Theron made his way over to Solas' chambers and he was furious. Once he entered, Solas didn't look at all surprised to see him, nor the angry look on his face.
"I suppose you have heard," he said.
"Is that all you've got to say?" Theron spat. "You ended things with Ellana and you say that with a straight face."
"It's no different for what you did with Leliana," Solas pointed out.
"I'm not saying that I'm better, but after all your resentment to both the Dalish and the Wardens I would have thought you'd try to be better than them," said Theron crossing his arms.
"I admit I should not have started it," said Solas.
"That doesn't excuse it!"
Solas nodded. "No, it doesn't. However, explaining my intentions would only cause more strife and right now our focus needs to be on Corypheus."
"Noted, but I should inform you that you're the only one in Skyhold who I have difficulty in trusting. Vivienne and Morrigan I can understand, but you are a complete unknown with very little background."
Solas turned to face him with an emotionless look on his face. "I appreciate you were informing me of your suspicions, I would expect no less from you. However, be sure that I want Corypheus dead as much as anyone."
"Noted," said Theron as he turned to walk out of the room. "But don't expect me to trust you."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," said Solas.
Leliana was kneeling at the shrine when Maxwell arrived. "I was pondering who might be Divine, and it suddenly occurred to me." She turned to Maxwell. "Is it so ridiculous for the grand clerics to support me? Why shouldn't they?"
"If you were Divine, what would you do?"
She touched the elven trinket lying on the shrine. "Change things. Change everything. Your support of the mage rebellion was a good start. We must build on this. No more Circles. The mages will be free. The Chantry will accept them as the Maker's children. In fact, it will accept everyone. Elves, dwarves, even Qunari. Why exclude them?" She gestured. "The Chantry allows our differences to tear us apart, instead of teaching us how we are the same."
"I think you would make a good Divine," said Maxwell.
"I am glad to hear it. Your support may persuade the grand clerics to vote in my favour." She petted one of the birds. "Justinia wanted to accept the mages. Our treatment of them made the mess you had to clear up. But perhaps it's not just mages we should accept, but all people. A nice dream, no?"
Maxwell had been a Chantry brother before all this began and he remember the oppressed looks on mages when he went to visit his sister. "It is certainly something worth working for."
"Ah, what am I saying? Justinia couldn't find enough support for reform. Why would I fare any better? Perhaps I should stop filling my head with such foolish notions and get back to work."
Maxwell made his way downstairs and found Dorian reading a book in his chair.
"What happened at the elven temple…" Dorian set his book down and stood up. "It's got me thinking. I should go back, shouldn't I? Once this is done…" He shrugged. "If we're still alive. All my talk of how terribly wrong things are back home, but what do I do about it? Nothing."
"How does this relate to the elven temple?" He raised an eyebrow at him.
"That elf, Abelas. He said the Imperium wasn't what destroyed the elves. My people would never accept that. It would reduce us to scavengers, destroyer legacy no matter how terrible. But we should accept it, take history down a peg, confront the legacy hanging over us like a shroud. Maybe not all of us want to, but that could be altered. If you can change minds, so can I." He took a deep breath as he drew himself to his full height.
Maxwell shook his head. "You're not doing nothing, Dorian. You came here. You're fighting with us."
"Thank you for saying that. I want to do more than stop Corypheus, however. I want to save my home." He looked at him. "It might surprise you to know that you and the guard are the one who inspired me. You're shaping the world…" He put his hand on his shoulder. "For good or ill. How could I aspire to do any less? If that means proving that Tevinter can be better, that there's hope even for my homeland? I would do anything."
"Hey, you! You have time? It's not a question, let's go." Sera grabbed Erdic arm, practically when he turned round the corner, and began pulling him out of the main hall. "I've got something I want to do for you. Just come, you won't need your gear and stuff."
"Sera?" He said trying his best to keep up with the elven woman. "Explain?"
"Ugh, just come on, will you? I haven't wanted to do this with anyone for a long time."
"We're eating. On a roof." He looked at the cookie-like object in his hand.
"They're horrible, right? And raisins, ugh! I frigging still hate cookies!"
Erdic was still completely bewildered what was going on. "You know, this is about as far from what I expected as we could get."
