"Come on kid, we have to keep moving." Ellena again heard Varric's voice as if he was talking to her through thick water and she blinked a few times in a vain attempt to try and clear the fog from her eyes. Her head still hurt and spun from the impact against the wall and she was fairly sure that a large bump was already forming above her right ear.

"Here darling, why don't you try and drink the rest of the healing potion?" Without a time to fucus eyes on Vivienne's face which suddenly appeared before her Ellena felt a glass vial pressed to her lips and obediently downed the rest of its contents.

The previous dose had helped her on the feet and she was now able to walk, even though she still felt as if the whole world was swinging from side to side alongside with her. This time though Ellena hoped that the potion could take care of it and allow her to walk straight again. But there was one thing she was certain of, no amount of healing potion could stop the nausea which invaded her stomach as the group slowly made their way through the keep's corridors.

The whole place seemed like a nightmare incarnate. They discovered bodies, fresh and old alike. Some of them mutilated by countless hacks and slashes of swords and axes, others deformed by red crystals growing out and through of them. All the halls they've entered so far smelled with that horrible mixture of salt and sweetness. The mixture of blood and guts spilled over the stone floors and walls.

"I am not sure I've said it before, but I have really bad feeling about this." Varric repeat again his voice carried emphasis on "really" and he shifted Bianca in his hands again as if to make sure the intricate crossbow was trully ready to fire in case one of those bodies moved or if we've ran into those who fought them.

"Indeed. I think we all have the same idea about the situation." Solas replied dryly the impatience creeped into his voice.

Meanwhile Ellena felt the healing potion finally kick in and the fog before her eyes slowly disappeared. "I think I can walk now." The elf said towards Varric and steadied herself on her feet, at last the world stopped moving around.

"Just take it easy kid, you've got hit pretty hard back there. But I give it to you, you totally took that templar by surprise." Varric grinned at her and Ellena couldn't help it but to grin back.

"Well then, if we are ready, lets continue. We need to find out what happened to the others." Vivienne said in her usual sweet tone of voice and was already moving up the small flight of stairs and through the corridor the aura of her body and gestures betrayed nothing about if she was as disturbed by their treck through the keep as the others certainly were.

"Considering this stuff here is the red lyrium, I think we are in for more trouble, and I'm pretty sure others are too." Varric lightly patted Bianca but followed Vivienne with Solas coming along in his usual silence.

"Do you think others are alright?" Ellena asked Solas in half whisper as she felt growing fear and just had to distract herself with talking. It helped, at least somewhat.

"I certainly hope so. Although with all this around, the lyrium I mean, they might have encountered too large a resistance."

"Those templars we saw. The dead ones, do you think Cullen and others killed them?" The little elf next to him pressed on. Probably in some foolish hope she longed for reassurance. But at the same time knew better than to expect Solas to give her false solace from the truth.

"Some of them. But it seems that the templars turned on each other even before we've arrived into the keep."

"This stuff caused too much trouble in Kirkwall a few years ago. I still can't wrap my head around how it got here. Last time I saw anyone use it was when Knight-Commander Meredith fought against Hawke. It turned her into a statue." Varric commented and Ellena saw his grip on Bianca tighten if it was even possible.

"But these men, the lyrium seems to grow from them." Vivienne finally slightly slowed down as the group neared another closed doors in front of them at the end of the corridor. "If I had to guess, then I think the templars ingested the lyrium as a substitute for their normal dosage."

"That is sick." Varric growled while he crack-opened the door and looked through. "All clear. It seems that Curly and others did a good job in clearing this place out so far." He fully opened the door and waved at his friends with "come on" sign of his hand.

"Sick yes. But considering the strength of the men we have fought, it seems the red lyrium is much more potent than the regular version. I would strongly recommend that we collect some samples should the opportunity arise."

"We could propose it to the others once we meet up with them, Madame de Fer." Solas closed the door behind them with a somber nod.

The courtyard the group entered seemed rather clustered with various boxes and pallets with supplies. Among all the things scattered here and there layed bodies of more than a dozen templars. Ellena noticed that the blood was fresh. It coloured the grey cobble stones in crimson and the whole picture felt almost surreal. Suddenly the lightning split the skies above them and the rain slowly picked up again and Ellena felt grateful to the weather suddenly. Maybe the rain could wash away all this filth.

