Chapter 69: The Arbor Wilds
Powerful magic crackles in the distance. The resulting explosion creates ripples of sound like thunder. I can't tell if it was from one of our mages, or from Corypheus's people. Varric and I have joined Declan at the forward camp in the Arbor Wilds, and it's every bit as lovely here as I remember. Delicately arching trees stand tall against the uneven landscape, and colorful plants and wildlife abound in the area. Under other circumstances, this place would be a paradise. It's no wonder that the ancient elves chose this place to reside and honor one of their gods.
I know we're here to stop Corypheus, but I can't help but hope that Mythal does show herself in the flesh. I've missed my old friend; but in the back of my mind, I recognize that she might be different than I last remember, too.
"It makes you wonder," Tenebris says, moving to step close to us, Dorian at his side. "These red templars seem endless. Exactly how many do you think Corypheus managed to turn?"
"I'd prefer not to think about it," Dorian comments. "But we don't need to actually defeat them all, we just need to get inside this temple, yes?"
I nod. "That's our focus. Claim his prize, keep it from his grasp. Although anything we can do along the way to slow him down or weaken his advantage, the better."
"That's where you two come in," Declan says, joining our group. "You're going to help clear a path for us like you did at Adamant, only don't hold back this time. We're not capturing them like we did the Wardens. Aim to kill."
I give a single nod of acknowledgement.
Tenebris grins. "You ready?" he asks, turning to Dorian. "The Inquisitor just let Ferox off her leash. That means corpses by the dozens."
Dorian curls his hand around his staff, his lip twitching upward in a smile of his own. "I'll follow your lead then, shall I? I always like walking behind you."
I chuckle at their exchange. "I'm just sad Tempestas had to miss this." She'd protested, of course, but in the end, we all knew bringing her around Corypheus was too great a risk. I look to Varric. "Varric, I trust you and Bianca to have my back, but don't follow too close. I can get a bit flashy, and I don't want you getting caught up in one of my spells."
Varric nods, his jaw set firmly. "Just be careful. Let's get this shit over with."
Morrigan stands off from the rest of us, watching, but not interacting with anyone. I wonder what her life must have been like; I've even considered telling her about her mother a few times. I'm glad she has Kieran, as it seems to have eased some of her sadness, but she still seems lonely.
I suppose there haven't been many that would have understood her, or her aspirations. Not here, anyway. She would have done better in Tevinter, where her magical prowess and desire to learn the old ways would have been praised, not scorned. I smile reassuringly at her, making sure she knows she is seen and included as part of our group.
The six of us - Declan, Dorian, Tenebris, Morrigan, Varric and I - make up the Inquisitor's team. The others will work to hold the enemy at bay and perform targeted strikes. We set off down the hill from the main camp at the fringes of the forest. The sounds of fighting die away for a time, overtaken by the serenity of this place. I soak in the chirping birds and leaves stirring in the light breeze.
The temporary reprieve doesn't last long, however, and soon we come across a group of red templars. A red crystal behemoths is already turning toward us.
I arc my staff upwards, spinning in a dance I know quite well, calling the storm. Lightning strikes hit the ground, and wind rushes in from all sides. Time to step it up. I summon fire from within, and set off spinning fire tornados toward the group, carving scorching paths into the earth. Between the heat from the fire, and the ferocity of the storm itself, they're defeated in no time.
We pause as Tenebris and Dorian summon spirit fragments from the Fade to animate the dead. The Inquisition soldiers look a bit squeamish as the dead rise, but I'm used to Tenebris's powers. The newly-animated soldiers follow Tenebris's order to walk at my side, and I lead the pack onward. We reach a small stream where some of our friends are fighting a mix of Wardens and templars, and I notice that our men are all out of the water. Excellent.
I summon the lightning cage. The blinding sphere of bright orchid light forms above the stream. The containment field surrounds those within, and each strike electrifies the water. Within seconds, the opposition falls.
"For the Inquisition!" our men shout, cheering as the spell ends.
Again, Dorian and Tenebris raise the corpses of the fallen to join our side before we move on. By the time we reach Cullen, we're trailing a few dozen undead soldiers in our wake.
