Ma serannas for reading guys!
She held the Anchor high, the energy pulling from her hand towards the Breach. She could feel the mages pouring into her, making her skin electric. The pain in her arm was sharp and stabbing. Her breathe was short. But she was not going to withdraw. No, it was now. The mark will never be so powerful, she had to make it.
A flash blinded the whole assembly. The eerie green drowned the whole Temple for a second. And disappeared.
She fell on her knees, chocking. Oh no, don't you dare black –
This time she stayed out only for a couple hours.
She grunted as she woke up. She stretched quickly, happy to see her head was not dizzy. She was, actually, feeling good. Odd. Her eyes glanced to the mark. She was expecting for the damn thing to be painful. Her eyes widened with surprise. It was still here, of course, but it was back to the way it was after she stabilized the Breach the first time. Little bonus of closing this hole, apparently. It was not threatening the back of her hand anymore…Closing the Breach cicatrized it? She should ask Solas – Oh. Right. Fuck, how long did I sleep? Is he already gone? Her heart ached at the thought. She dismissed the feeling with a self-directed scowl.
She was still wearing her armor. Her gauntlets had been put off, however. She tidied herself up. Her white loosened braid falling on her right shoulder, her ear-wrap earring back in place and finally the gauntlets. A quick check told her the war-paints covering her vallaslin were still in place, even if faded. Daggers and throwing-knifes were on her belt. She steadied her staff on her back and checked her pack, resting against the wall. From the sounds outside, people were celebrating. She hesitated but decided not to leave right away. She would share few drinks – maybe an Orlesian cake if Solas was still around – and pass by to grab her pack.
She did not feel like fleeing like a thief. Not this time. Varric did say he was thinking about going back to the Free Marches. I wonder if he took a decision. We could as well travel together until there. Before I go on to Antiva.
She closed her eyes with a wince. That was a plan she had kept to herself. She had thought seriously to go back to Tevinter, but she had already dismissed the thought when she talked with Solas. Going back to Tevinter, but to what end? Without the Ben-Hassraths, she felt like there was no point. Worst, the idea was making her sick with herself. She had lied to these people for the last three years, spying on behalf of the Qun. How could she go back there like it was okay? Like she belonged there?
She did not belong anywhere, that was the whole point of her life. She could stay in Ferelden or Orlais but, then what? Resuming her job as the Banal'ras, leaving a train of corpses behind her, spying for the highest bidder and the Dalish? Fleeing each time the Crows find her? This was doomed. The face of the Herald of Andraste had spread in three months. Her agents could go on without her, Oran could take the lead. It was time to surrender to the Guild. With Venicio dead, they would be reasonable, they will take what she offered: her. They did not care of her kin or her connection to the Inquisition if not as a way to make her coming out of cover. She shook her head to chase the perspective of her imminent death and wielded a smile. It was time to celebrate, not to be all broody.
She almost bump into Solas who was about to knock on the door. She considered quickly the elf. He was obviously as ready as she was to take off. He lowered the hand who was about to knock, suppressing a smirk.
"Herald." And, back to all formal. She nodded her greetings.
"Solas. You…needed something?"
"I wanted to know if you were alright. I checked the Anchor when you were asleep, it is stable." He paused and smirked "For needing something, I believe we had an agreement for tonight." She chuckled.
"Roof?"
"Don't you want to grant the people a glimpse of their savior?" She shrugged.
"I can go to the tavern later. They are all probably drunk anyway, I doubt –"
She stopped her words as the bell of the Chantry suddenly rang. They looked at each other and rushed without more thoughts towards the doors. Cullen was shouting orders. As the both of them made it to the Commander, Josephine, Leliana, Cassandra, Varric, Dorian, Blackwall, Vivienne, Sera and Bull also arrived from scattered directions. Their eyes widened as they saw the mountains. Torches indicated the presence of an army. A big army. Cassandra spoke first.
"Cullen?"
"One watchguard reporting. It's a massive force, the bulk are over the mountain." THAT is not the bulk? Oh, creators…
"Under what banner?" asked Josephine.
"None."
They turned to him with disbelief. None? What the hell?! Mahariel started when a knock resounded on the door. She did not even think and took a step forward. The voice seemed…Familiar. She could not remember who or when but something about it pushed her to the door.
The aura around the young blond man was peculiar. It was not the magic of a mage, not exactly. She decided these considerations will have to wait. Who the hell was this Elder One? She already knew it was a powerful son of a bitch thanks to Redcliffe. She narrowed her eyes, as everyone else to see the creature.
"HOLY SHIT." Came Varric's comment whose the audience missed a good part of the implications. Mahariel grunted, dark.
"Good sum-up. Cullen, what's the plan?"
The Commander oriented them to the trebuchets. Their only chance was to control the battlefield. She nodded and took over.