Sera looked down at the cookie in her hand. "I got caught stealing when I was little, yeah? You get alienage or worse for that. Some daft boy hit the guards so they'd let me go, and I ran. The 'Lady Emmald' saw it. She took me in." Sera turned the cookie over and over. "She was sick and couldn't have children. I had no parents. It worked out. Anyway, she gets a year sicker, so I ask about her cookies. Because mums make cookies. I can pass that down, or something. Turns out, she couldn't cook. She missed that talk with her mum. The ones she 'made' she bought and pretended. Aw, right? Well, no, she was a bitch. She hid buying them by keeping me away from the baker. She did that by lying that he didn't like me, didn't like elves. She let me hate so she could protect her pride. I hated him so much, and I hated…" The cookie crumbled in her hand. "Well, she died, and I hate pride. 'Pride cookies.' But. This Inquisition thing is working out. So I figured I could make some..." She turned to look at Ruya. "'Inquisition cookies?' Because then I could like them again? Ugh, it's stupid."
"You know what?" Erdic smiled. "That would be great."
"See, I knew…" Sera blinked. "Wait, really? Because it seemed frigging daft every step to me." She sighed. "Suppose it's not really about them. I hate learning lessons. Makes my stomach hurt. Anyway, I'll throw this rubbish away. Next time will be better, yeah?"
"Sera? Anytime." He looked down. "Can we get off the roof now?"
"Oh, yes, please. Smells like bird and dank. This part, not a good idea. Thanks, yeah? Feels good, this."
Ellana was looking over the battlements as he tried to figure why Solas ended things. She didn't even notice that Cole was sitting on the ramparts. He shifted his position when he saw her coming. "Corypheus died, and then he didn't. That's why he always felt wrong, like he didn't fit inside himself. He wears another man's life. I thought dying was forever."
Ellana turned around and placed her arm around his shoulders. "It's hard for any of us to make sense of. Corypheus is using ancient magic."
Cole stood, and paced along the railing. "But is it him? Is he real? If a man can be dead and then not…" He stopped, and turned to look at her. "Could I have saved the real Cole?"
Her heart broke for him. "What happened to him wasn't your fault."
"His hands were bruised from beating on the wall. It was dark like the cabinet where he hid to escape his father. His belly hurt like knives, throat cracked dry. He was along. I pushed through and held his hand. It was all I could do." Cole sat down. "He said, 'thank you.'"
She put her arm around him again, and he leaned into her, resting his head on her shoulder. "Thank you," he said quietly.
Vivienne was in the midst of showing her guests around Skyhold and they just stared in amazement.
"I was expecting ruins," said the middle-aged woman next to her.
"They were. As you can see, the Inquisition has not been idle," said Vivienne.
"Would be possible to meet the Herald and his guard before we return to Ghislain?" the young man asked.
"My dear Laurent," Vivienne smiled. "For you, anything."
She then waved a hand over to Maxwell and Ellana, who were busy talking with Josephine. Josephine been quite surprised to see Ellana's face unmarked and she was in the middle discussing what had happened to them.
Upon seeing Vivienne's hand, however, they strolled over to her and her guests.
"Allow me to present Inquisitor Trevelyan and Lady Lavellan."
"Your Worship, you do us great honour," the young man bowed. He then took Ellana's hand and kissed it. "And it is a pleasure to meet you, my lady."
"My dears, this is dear Bastien's sister, Grand Cleric Marcelline. And his son Duke Laurent of the Council of Heralds."
Marcelline looked at Ellana with great appreciation. "Madam de Fer has told us what great trials you faced, trying to save my poor brother's life."
"The Maker called my father to His side," said Laurent. "It was valiant of you to champion him in his final hours."
"If I have been able to save Bastien," said Ellana sadly.
"The Circle of Magi told Bastien many years ago that his illness was incurable," said Marcelline. "It was simply his time."
"I'm just sorry that urgent matters prevent me from assisting Lady Lavellan," said Maxwell.
"We understand, Your Worship," said Laurent. "We know that any member of your guard expresses your will in your absence."
"Would you mind waiting for me in the chapel, my dears?" Vivienne asked. "The Inquisitor, Lady Lavellan and I have matters to discuss."
"It has been our very great pleasure, Herald," Laurent bowed.
The two of them bowed and made their way outside.
Vivienne then turned to look at them. "This has been quite the triumph, hasn't it? They just adore you."
"I can't believe you told them about the snowy wyvern," said Ellana in disbelief.
"Of course, my dear," said Vivienne. "Bastien's death was a great loss. A dash of heroics was just what they needed. Laurent is a dear. Almost as pious as his aunt, and you to a seat of great power in the empire. And Marcelline is one of the strongest voices amongst the grand clerics. Now they will both come to us for advice. The Inquisition is truly a power now, and there's no telling how far its influence will reach. But another this talk. Here. I have something for you."