"What's the situation, Commander?" Declan inquires.
He eyes our risen army warily, but nods. "Our scouts report more Wardens ahead. We'll do what we can to keep them off you."
Declan nods. "Alright. We've been able to handle them so far, but the fewer we're forced to fight at a time, the better. Spread them out, if you can. Keep them from regrouping."
Cullen gives a small bow. "As you say, Inquisitor."
Cullen whispers to a runner, who sprints into the wilderness, presumably to spread word of the plan.
"Where are Samson and Corypheus?" Declan asks.
Cullen exhales. "We're not certain, but they are likely close to the temple by now. Be on your guard."
We march forward, taking out small isolated groups, as before. The plan appears to be working. We pass a few of the others along our way: Blackwall, Sera, Bull, Cassandra, Vivienne. Each fights their own set of templars or Wardens. We help to take out the enemies in each area before continuing on, leaving our friends to guard and defend.
Finally, the six of us have accrued an army of undead several dozen strong. My brother has controlled more than this before, but not often, and I can see it's draining his energy quickly. A tunnel lies ahead, and we rush forward into it.
"I hear fighting ahead," Morrigan announces.
We slow our pace and cautiously peer out through the doorway, down over a railing into the temple itself. The scene below us is chaos, with Wardens fighting against ancient elves. Several of them fall even as we watch.
A long bridge juts ahead from the lower level to a set of massive double doors. Many of the remaining elves flee inside the temple. One remains, standing guard against the intruders.
The Wardens are directed by a red templar in substantial armor adorned with red lyrium crystals, who stands not far from the beginning of the bridge. And at at his side is none other than Corypheus himself.
"They still think to fight us, Master," the templar informs Corypheus, tossing the slim body of one of Mythal's followers to the ground at his feet.
Declan whispers, "Samson."
So that's Samson. I remember Cullen talking about the templar that had joined Corypheus and is fighting at his side. From the looks of him, he's seen better days. I'd heard he was cast out from the Templar Order, and, left without lyrium, he turned to begging and other, uglier avenues to get it. His face shows the signs of aging, despite his almost gloating grin.
Corypheus strides toward the bridge.
"These are but remnants," he says, his voice resonating through the overgrown chamber. "They will not keep us from the Well of Sorrows."
"We need to get down there," I whisper to Declan. "That elf can't fight Corypheus, Samson, and those Wardens alone."
"You're right," Declan responds, and turns to my brother. "Tenebris, this is as good as time as any to use the...er...men that we've collected."
Tenebris smiles widely, clearly looking forward the battle to come. An army of the undead is anything but subtle, and the animated corpses charge down the stairs ahead of us to engage the Wardens. I stay by Declan's side, and we allow our soldiers to descend before us, Declan and I following behind a short ways. When we reach the bottom of the stairs, I stop, shocked by what I'm seeing.
Corypheus has reached some sort of magical barrier. It seems to be coming from two stone pillars on either side of the bridge, which now glow with bright blue sigils. Corypheus himself struggles against the barrier, attempting to move forward, but his momentum is halted. He grabs the elf with one hand, raising him up off the ground.
"What is happening to him?" Morrigan questions from behind me. "What is this magic?"
"I don't know," I admit, shaking my head.
Corypheus's flesh seems to burn and melt away, revealing the tense cordons of muscle underneath, then a flash of white bone, and then...nothing but ash that collapses to the stone. The barrier itself collapses in an explosion of blue-white light, debris flying outward in all directions. The force of the blast throws the ancient elf to the ground several feet away.
My ears are ringing after the explosion, but a quick glance tells me that Varric and the others of our group are unharmed. Bodies litter the area in front of the bridge as I pick my way forward. Most of our undead soldiers have fallen, along with the Wardens. I step carefully around the scattered pieces of stone and the corpses of the dead, making my way to the beginning of the bridge. Samson pauses at the doorway on the far side, ushering the last of his men inside the temple. He smiles again with a smug expression, and disappears into the darkness beyond.
"Damn it, Samson's getting ahead of us!" I shout, rushing forward. I notice the elf from before is missing from where I saw him fall only moments before.