"Dorian, Sera, gather as many people as you can in the Chantry, put them safe and out of the battle. Bull, I want the Chargers to keep the gates. Solas, gather mages. Stay away from the templars and focus on protection. The others, with me. GO."
They all nodded to their assignations and they split. She rushed outside with Vivienne, Blackwall, Cassandra and Varric. A wave of red templars were already on the Inquisition soldiers. She exchanged a look with Vivienne. Both of them wielded their spiritual blades and fade-walked to reach the trebuchet.
She drew a barrier around the soldiers next to her. Between two spells, Vivienne rolled her eyes at her and drew a barrier around them both. Mahariel seriously considered sticking her tongue out at her but thought better of it. She throws bolts of energy to the templars around Cassandra before her eyes turned to an archer.
"Blackwall, watch out!"
The Warden raised his shield in extremis for the arrow to stick itself into. She disappeared in stealth to stab the archer in the back. The foe turned around with a cry, sending his bow in her face. Fuck, their armor was thick. A lightning – or apparently an "arrow" – immobilized him. She smirked at Dalish near the gates and swept the legs of the man. He fell heavily. She cut his throat in a second.
The trebuchet fired, as a next wave of templars made their way to them. She took her staff, putting quickly ice mines all over their way to buy time to the soldiers loading the trebuchet. Cassandra, Vivienne and Blackwall waited for them to run into the traps.
They didn't see the mines on the snow and rushed right into them. Vivienne fade-walked through a clean line of templars on their rear, chilling them even more. The metal properly weakened, Varric sent an explosive shot, bursting armors into pieces. The two warriors finished the enemies easily. Mahariel smirked, satisfied.
An archer suddenly flanked her. She dodged the arrow with a precise gesture of her staff. She jumped to reach him and swung the top-side of her weapon as a mace. It sent the templar face into the snow. She did not lose a second and killed him with the blade at the other end.
As the trebuchet fired again, she regained little faith into the battle. They were effectively controlling the battlefield. A scout yelled for her attention. She gave a single nod, breaking into a quick jog, the others on her heels.
Her nose wrinkled at the sight of the templars holding the second trebuchet. She stopped the party before the opponents spotted them and exchanged a look with Varric. He immediately nodded, preparing the bolts.
"Ready whenever you are, Grey." Whispered he.
She made a quick countdown with her hand. The hail of flaming bolts swoop on the templars, cries of surprise and pain resounding. The warriors and knight-enchanters broke into a sprint instantly, taking advantage of the panic.
"Herald, go for the trebuchet!"
Mahariel heard Cassandra and hesitated a second before changing her path. Yes, they needed the thing to fire. She began to turn the rusty handle, teeth gritted. Calibrating is nice, Commander, but oil would have been appreciated.
"Herald!"
She turned too late, the shield sending her feet away from her task. Blackwall groaned, frustrated to have let the threat known too late. He caught the man with a precise throw of his grabble, pulling him to him. Vivienne drew a barrier around Mahariel. She was now closer than her to the handle. The mages exchanged a look as they switched assignments.
Seeing Blackwall was handling the knight, she focused on the archers, helping Varric. Cassandra was busying herself with some footmen. Mahariel took the throwing knifes on her belt, enflaming them. One. Two. Three. A bolt hissed near her ear and she heard the corpse landing heavily next to her. She gave a nod to Varric, looking quickly at the now-dead rogue. Nasty one, trying to get a close-ranged shot at her.
Her eyes scanned the horizon and she yelled, breath short.
"NOW!"
The trebuchet fired. She barely had time to take a breath. Suddenly a huge row filled the place. Oh no. The sound was not something someone could forget.
"DRAGON! EVERYONE TO THE GATES! NOW!"
She jumped backwards as the said dragon arrived, spilling fire in her direction. She considered the train of corruption of what she thought fire with awe. Oh my gods, what is… She considered the red glowing of the snow. Her eyes widened in horror but she shook the thoughts. They had to go. Now. She grabbed the bow of the corpse in front of her as she began to run. She had the hunch one more weapon was going to be useful.
She saw Harrit trying to open the door of the forge. She yelled at him to go but he ignored. She did not argue. Instead, she summoned her spiritual blade and burst the crates in his way. He rushed inside and came back a handful of seconds later, now ready to follow.
She was the last one to make it to the gates. She tried the best she could to ignore the Inquisition corpses next to the now destroyed trebuchet in front of the gates. Cullen closed the door behind her and they began to rush to the Chantry.
She heard a cry for help on the way. She spun to look at the cottage in flames. She sped up to reach it.
"NO!"