She then handed ring to both Maxwell and Ellana.
"I commissioned these rings from the Formari—the graces and chances in all Thedas—for you."
"This is a generous gift," said Maxwell looking at the ring. "Thank you, Vivienne."
"Once, it was customary for the Circle to craft enchantments for their staunchest friends and allies. And the two of you have been both. I must go to see my guests now. Another time, darlings."
Maxwell met up with Cassandra at the battlements and the overlooks the valley.
"Victory in the Arbor Wilds," said Cassandra. "The Archdemon might have been a real threat to our army, but it flew off once we turned the tide. It is still out there, however. I wonder what Corypheus plans now."
"We'll deal with whatever he throws at us," Maxwell assured.
"Do not underestimate Corypheus," Cassandra warned. "He is powerful, and you have yet to fight him one-on-one. But he will come. You will get your chance."
Maxwell turned and looked into her eyes and wrapped his arms around her. "We'll face Corypheus together."
Cassandra pulled in closer to him. "There is not another man I would be more proud to fight beside." She then turned and looked back down into the valley. "Not long ago, this was impossible to imagine. You, the man I love. Victory close at hand. The time has come to consider what will come next."
"I don't care what comes next, as long as we're together."
"And if I am named Divine?" she enquired.
"We can still be together," he promised.
Cassandra looked uncertain. "Can we? I'm not so certain." She then found her mouth drawing closer to his. "You haven't lost me yet."
The two of them then kissed and wrapped their arms around one another.
"Did you…" Leliana gave Morrigan a worried look. "Find what you need, Morrigan?"
"I can match the darkspawn magister's dragon, yes. As for matching Corypheus…" Morrigan turned towards Maxwell. "That is up to you, and the guard, Inquisitor."
"Believe me, we know." He leaned on the war table.
"Then all that remains is to find Corypheus before he comes to us," said Cullen.
"We've been looking for his base since all this began, with no success." Leliana tossed a marker across the table in frustration.
"His dragon must come and go from somewhere." Cullen stared at the map as though the answer would magically appear before them.
"What about the Deep Roads?" Josephine waved her pen. "We could send word to Orzammar, hire envoys to—"
Suddenly Maxwell's mark began to flare up again like it had done during the expansion of the Breach. Green light flooded the room, and they all turned to stare at the window. The sky above where haven had once stood was writhing and glowing.
"I think I have a pretty good idea where he is," said Ellana.
"It seems Corypheus is not content to wait," said Morrigan.
"He's in the Valley of Sacred Ashes?" said Maxwell.
"You either close the Breach once more, or it swallows the world."
Josephine dropped her pen. "But that's madness. Wouldn't it kill him as well?"
"I fear that Coryphues is a sore loser," said Theron as his eyes stared at the Breach. "If he cannot have the world then no one can."
"We have to stop him immediately," said Adaar.
"Inquisitor, we have no forces to send with you—we must wait for them to return from the Arbor Wilds," said Cullen.
"Just as Corypheus expects, I suppose," said Maxwell.
"This is a message for us," said Ellana. "He's proclaimed a challenge against us."
"We don't have time to delay," said Adaar. "We must leave now."
"Inquisitor, I think you can put this to better use than the," said Theron as he handed him Starfang.
Maxwell looked at the sword and then to Theron. "You're sure?"
"You're gonna need every advantage you can get," said Theron.
Eridc was outside the infirmary for Hanara was about to have a baby. Who was pacing up and down the corridor and a messenger rushed over to him.
"Lord Erdic, I bring urgent news," he said.
"What's more urgent than my wife giving birth to our child?" Erdic snapped.
"Uh, Corypheus has reopened the Breach and the Inquisitor is about to set out to face him."
"Okay that's important," he said as he looked to the door. He wanted to be with his wife so much, but that would mean very little with Corypheus destroyed the world. "Can you tell my wife of the situation."
"Of course, sir," said the messenger.
Eridc then grabbed his shield and sword and made his way to battle.
Corypheus was standing outside the ruins of the temple looking down at the Inquisition soldiers that were guarding it. They had fought valiantly to prevent him from entering, but he was too strong for them.
