seem to care about me, said I could come and go as I please, but he's obsessed with having you there for some reason."

I sigh. "I know. Tempestas thinks maybe his grief over Andraste has driven him mad."

"I thought that at first, too, but then...Sister, there was something more, something he wouldn't tell me. I almost had him ready to talk, and he mentioned keeping you away from Corypheus, but then Etiam interrupted us."

"He didn't want me to go to Adamant, either. I wish I knew what he was thinking."

"Yeah, he hasn't exactly been the sharing type in a long time, Sister. But, I don't think he'll be a problem for a little while, at least. I made it clear that I'd be back if he made a move for you again," Tenebris says. "Gave him something to think about."

"Thanks for that. Honestly, I was picturing things being far worse."

I go to the door and open it, finding the others waiting in the hall. "Sorry about that. Family business," I explain with a sigh.

"Anything we need to worry about?" Declan asks.

"No, I think Tenebris convinced them to back off for a while."

"Good," Declan replies. "Now, back to the matter at hand. We have a timeline for getting there, but what do we know about this temple of Mythal?"

"Mythal?" Tenebris utters, his eyebrows shooting upward. "Shit."

"Another friend of yours?" Leliana snaps.

I sigh, and nod. "A very, very long time ago. We haven't seen her in person since, although I saw a few things in the Watcher's Well that make me believe she still lives."

"And the temple?" Declan asks.

"I remember going there when we were young," I acknowledge. "It's how I knew what it contained. I could probably mark on a map how to get there at least, but it's been centuries, and I'm sure a lot has changed."

"It's still better than what we have," he replies, nodding. "Anything else we need to know about this temple?"

"Yes, it used to be guarded by those who served Mythal," I tell them, continuing on when I see their confusion. "Elves bound to her," I clarify. "Then there's the Well."

"Yes, tell us of this artifact," Morrigan prods. "I am most curious."

I nod. "The servants of Mythal each passed their knowledge onto the Well upon their death. It is said that whoever drinks from it will take their collective wisdom. That's assuming it's still there."

"Corypheus believes something is there, or he would not have his people searching as he does," Leliana points out.

"True. But, it might be the eluvian he's after. Again, if that is still there, and whole."

"We cannot afford to let him get his hands on either," Cullen proclaims.

"No, we can't," Tenebris says. "With the Well's power, and our own family backing him, who knows what that magister would be capable of."

"He seeks to become a god," Declan states, looking down at the map. "It's what he told me when I faced him at Haven. That he saw the throne of the gods, and it was empty, that he the Will that is Corypheus and he would become a god."

"It wasn't empty," I respond. "He never made it inside. We diverted him to a false version. Etiam is a master of powerful illusions."

Leliana frowns. "I know you said you do not believe we will have to fight your family, but I think we need a better idea on what we are up against."

I nod. "No, I agree." I look to Tenebris, who nods, as well. "Etiam is second only to Fen'Harel in his mastery of the Fade. He can summon spirits easily."

"Demons, then," Cullen states.

"Some, yes, but it's not always as simple as the Chantry wants to make it. Your own experiences with Cole should tell you that much. It's why Solas was able to hide so long...he made you all forget. Etiam can also use illusions and has studied more arcane lore than anyone I've ever encountered. There's a reason they call him The Wise."

"And The Maker- I mean Lucis?" Delcan asks.

"Yes, just call him by his name. The Maker is a mix of both truth and fiction, but Lucis is the reality. He is the master of both Creation magic and Nature. He can heal almost any wound, making truly hurting him quite difficult, and is proficient with spells of sleep and paralysis." The last is hard to say, so soon off my encounter with him. "He can call on the beasts of the wilds, up to and including High Dragons. That's how Corypheus gained his Archdemon."

"And I'm sure we will be seeing it again in the Arbor Wilds, as well," Cullen comments.

"Our Warden allies are convinced it is not a true Archdemon," Josephine says, "but other than that, we have little information."