"The door over there is open. Lets check it out, maybe they went through that way." Varric pointed towards the door which apparently led to the inner section of the keep and the rest of them followed. "You know, I really hope Curly and Seeker will have a long talk with whoever is running this place."

"I am fairly sure that the Inquisition will deal with the matter in appropriate manner, darling." Vivienne replied in her usual stoic manner although her jaw was set tighter than usual and her dark eyes focused on each detail as if she made a mental list of all the wrongdoing which had happened here so she could use it properly later.

Ellena dragged herself behind everyone and just watched them exchange words without saying anything at all herself. She felt tired and sick. And more than that, she felf confused. They came here to get help with The Breach but so far they've only found pointless death. It reminded her too much of how things always turned out back home. Something urgent happened and those in power caused even further mayhem and destruction rather than solve the issue. And she suddenly felt foolish. Somehow she had hoped that South might be different.

"There!" Varric and Vivienne suddenly cried out simultaneously and Ellena looked up from her musing to spot Cullen, Blackwall, Cassandra and some templar crouching at the end of the hall, behind the corner and under relentless assault of four red templars.

"Kid, stay here and keep low. We deal with this then we will return for you." Varric pointed over his shoulder to the empty courtyard and the elf nodded in response. Despite her anger and willingness to help Ellena understood that she would only be in their way. "Right." She backed out slowly and gave others a final look and prayed to the Maker that she would see all of them alive and well again.

"Lets show these bastards how it feels when the reinforcements arrive, shall we?" Varric grinned and aimed Bianca at one of the targets while Solas and Vivenne hurried forward both already busy with sending bolts and jets from their staves and hammering the enemies with the fury of their elemental attacks.

As Ellena watched the display of her companion's unleashed fury, she'd found a good hiding spot behind the crates and waited. The rain poured down from the skies above and she tried to distract herself from the worries by looking around. Several dead bodies not even ten meters away from her were all fresh. In some stroke of morbid fascination she studied them. Four of them were templar archers. Some of them still held their bows but all of them had arrows sticking out of various places of their bodies. One had his throat torn.

The nearest body was the same monstrosity they'd fought on their way into the keep. Ellena noticed the lyrium still slightly pulsating and had to avert her eyes from the sight. Who would willingly do this to themselves? She asked herself before she noticed a blood trail which lead to the door on the right side of the courtyard. It looked as if someone dragged something through there. The elf followed the stains with her eyes and caught a glimpse of something silver reflecting on the ground. Ellena looked around again and slowly crouched forward to get a better look. It felt like ages had passed before she made her way to the item but luckily the courtyard remained deserted. She reached out for the silvery crest and her heart sank. She recognized the sigil. It belonged to Leliana.

"Cassandra, stop fretting over me. I am alright." Leliana pushed away Seeker's hand as Cassandra again and again tried to pin her down to the ground. "Honestly, the healing potion worked, no? Now let me join the fight."

"You do realize you almost died back there Leliana?" Cullen interrupted and crouched slightly lower to avoid another arrow which grazed the wall above his head.

"And we might all die here if you do not let me fight." Leliana spat angrily, her hand already held her bow tightly. "We need distraction and out of all of us here, I am fastest."

"This is nonsense Leliana." Cassandra frowned and raised her shield once more to protect everyone from another attack. This time the red templars fired bolts of red lyrium again and Cassandra gritted her teeth as the impact resonated through her whole arm and watched her shield slightly glow with red hue at the spots of impact. The Seeker looked down on Leliana once more, still unsure how her friend survived her wounds. She got shot with this much power right in the middle of her chest, but now the Left hand of the divine was arguing with her as if nothing happened.

"If we get to the upper level, there are lyrium caches in Captain Denem's office. It might help us." Ser Berrit motioned towards the door leading into inner levels of the keep.

"But..." Cullen's words had been interrupted by Leliana. "You want to stop this, no? Then you let me deal with this and press forward." The spymaster roughly pushed Cassandra aside and stood up with her bow already drawn. "You have as much time as I have arrows, rush to the door. All of you." Leliana gave one long glace to Cullen who seemed ready to pin her down again. "Go now!" Was all she had said before she rushed forward and fired her first arrows.