"Tell me, where is your Maker now?" Corypheus towered over the remaining soldiers. "Call Him. Call down His wrath upon me." The orb glowed red as it floated above his hand. "You cannot, for He does not exist. I am Corypheus. I shall deliver you from this lie in which you linger. Bow before your new god and be spared."
One of the soldiers got to his feet. "Never!" he said raising his blade.
"As you wish." Corypheus gathered fire in his hands as he tore the Veil.
The pulse sent to the soldiers flying and then terror demons are merged. One struck one of the soldiers down, but a second managed to bring it down before toppling over. Cassandra then stabbed the demon with Starfang.
Maxwell then made his way over to Corpheus along with his guard and his companions. Scout Harding was also among them along with a small group of Inquisition soldiers.
Corypheus turned towards him and bowed mockingly. "I knew you would come."
"It ends here, Corypheus," said Maxwell raising his daggers.
"And so it shall." He called his power to him, and the entire temple began to lift up into the air. Scout Harding toppled over and landed on the ground and watched as the temple took off into the air.
"You and your guard have been most successful in foiling my plans, but let us not forget what you and your guard are. A thief, in the wrong place at the wrong time. An interlopers. Gnats. We shall prove here, once and for all, which of us is worthy of godhood."
"I didn't come here to become a god, Corypheus," Maxwell yelled.
"We came to put a stop to you once and for all," said Adaar as he drew her great sword.
"Avenge those you used as pieces on a chess board," Ellana added with her staff in her hands.
"And protect those that are being born into this world," said Erdic slamming his sword on his shield.
Corypheus glared at them and then his archdemon appeared from the temple ruins towering over them. It then pounced and was heading straight for them, but out of nowhere a second dragon appeared and tackled it.
It took Maxwell a few seconds to realise that the dragon was in fact Morrigan.
"You dare." Corypheus roared.
They then charged at him with everything they had.
"A dragon. How clever of you," said Corypheus and send a bolt of lightning and Dorian blocked it with all his might, but ended up being pushed backwards. "It will avail you nothing."
He then sent Iron Bull backwards as he raised his axe, but was unable to block Sera's arrow which struck him in the gut. He then sent a powerful shock wave that knocked Sera away with one arm and knocked Cole aside with his other.
Vivienne then tried to create an icy blizzards straight at him, but he easily blocked by casting fire. Then Adaar appeared out of nowhere and punched him across the face. He then created an orb of lightning in his hand which would have killed Adaar if Ellana had and raised her barrier in time. It still however knocked her backwards.
"You will fall as a warning to those who oppose my divine will!"
Corypheus taunted them as he moved through the floating ruins. However his taunts did not dissuade them from their duty as they began to push forwards knowing that he was in fact running away. Maxwell could feel Solas adding his own strength to Ellana's barrier reinforce it.
As the clouds broke apart and reformed, he saw the two dragons locked in mortal combat. The beast that was Morrigan soared upwards before turning, folding its wings, and diving to hit the tattered creature with a massive blow. It would have worked, had Corypheus not chosen that moment to throw a bolt of energy at her. Morrigan faltered just enough for the other dragon to shift position. A moment later, there was only one dragon on the field. A tattered beast, moving towards them.
"She's hurt, but not dead. We have to help her," said Cole.
"There's a dragon trying to kills us," Erdic pointed out.
"All the better to revive our own." Solas gestured with his staff.
There was nothing they could do for Morrigan now. Hopefully, one of the others would be able to reach her.
Fortunately for them, Theron had taught them the weaknesses of an Archdemon just in case they encountered it. He said the most important thing was to ground it by striking at its wings so that they could fight it on ground level. Then they would have to attack its soft underbelly until was limping.
He also informed them that the weakest spot on an Archdemon was when it tried to take a bite out of them. Simply sidestepped out of the way and then strike its neck and it would fall almost immediately. Of course that was easier said than done, Varric was distracting it with bolts and traps he had laid across the battlefield. Iron Bull and Adaar fought it head-on so they could distracted while Cole and Maxwell could attack its limbs.
As the battle continued Maxwell began to wonder if this was what it was like when the wardens fought against a real Archdemon during the Fifth Blight. Ellana pierced its soft underbelly with her spirit blade and Cassandra was able to penetrate its tough scales with Starfang.
However, the beast then flapped its wings causing a massive up draught that sent everyone flying. It then made its way over to Maxwell, no doubt due to Corpyheus' influence. He could tell by the movement what it was going to do and quickly rolled underneath it just as it tried to snap.