Morrigan cleared her throat. "The Old Gods, however corrupted, do not follow anyone's orders. That creature is something else, entirely."

I sigh, thinking about it. "Yes, it's a High Dragon that Corypheus poisoned with red lyrium. I'm not sure I understand it all, either, but I did talk to it at Adamant."

Declan's smile lit the room. "Dragon Girl to the rescue. What did you determine from the conversation?"

"It's in terrible pain from the red lyrium growing inside it." I wince, remembering it telling me that it hurt. "It both loves and hates Corypheus. He has some compulsion over it, but I couldn't tell if it was blood magic or something else. I almost had it agreeing to let me help it when you came back, and it flew away back to its master."

Declan nods. "Do you think you could communicate with it again? Distract it long enough for our troops to attack?"

"Maybe, but with Corypheus there to counter me, I can't be certain."

"Then you believe Corypheus will be there personally?" Lelana questions.

"Definitely. If he's not already, when he learns of our presence he will show himself. Which is why I don't believe my brothers will be there, despite the temptation of the power of the Well."

"Then Corypheus doesn't know of the gods' involvement?" Cullen asks.

"No, I don't believe so," Tenebris says. "They've been helping from the sidelines, setting things in his path."

"What about Mythal? Could she be an ally?" Leliana asks.

"I don't know," I admit. "Mythal was never like the other Evanuris. That's probably the reason she and I became friends. Knowing her, she likely would choose no side but her own. She's a difficult person to understand, but I do not believe she would want the world to end. Still, would she see the destruction of the Veil as an end, or a beginning? That, I cannot say."

"And what of her powers?" Declan asks.

"She is powerful, both a spirit of protection and vengeance. The Dalish call out to her still. Her powers are many, but she rather enjoys changing her shape, transforming into a dragon."

Morrigan frowns. "Mythal is a shapeshifter?"

I smile. "Not a common skill, I know. I certainly never managed that one." I turn back to the others. "As for me, you've seen a lot of what I can do. I can harness the elements, shape them to my will."

"Sometimes without your will, too," Tenebris grumbles.

"I try," I pout. "I don't usually mean to mess with the weather."

"I know, imp." I feel the warmth of his hand on the top of my head.

"We never did get a full description of your powers, Tenebris," Leliana points out.

"No, you didn't," he answers bluntly.

"Tenebris…" I admonish. "We're trusting them, remember?"

He sighs. "Very well." He pauses. "I dislike the feeling of the Fade, and I never liked communicating with spirits overly much, though they serve a purpose. Most of my own powers rely more on my own strength."

"We know that you've used blood magic," Cullen states, his jaw set firmly.

"Sneer at it if you will. I perform blood magic, yes, but also entropy, necromancy, and the magic of the Blight."

"Blight magic?" Leliana asks.

I reach out and hold my brother's hand in support. "There's a reason he was called the Darkness. But he's a good man, and in full control of his abilities...even if sometimes not his temper."

Tenebris scoffs. "You're one to talk. You're the one who nearly buried them in snow when- oh, you're joking with me," he breaks off, shaking his head.

Declan looked at both of us. "I'm glad for both of your friendship. I don't know where we would be if it weren't for you two."

"Finally appreciating friendship, are we Declan?" I tease, and I'm glad to see the smile blossom on his friendly face.

He runs a hand through his long auburn hair. "I think I learned that one from you, Dragon Girl."

"Firefly…" Varric starts, and I see his worried expression for the first time. I realize I hadn't been watching his reactions at all.

"Yes?"

"What are we going to do about Corypheus? Hawke and I killed him back in Kirkwall, and that didn't stop him."

"You killed him? But, I saw him in the Well when he attacked Haven. He was a little different than the last time I saw him, granted…"

"Right, you two knew him," Declan observes. "What can you tell us about Corypheus?"

I look at my brother. "Tenebris knew him better than I."