"Though darkness closes. I am shielded by flame!" Leliana said to herself in hushed voice and felt her skin burn as the fire spread from the wound in her chest up to her throat and cheeks. But she cared little at this moment. All she could think about was to give herself fully to the cause again. And if it meant dying for it, then so be it. She aimed her bow again and again, with each aim her arrows found their marks. Yet the red templars proved difficult opponents. The crazed men ignored their wounds and furiously moved to climb down the ladders in a mad attempt to storm the courtyard.

"Andraste guide me!" The spymaster fired another arrow and the third archer fell dead to the ground. "Maker take me to your side." Leliana dashed over the courtyard and just as she had hoped the focus of the remaining archers and the lyrium infused monstrosity was fully on her. She rolled over some crates to shield herself from the lyrium bolt which sizzled through the wood and left a gaping hole in the nearest box. Two more arrows buried inside the chest of the crazed templar. He let out a blood freezing roar and dashed over the courtyard to charge at his enemy head on.

"Now!" Leliana cried out and sent her last arrow at the monster her eyes locked on her comrades who safely crossed the courtyard, their shields up to protect them from any stray arrows which might have been fired their way.

Good. None of the archers hit their marks. Leliana breathed out in relief and took out her daggers. She watched others enter the inner part of the keep and smiled before she jumped out of her hiding place and met her foe head on. The fast and agile spymaster dove her daggers into the neck of the huge templar and with one twist of her wrists cut through the sinew an flesh. The man howled in pain and tried to claw with its twisted hands at her but she was too fast for him to reach.

The former bard nimbly pushed back and ducked low only to sidestep her foe and strike at his back. This time the lyrium infused warrior stumbled under the deep blows and fell on the ground, red blood spilled over the grey stones. Leliana had only so much time to rip out one of her arrows from the dead body and dash back for her cover when the remaining archers unleashed their shots.

In all the battles the spymaster had participated so far, this one felt the most unreal. She heard the cries of her enemies and saw them fall dead to the ground. But none of the templars uttered any words be it among themselves or to their enemies. Leliana turned her attention to the nearest man. The archer switched from his bow to short sword and was now slowly coming forward across the courtyard towards her hiding place. She had to wonder if with the immense strength the red templars had gained they lost the equal part of their reason. With her bow drawn to full power she unleashed her arrow and with great satisfaction saw it plunge through the man's throat. He let out a sickening cry of pain which died in a gurgle as blood spilled from the wound, trashed slightly on the ground for a few moments before his body remained still.

Two more to go.

But before the spymaster could even think about a way how to dispatch the remaining foes she felt herself propelled backwards by the sudden impact as one arrow had hit her shoulder. Leliana felt the tip of the arrow rip through her armor and flesh before it reached her right shoulder blade and shattered the bone. The pain blinded her vision and she had to bite down on her fist to stop herself from crying out loud. She felt two strong arms grasp her wrists, someone dragged her across the ground but she had to give others some clue. With that in mind Leliana managed to rip the silver sigil with her teeth from the bottom of her hood and watched it fall on the ground. The spymaster clinged to a small hope that others might notice it on their way back.

"Bring her to me!" a terrible voice echoed in her mind and in the last moments before she passed out Leliana could not even fathom if the voice belonged to a man or some monster. All she knew was that she has been captured.

"Look there." Blackwall suddenly grabbed Cullen's shoulder and pointed across the corridors of the inner keep at the three running figures, all of them already firing at the templars.

"Right on time!" Cullen breathed out in relief as he watched one of the red templar archers topple forward and crumble on the ground with three bolts from Bianca sticking out of his chest.

"Hey Curly, we thought you might need some hand with this." Varric grinned and fired another shot at the templar monstrosity which tried to flank them.

"Thank the Maker you are here." Cassandra smiled though her forehead glistened in sweat and she fought with all her remaining strength the second lyrium infused soldier.

"Well now what would you have done without me Seeker." The dwarf grinned. "Alright Bianca lets finish these bastards."

Between the six of them the remaining templars stood little chance. At last, the last one shattered into frozen pieces when Vivienne gracefully snapped her fingers.

"You look awful dears, do you need some healing potions? I still have two left." The Grand Enchanter patted her black leather bag, strapped casually over her shoulder.

"We are fine." Blackwall replied with a grateful nod.

"Where is Ellena?" Cullen suddenly looked around his eyes full of worry.

"We left her outside. She is alright." Varric replied and a knowing smirk spread over his face when he noticed the commander breathe out in relief.