"Wait!" Dorian's voice calls out from behind me, and I turn to look.
One of the Wardens is on his feet, twitching in an unnatural fashion, and grunting with a guttural sound.
"Tenebris?" I ask, hoping my brother knows what's going on.
He shakes his head, and backs away, pulling Dorian with him further down the bridge. I watch in horror as black blood spurts forth from his mouth, his skin bubbling, transforming into something entirely different.
Stars, no...I've seen this before. This is what Archdemons do. Shit, that means…
My worst fears are confirmed when Corypheus's arm bursts out of the contorted, mangled mass that had been the body of a dying Warden only moments before. The shriek of a dragon, a sound I would know anywhere, cuts through the air overhead.
"Run!" I scream, hurtling myself forward, toward the double doors of the temple.
Sprinting toward the door, I reach it just after Declan, and I look back down the bridge. Corypheus is striding toward the doors, but when he meets my gaze he pauses in his steps, a sinister smile twisting his already misshapen face.
"Destroyer!" he shouts in a booming voice.
His dragon emerges over the top of the trees marking the edge of the temple, where it meets the Wilds. It soars closer, as the last of our party finally enters the temple. They immediately start to push the doors closed. I want to help, but my legs give out beneath me and I sink to my knees, trembling with my newfound realizations.
The dragon uses its breath weapon and red light cascades down onto the walkway, ringing with the familiar sound of crystal shards shattering on the stone. It grows closer, the arc of its breath raising up to hit the door. I stare helplessly, unable to move to aid my friends.
The doors close, just as the sound of magic vibrates outward. The red lyrium shards hit the door, but it holds. The light of a magical barrier seals the door, and a wave of force echoes outward. I feel weakness overcoming me, and I sob.
"Firefly! What happened?" Varric asks, rushing to my side, but I can't answer. "Are you hit? Tenebris, get over here," he orders.
Tenebris quickly moves to my side. "She's not hurt," he says. "I think this is emotional."
Varric gathers me into his arms, and I cling to him, sobs causing my body to jerk. He holds me tight in his embrace, running his hands over my back in a soothing motion.
A rumble of thunder from outside shakes the very floor.
"Sister," Tenebris says, reaching over to stroke my hair. "You need to calm down and talk to us."
I look up at him and he exhales in a huff of breath.
"I'm sorry Varric," my brother states, "but she needs the cold right now. With the state she's in, her power will tear this whole place apart."
I feel Varric nod. "Sweetheart," he says, the endearment breaking through my panic. "You have to do the thing with the cold. Turn the emotions off, or you're going to kill us all."
Cold, yes. That will help. I close my eyes and imagine the snowy mountains near Skyhold, and soaring through the skies above them on Tempestas's back. I take a deep, shuddering breath, but I can feel the sting of the cold mountain air. My fears turn to snowflakes, fluttering down gently around me, harmless. Yes. Embrace the cold. Encase it in ice. Another deep breath, welcoming the bite of the frigid air.
I pull away from Varric. His eyes shine with something, but when he turns away, it's gone. Were those tears? For me? Useless.
"I shouldn't be here," I announce, drawing confused looks from the group.
"What happened out there, Ferox?" Declan asked, stepping closer.
I hesitate, and Morrigan is the one who answers.
"Corypheus transferred bodies like an Archdemon. He possessed the nearest Blighted creature and rose anew."
"That must be how he survived when Hawke and I killed him," Varric comments.
"But Ferox, you're not afraid of magisters or Archdemons," Dorian says. "So Corypheus has a new trick, what makes this so different?"
"You're not getting it," I say, touching a hand to my chest. "Remember what I carry within me."
"Maker's Breath: Toth!" Declan exclaims. "Sorry," he adds, realizing what he's said.
"Lucis was right," I state, getting to my feet. "I should have stayed in the Black City."
"What?!" Tenebris blurts out. "Ferox, our bastard of a brother held you captive!"
"And what would have happened if I had been the closest Blighted creature, Brother? All Corypheus has to do is die around me and he gets what he wants. If he possesses Toth, he'll take over my body, and achieve the godhood he so desires, without having to set one foot inside the Black City."