My brother nods. "First off, his name wasn't always Corypheus. His name was Sethius Amladaris back then, and he was a student of mine. He served under General Dumat."

"He mentioned Dumat when we fought him," Varric verified, nodding. "He seemed to think he was going to see him when he woke up in that Grey Warden prison."

Tenebris's voice grows quieter, remembering. "He was part of a group called the Magisters Sidereal - the ones who led the attack against The Golden City, forcing us to retreat and defend our home."

Josephine says nothing, scribbling away in her notes, but she looks up and meets my gaze, and I know she's drawing the same conclusion that they all had: that the Blights were our fault.

"Is it in your power to stop the Blights?" she asks, her delicate brow furrowed in worry.

I shake my head. "No, I wish we could. It's our generals trapped underground that keep perpetuating the cycle. Each time one of the remaining Ancient dragons becomes corrupted by the Taint, it starts again, and we still can't get to them the way things are. Once they are gone, the Darkspawn will die out without an organizing force behind them. There will be two, possibly three more Blights before it's over, assuming none of the remaining generals above ground come in contact with the Taint."

"We were devastated," Tenebris adds. "First that our own people would turn against us, and then again when we lost the Ancients. Oddly enough, if the Veil does come down, then we can reach them and stop the Blights."

I find myself studying the table, the representation of the known world to these people.

"Yes, Brother, but then it will be too late. We can't let that happen, even if it means that Razikale, Lusacan, and Draconis are lost to us."

"Draconis? Do you know where she is, then?" Tenebris asks.

"Not exactly, but Lucis said he dreamed of her song in the Fade, from underground. I think she faced the same fate as the others. But as to what to do about Corypheus, I'm not sure. He was mortal when last I saw him. Perhaps the Taint, or the red lyrium changed him somehow."

"Dumat may have done something, as well," Tenebris admits. "After the turn."

I turn to look at the Inquisitor. "You struck a blow against him at Haven with the avalanche, Declan. He is not unbeatable. We've beaten him back at every turn, and his followers are certainly killable; we've done that enough already. We'll have to hope it's enough."

"If we know as much as we can, then, we stick to the plan," Declan says. "Leliana, ready your people. The rest of you, then, prepare for a long journey. We leave in the morning. Ferox, Tenebris. Can we count on you should we need to transport a couple of people ahead of the others?"

I nod. "Of course. We'll do whatever we can."

The Inquisitor smiles. "Thank you, friend." He turns, and walks out, ahead of the others.

"See you two at the Herald's Rest later?" Tenebris asks, and I nod. A drink with my friends is definitely welcome.

Morrigan is the last to leave, her gaze hinting at much but giving away nothing. Finally, Varric and I are alone.

I smile. "A whole day together, and not on the road," I say, closing my eyes, savoring the idea. "Of course, I need to go see Tempestas and…" I stop, an idea coming to me.

"No," he responds.

"No? I haven't even told you what it is yet."

"You want to go somewhere on that dragon of yours. No way."

"Are you going all Dwarf-y on me after all? Afraid you'll fall into the sky?"

He chuckled at that one. "Probably shouldn't risk it."

"Fine, but at least come with me to see her?"

"As long as these feet stay on the ground, Firefly, the sky's the limit."

"Really, Varric? That was a terrible joke. Don't put that in our story."

He reaches out a hand for me. "The thief held his tongue, his very voice stolen away, for the long winter had stretched on and he'd nearly given up hope of ever seeing another summer. He counted every star in the heavens that night until he found the lucky one that had blessed him."

I felt tears building, and I take his hand, latching onto his arm, leaning my head against his shoulder. "Let's go, Love."

The rest of the day is perfectly ordinary: no crisis pulling someone away, no more secrets to unravel. Just Varric, my brother, and our friends. Drinks and laughter. The threat of Corypheus still looms, but it's like it doesn't exist in this moment. I make note of every detail, every memory, as I know it will be our last for some time. But for today, perfectly ordinary is just that - perfect.