"Did you see Leliana on your way in?" Cassandra asked while her eyes darted towards the door at the end of the corridor.

"No, we met no one on our way here." Solas replied with a slight frown on his face. "Should we head back?"

"We need to check this door first. I don't want any surprise at our back if we move out of here and hopefully there is some lyrium stored inside." Cullen stepped forward together with Blackwall, ready for frontal assault.

"I hope Leliana is alright." Cassandra remarked grimly as she joined with the two of them before the door, her shield and sword ready for whatever might lay behind it.

"She is resourceful Seeker. Now lets get this over with." Varric aimed Bianca at the door just as Cullen kicked them in.

To their great relief the office of Captain Denem was empty. Barris and Cassandra immediately headed towards blue labeled boxes piled in the corner to replenish the supplies. "If we meet anyone from the order who is on our side, this might help us win this." The young templar commented.

Meanwhile Cullen looked around the office. The walls were painted in red signs and symbols. This looked like a work of some cult rather than a headquarters of templar order. He noticed a bust with letter pinned to it and walked over to get a better look.

"Vivienne I think you should see this." Commander took the letter and handed it to Madame de Fer with quite alarmed look.

"Hmm interesting. So their next plan is to assassinate Empress Celene? Such act could very well plunge the whole South into the civil war." Vivienne studied the paper her eyes growing more angry with each line she read. "An excellent find commander. Now we know what our enemy is planning and we might be able to act."

"Barris, which way leads inside the keep? We need to stop this as soon as possible." Cullen barked at the Knight-templar.

"Back to the courtyard and through the door on the right. It leads to the upper levels and from there we can get inside the main hall. That is where I hope we can find Lord Seeker or anyone who is still on our side." The young man replied with haste. "I think we have everything we can carry from here."

"Alright, lets head back then. We need to find Leliana, with luck she just scouted ahead." Cassandra marched out of the office and the rest followed suit and made their way to the courtyard.

"Ellena!" She heard Cullen call out from the door on the other side of the courtyard and her heart skipped the beat. He was unharmed. Thank the Maker.

"Are you alright?" He asked as they all walked closer but the elf only nodded. She did not forget the letter from home or Leliana's advice.

"I found this." Ellena finally handed him the sigil which she had found. "It looks like Leliana's."

"Where did you find this?" Cassandra suddenly pushed through the group, worry reflected over her whole face.

"Right there, there are also tracks which lead to the door and this layed on the ground." Ellena motioned to the door on the right side.

"Alright. Ellena you stay with Varric and Solas at the back. Barris and Cassandra you will take the point. Rest will spread out. Watch out for ambushes. Lets get to the Lord Seeker and get this over with." Cullen tightly gripped his sword and all of them followed.

The door led inside into the keep. There were no bodies anywhere but the group could easily follow the trail of blood which led farther inside. Ellena followed silently between Varric and Solas, both of them held their weapons tightly, their eyes alert and ready. She kept her eyes on the floor and thought about Leliana. The elf had mixed feelings on the matter. She was certain that Lelliana hated her for some reason, although that was not a new attitude. Lots of people she'd met before detested slaves. But Lelliana was her mistress now and she was wounded. Ellena wondered just how much blood she must have lost, judging by the trail they followed her wounds were grim.

It felt like ages before the group left the inner corridors of the keep and exited to a clustered courtyard. It must have served once as a place of peace and solace. Ellena saw stone benches nestled under the trees in the center and a few unspoiled flower beds, the blossoms now sadly dripped with rain drops and quite well reflected the overall somber and grim mood of the day.

Several corpses layed scattered here and there, some of them looked like the red templars others were just young recruits, they probably fought against the madness of their superior officers and payed with their lives. Ellena a felt sudden pang of pain in the left palm of her hand and a small jolt of green light surged from the mark. So it seemed the demons were indeed present and maybe were behind all this madness.

Ser Barris led them through another door and a short room, the blood trial on the ground seemed thinner now. And Ellena was not sure if that was a good sign of Leliana's wounds getting better or a bad indicaton of her losing too much blood. At last they exited the building and stood before long flight of stairs which led towards the cathedral-like building at the very top of the keep.

"This is it. Whatever we might find inside, I am with you, Inquisition." Barris slightly bowed his head towards Cassandra and Cullen and all of the slowly mounted the steps, weapons ready and eyes alert to whatever might happen at the top.

Updated: 18.3.2016