Chapter 3: A Son's Awakening
Nellas groaned softly as his eyes opened to the cold dungeon floor. He had a sense of grogginess and wondered where he was. Nellas' head ached hard and his stomach grumbled painfully. He took in a sharp intake of breath when he realized his left hand stabbed painfully. Nellas brought up his hand and realized he was in cuffs. Where was he? What happened? What is this glowing thing on his hand and why does it hurt so much? The last thing he remember was going through the doors of the Temple to witness the Conclave…
The Conclave! What happened? Nellas looked wildly around but couldn't see anyone around. Where was his mother? Was she ok? Then he realized that there were guards surrounding him with their swords out. Nellas gulped as his hand flared and he hissed in pain. He brought up his hand and it flashed again. He grunted in pain. The door in front of him flew open. The guards put away their swords and he observed the women. Two women came in, one with dark hair and ever darker expression. The other one was hooded and kept to the shadows while the other one circled around him.
"Please tell me what's going on! I don't remember how I got here and-" Nellas started.
"What do you mean 'what's going on?'" The dark haired woman said, an accent playing in her words. "Do you not remember the Conclave's destruction, the people that died? No one survived, except you."
Her words rang in his head over and over again. The Conclave was destroyed? Everyone died? He gasped as he looked down, trying to process all of this. This was more than anything he's even gone through and now there was someone that really looked at him as the guilty party.
"I…I don't understand. How is that even possible?" Nellas asked before his hand flared again. She came up and snatched his hand.
"Is this the thing that allowed you do destroy the Conclave?" She glared.
"I don't even know what that is or how it got there!" Nellas pleaded, his voice cracking in fear.
"You're lying!" She growled and grabbed his shoulders. The hooded woman took her away and Nellas wanted to sink into the floor. He was scared and confused and, for the lack of his manliness, wanted his mother.
"We still need him Cassandra." The red head said. Cassandra looked at Nellas as if he was the cause of all her problems. Nellas looked away.
"I know it looks bad with this thing on my hand but I swear I haven't done anything wrong. Please let me go." Nellas begged.
"I'm sorry but we can't do that. Do you remember anything? How that," She pointed at his hand, "Got there? Or how all of this began?" She said in a softer voice.
"I don't really remember much besides a dream about a wolf and…Oh! I do remember running away from something and a woman reaching out to me." Nellas relayed everything.
"A woman?" She crossed her arms while Cassandra circled around him again.
"I can't remember any specifics only that she helped me, I think?" Nellas said, his memories blurring slightly. Cassandra shook her head.
"Go to the forward camp Leliana. I will take him to the Breach." Cassandra sighed. Leliana nodded and went through the door. Cassandra knelt and took out a key. Nellas flinched as she grabbed him to uncuff him.
"I know you don't like me but can you at least tell me what's going on?" Nellas wondered.
"I think it might be easier to show you." Cassandra sighed and he realized she looked extremely fatigued. His hands were still wound in rope. She led him through a long corridor, up a flight of stairs, and then through a human Chantry. Everything was dark until she opened the Chantry doors. The light stung at his eyes and then he saw the Breach.
A gigantic rift stood in the sky, giving the light a strange green pallor. Clouds circled ominously around it and there were scattered lighting strikes across the sky. There were green fallout coming from the Breach and Nellas shivered. Cassandra looked at him and noticed his green eyes similar to Elera. She didn't want to bring her up though. Cassandra still had suspicions.
"Is that a fade rift? How can it get so big?" Nellas said.
"Then you know of fade rifts." Cassandra said.
"My mother and I have often encountered them through our exploration of elven ruins but this…this is on a whole scale of its own." Nellas breathed out.
"We have called it the Breach. As you've said, it is a massive fade rift, opening the way for demons to come into the living world and it is only growing larger with each passing hour. It is not the only rift as there are many opening around the valley but it is the largest. All were caused by the explosion that toppled the Conclave." Cassandra explained.
"But how can an explosion cause a rift to appear? I thought only places where the veil was weak could open rifts." Nellas wondered.
"We do not know how, we only know that it did and, unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world." Cassandra finished. The Breach pulsed and Nellas shouted as pain reverberated from his hand to the rest of his body. It was like being stabbed and then having your attacker wiggle the blade in your palm. The pain was enough to get him to his knees. Nellas let out a painful groan as he closed his hand into a fist that somewhat made it hurt less.
Cassandra knelt to his level. "Whenever the Breach expands, the mark on your hand spreads and it is killing you." She explained.
"What?" Nellas squeaked out.
"We have a plan. Your mark is tied to the Breach we believe and it may be the key to stopping it. There isn't much time, we require your assistance." Cassandra said. Nellas head hurt, his stomach twisted painfully, and now his hand was killing him. He should have listened to his mother when she said not to go to the Conclave alone.
"I'll help." Nellas let a few tears drop as he became emotionally overwhelmed but he used his shoulder to wipe them.
"You will?" Cassandra breathed out, a hint of hope in her voice.