The dragon reappeared and blow up the wooden building and anyone inside. She felt a hand on her elbow. Cassandra looked at her, shaking her head. Too late. Another shout resounded from the other side. Lysette fell, a red crystal through her heart. But it had not been her cry. She tried to ignore the dead to focus on the ones she could still save. She yelled with rage, and wielded her spiritual blade, rushing into the group of red templars. She cut a head right away, and casted immolate on immolate.
"Varric, the Tavern, someone's inside!"
"Got it, Grey!"
She saw a red templar advancing towards the dwarf. She sent an energy barrage.
"This way, idiot!"
She felt Vivienne's barrier coming back around them. Thank the Creators, it was full strength and the arrow aiming for her head bounced on it. She immobilized the archer with a winter grasp and Cassandra broke the frozen body with her shield. She plunged her blades into the back of an opponent and kicked the corpse out of her way. Varric came out of the Tavern, helping Flissa walking. Mahariel gave the smallest smile. Finally, they got someone out of this. The dwarf looked up on the side and shouted.
"Grey, up there! Adan and Minaeve!"
She looked at the battle. They had the advantage. She disappeared into stealth and ran to the apothecary. She helped the woman up. Minaeve grunted, head dizzy. Mahariel took the staff from her back to give the elf something to stand. She suddenly saw the explosives next to them and the train of fire expanding. She fade-walked with the woman just fast enough to avoid the deathblow. A shard sank into her shoulder.
"ADAN!"
But it was too late for him. Again. She felt the tears of rage running down her cheeks. This bastard was going to pay for this. She looked back at her party. The path was clean to the Chantry.
As she helped Minaeve and Varric helped Flissa, they spotted Threnn engaged in a fight. She saw the arrow. She burnt it before it reached her. Cassandra, Blackwall and Vivienne rushed to help the requisition agent. Minaeve shoved her slightly, resting against the staff. She slid her hand under Flissa's arms, giving a fragile nod towards the battle. Mahariel and Varric exchanged a look. They stayed nearby, but she took the bow she had salvaged earlier as he loaded Bianca. They aimed for the path the templars were coming from. Mahariel grunted as she felt how low her mana pool was. No mines, nor flaming arrows then.
They all stepped into the Chantry. She pulled off fiercely a shard still deep in her skin and turned to face Cole and Roderick. The man was in bad shape. Even without Cole's words, she would have guessed he was not going to make it. She closed her eyes. They needed a plan. Now. Cullen, Solas, Dorian and Sera on his heels, came to her. Bull was with the Chargers. She looked towards him quickly, relieved to count as many of his men as before. Her gaze met Solas' quickly. Cullen finally got her attention. No kidding the situation was not good. Fuck, she did not need a report to know that!
"…They'll kill everyone in Haven!"
"The Elder One doesn't care about the village. He only wants the Herald." Mahariel looked at Cole with hope.
"Will he let them go if I surrender?"
She ignored every eye on her, whether they were disapproving or respectful, only interested by Cole's answer. Which was not what she wanted to hear. The discussion turned awfully fatalistic. Not that she could blame the Commander. It certainly looked like the end. Until Cole spoke again. Apparently on behalf of Roderick. The Chancellor took over. There was a path. A way out of Haven. Unknown to most. People could flee through it. Mahariel nodded.
"Then you go. I will stall them."
"What of your escape?" asked Cullen. She remained silent, face unreadable. The features of the man softened as he realized she did not mean to survive this. He was to add something but got interrupted.
"You are not going back there alone, Herald." Declared Cassandra.
"Agreed." Nodded Solas.
"I'm in too." Concluded Varric. She scowled.
"Absolutely not." Varric snorted without mirth.
"We don't have time to argue and you cannot prevent us from following you, Grey. You are not going out there alone."
She scowled deeper and seriously considered knocking the three of them out. She turned with hope her eyes towards Dorian, Sera and Vivienne. They had to reason them. Dorian frowned.
"Don't look at me. If they don't, I will."
"Hell yeah." Confirmed Sera. Vivienne rolled her eyes.
"This is a lost cause, my dear. Surely you can see that."
Cassandra let out a disgusted noise at Vivienne's words, and Sera stuck her tongue out at the Grand Enchantress. Mahariel looked from one to another to the door to the Chancellor. Fenedhis, there was no time for this! She suppressed a swallow. She needed to focus on her anger not anything else. She glanced quickly towards Solas. They all had to get out of here. He had to get out of here. But there was no time to reason them. She cried out in frustration.
"If you come, I need your word that you will do as I say. If I tell you run, you do. Understood?" She paused and when the answers did not come, she repeated, louder, unquestionable. "Understood?"
The three of them reluctantly nodded. This time, she allowed her eyes to linger as they met Solas'. She had no idea if they intended to proceed but as Varric said, there was no time for more words. She could only hope that they will. I'll make sure they do, thought she with forced confidence into the words.