He then plunged his daggers right into its neck and blood poured out like a geyser. It roared in pain and then collapsed onto the rocky ground. They then saw red energy coming from it and exited from its mouth.
They watched as the orb of light flew straight up towards the temple and struck Corypheus, who roared in pain. However, despite this pain he still remained strong as if he could still win.
"Let it end here. Let the skies boil. Let the world be rent asunder," he roared as he extended the orb into the air.
They then quickly climbed up the steps towards Corypheus, who was standing in the centre of some sort of altar. He had the orb in the air and Maxwell knew what he was planning to do. He was going to open the Breach even wider.
Corypheus saw them and said a massive pulse of magic straight at them. If it hadn't been for the combined efforts of Ellana and Solas, Maxwell and the guard would have been knocked over the edge. However the pulse slammed into the others and they topple down the stairs.
Maxwell hoped they were all right, but right now he had more pressing issues. Ellana then used her magic to send a massive bolt of lightning straight at the magister. This broke his concentration long enough for Erdic to stab him in the gut with his sword.
He knocked Erdic away and clasped his hand over his wound, but was unprepared for Adaar slamming the flat of her blade into his face. He knocked her back with a bolt of lightning and Maxwell then tossed the dagger that struck his shoulder.
Corypheus sent a massive pulse knocking him backwards and he stumbled backwards. "Not like this! I have walked the halls of the Golden City, crossed the ages…" He grasped the orb in his hand which glowed brightly in his hands.
Maxwell then rose to his feet grasping his hand which sparked. He then slowly made his way over to Corypheus, whose attention was on the orb.
"Dumat! Ancient ones! I beseech you!"
Maxwell raised his hand and Corypheus, no doubt able to sense his presence, turned his head to face him. He raised a hand that glowed bright red from the lyrium in his body and the orb he was holding started to glow green.
"If you exist—if you ever truly existed—aid me now!" Corypheus cried.
Using the power of the mark, Maxwell ripped the orb right out of his hands which struck his jaw, breaking it. It then landed in his hand and he watched as Corypheus fell to his knees. He drew in, drawing deep, letting it fill him. And then he raised his hand to the sky. The energy poured from him in a single burst, as it had before. The Breach shifted, fluctuated, trembled. And closed.
The orb fell from her hand. He strode to where Corypheus was struggling to regain his feet. "You wanted into the Fade?" He focused the last of the energy, tearing him along with the Veil. And he scattered him across the Void.
Without Corypheus magic the entire temple shock and rocks fell from the sky and crashed back down into the ground.
Maxwell rubbed his head and saw the rest of the guard picking themselves up. They then spotted Solas kneeling down on the ground where Maxwell had dropped the orb.
"Solas?" said Maxwell.
"The orb." He was kneeling next to the broken pieces.
"I know you wanted the orb saved. I'm so sorry," said Maxwell apologetically.
He set the piece he was holding down, and stood. "It is not your fault."
Ellana frowned at him. "There's more, isn't there?" she said.
"It was not supposed to happen this way." He took a breath, and looked out over the ruins. "No matter what comes, I want you to know that what we had was real." He then looked to the others. "And the three of you shall always have my respect."
That… felt like a goodbye. Ellana started to walk towards him, and then they heard Cassandra's voice. "Inquisitor? Are you and the guard alive?"
They then made their way back down to the others, who were there waiting. Dorian had Morrigan's arm over his shoulder. The others. Varric. Iron Bull. Cole. Cassandra. Vivienne. Sera. Blackwall. Harding. The dozen soldiers who came with them and the surviving soldiers that survived the battle.
Maxwell noticed that Ellana was glancing over her shoulder to see Solas at the top of the stairs, watching her. "Victorious, I see. What a novel result." Morrigan's voice drew his attention back.
"And you survive," said Cassandra looking at Maxwell. "Thank the Maker."
Iron Bull looked at Adaar. "And look at you, all not-dead. Nice work, kadan."
"And it seems the Breach is finally closed," said Morrigan looking up at the sky.
"Looks that way," said Maxwell.
"Let's hope it stays close this time," said Eridc.
"And hope that Corypheus actually stays dead," Adaar added.
"What's the matter," said Ellana "We won."
She moved in to heal the injuries the woman had taken.
"What do we do now?" Cassandra asked.
Maxwell looked over his shoulder again. Solas was gone. He looked to Ellana, who noticed this and saw a tear in her eye. He then looked back at Cassandra. "We go back to Skyhold."