Roderick and Cole – Mythal only knew how the boy knew the piece of information too – indicated quickly to the party how to reach the path if a chance to escape appeared. Thankfully, Cassandra knew the building well enough to mentally locate it and she affirmed she knew how to proceed. Cullen spoke a last sentence that she believed wanted itself encouraging. She was going to take off when Roderick stopped her.
"Herald…If you are meant for this, if the Inquisition is meant for this, I pray for you." She nodded sternly and stretched her hand to the Chancellor.
"Save them, Chancellor." Despite the pain, his features softened a bit. After a sec of hesitation, he shook her hand.
"Likewise, Herald."
She took a step back unwillingly. Blood was dripping from her blades and armor. She froze at the appearance of the monster. Once, it had been a man.
"What the hell is that…" Asked she to no one in particular under her breath.
"A Behemoth." Came Solas' short reply.
The four of them were standing close to each other, Mahariel trying to find the time to turn the trebuchet's handle. She swallowed as the monster approach. It was a shapeless heap of Red Lyrium. His limbs were more maces than hands. Her grip on her daggers tightened as she took a step forward. Nothing was going to prevent her from aiming this trebuchet. Cassandra charged immediately and Varric cocked his crossbow, beginning to fire fiercely. Solas wrapped the all of them in yet another barrier. Before she could charge, he held his hand in front of her.
"Wind the trebuchet. We can take care of this."
"What?! No! It is going to crush someone!" He looked deep into her eyes.
"I will take this chance as long as I'm sure it won't be you." Said he softly, almost a whisper. Her lips parted slightly with bewilderment as her heart raced even more than it already did. "Mahariel, wind the trebuchet."
He put a hand on her shoulder as he commanded, before turning towards the behemoth. He struck it with a fierce veilstrike and went on with an energy barrage. Mahariel looked few seconds before turning effectively towards the trebuchet. She kept an eye on the fight, ready to intervene at the first sign of danger for the party.
She spun and trapped the arm of the behemoth into ice before it smashed Cassandra. Its limb weighted up, the behemoth lost its balance few seconds. Cassandra jumped on her feet. Solas looked at Mahariel, clearly saying don't you dare charge. She gave him an exhausted smile, an idea jumping in her head. She tossed him a little blue bottle. A lyrium potion. He took it gratefully.
"You have something in mind, don't you?" Asked he, giving her a smile of his own.
"A show on ice, so to speak."
She smirked. He raised a brow before understanding where she was going. Yes, they needed their mana pool full for this…But with the both of them, they could finish this thing. Seeing understanding in his gaze, she muttered a countdown.
They rushed as one in fade-walk through the behemoth. They emerged at its rear. Solas raised his staff and Mahariel her hands as they assaulted the monster with a double winter-grasp. The glowing beast froze. Sweats was dripping from their forehead under the effort of the spell, way more powerful than usual, considering the size of the behemoth.
"Not to be rude, but could you stop starring and attack?" Shouted Mahariel with a husky voice.
The bolts were swiftly enough joined by the sword. The behemoth eventually exploded in shards of ice and red lyrium. They barely let out a sigh that Mahariel was already rushing to finish aiming the trebuchet.
"Take a head-start to the Chantry. No need to have the four of us running away from the avalanche."
They merely rolled their eyes, watching her back, weapons drawn. She groaned but didn't add anything. The Commander would fire the signal and they would be out within minutes. With the lyrium they just took, Solas and her could even drag the others in a fade-walk to reach the building if needed.
She took a satisfied look at the trebuchet. The aim seemed about right. She exchanged a look with Cassandra who nodded. Good, just had to wait for –
"Watch out!"
They jumped on the side as the dragon skimmed the ground, a trail of corruption behind her. It brought down what was left of Haven's outer wooden wall. With the barricades and the buildings burning, they could even see the Chantry from where they were. A path of debris, red lyrium shards and burning beams led now right there.
Mahariel jumped on her feet, stretching a hand to Varric as Cassandra helped Solas up. The dragon was circling, obviously ready to come back but waiting for something. A horrible hunch in her guts, Mahariel pressed the other on the path cleared by the beast.
"Run! Now!"
She began to run as well, grabbing Varric's elbow. She, however, loosened her grip and slowed down as soon as they all broke into a sprint of their own. They have to get out of here. This elder one wants me. He won't go after them if I'm standing right here. Solas felt the distance growing and stopped abruptly, turning towards her.
"Mahariel, come!"
"I said run, Solas."
Storm eyes met lagoon ones once more for what seemed an endless moment. It was barely a second. She gave him a confident smile. One of their smile which was promising everything was going to be okay. He held his breath but let the Seeker dragged him further towards the Chantry. Mahariel kept her eyes into Solas', unwavering, unaware of the dark respectful gaze of the Seeker and of the rueful one of Varric.