"I'll do whatever I can to stop that but can you do something for me in return?" Nellas wondered, the pain in his hand finally fading.
"Name it." Cassandra said.
"Can you find my ma, I mean, my mother? She has choppy black hair and green eyes like mine. Her tattoo covers her forehead and circles her cheekbones. If you've seen an elf that has been killing things like crazy with her daggers, then that's her." Nellas described.
"I think I might have heard someone like that but first we must go." Cassandra said, helping him up to his feet but keeping her hand on his back. She pushed him through the village that looked at him with eyes of scorn.
"Does everyone think I did this?" Nellas asked.
"Yes. They need that idea of your guilt to survive this. They mourn our beloved Divine Justinia, head of the Chantry. It was through her that the Conclave was imagined. A chance for peace between Mages and Templars, bringing their leaders together and now they are dead. We would like to lash out like the sky but we cannot think of ourselves at this moment. We must think beyond ourselves as she did." Cassandra said as she led him out of Haven, walking the Pilgrim's Path, until they reached the heavy set doors to lead them into the valley toward the Temple. She stopped leading him and Nellas couldn't stop staring at the Breach.
Cassandra took out a small knife from her utility belt and cut off his rope bindings. "There will be a trial, that is all I can promise. Come, it is not far."
"You're taking me to the Breach?" Nellas asked, rubbing his wrists.
"No. Someone theorized that the mark can close the Breach but we must test it on something smaller first." Cassandra explained. Nellas sighed and followed her through another set of doors. It was hard trying to wrap his mind around this. He could already feel a great headache coming on. Nellas also was starving and wished he had his old pack with something to nibble on. They ran through the path, Cassandra taking the lead. There were soldiers running away from the Breach, fear etched on their faces. Nellas felt a cold sinking feeling and his hand flared in pain again. He shouted and fell onto the ground.
Nellas hugged his hand before the pain faded again. Cassandra helped him up and patted his shoulder. "The pulses are coming in faster now. We don't have much time. With the Breach growing larger, the more rifts it opens, and the more demons we face." She took the lead again but Nellas caught up with her.
"Do you know how I survived?" Nellas asked.
"Witnesses say you…walked out of a rift and immediately fell unconscious." Cassandra said, avoiding talking about how Elera tried protecting him from the others. "They saw a woman behind you as you fell out. No one knows who she was." Cassandra explained as they walked onto the bridge leading them to the Temple before they were hit from the fallout and the bridge exploded. Nellas cried out as he lost his footing and dropped down onto the rubble before rolling onto the river that was frozen over. Nellas groaned as he saw Cassandra regain her footing before he did. More fallout fell in front of her and a demon sprouted from the ground. Nellas got to his feet, his body feeling like a bruise when he saw a small rift starting to open in front of him. He looked around him, trying to find a weapon anywhere and he saw a staff lying on the ground.
"The Creators must have a sense of humor out there." Nellas sighed indignantly, skidding over the ice to grab it. He held it in front of him as a shade appeared from the rift. Nellas remembered how Marethari explained how to use a staff. Focus your mana in the staff and the element corresponding to the staff should make itself known. The staff would attack with its element and can go through all defenses besides shields.
Nellas focused on the staff and lightning lit on the tip. He gave a victorious grin and narrowly avoided an attack from the shade. He yelped and ran while shooting off lighting toward him. Nellas was frustrated that there were no vines anywhere in the frozen Haven. At least those he had semi control over. He instead used his quick footedness to avoid the shade and strike it with lightning attacks. How did Merrill fling lightning again? How did she describe it?
Gather the crackle in your hands and let it go? Nellas avoided another swipe. If only Merrill knew how to explain the attacks better. He imagined the sound and the look of the lightning in his hands. He was able to conjure a ball of lightning and the shade crept closer. He shot off his spell and the shade twitched and melted into the frozen river. He saw that Cassandra finished the other shade with her sword.
"Looks like it's over." Nellas breathed out. Cassandra pointed her sword at him and he took a step back.
"Drop your weapon, now!" She demanded. Nellas did as he asked and put his hands up.
"Alright, I'm really bad at using staffs anyway." He shrugged. Cassandra looked at him with confusion.
"You are a mage and can't wield a staff?" She wondered.
"I've never received any formal training. I'm better with a bow and arrows." Nellas said. Cassandra sheathed her swords and went to the boxes that were next to the rubble. She sifted through and found a bow with a satchel of arrows.
"Here, it is better for you to use a weapon that you're familiar with. I cannot protect you at every turn. I should remember you did come willingly." Cassandra handed him the weapons and Nellas sighed in relief at the familiar weapon. He was sad though when he realized he lost his original weapon made by Varathorn. Cassandra took the lead and Nellas saw bodies on the trail. He gulped in fear but also felt guilty. Was he responsible for this? Why couldn't he remember?
They ended up on a bend that had more shades on the bottom. Cassandra jumped from the trail and Nellas stayed on high ground. He deftly struck the shades on their faces with his arrows though one managed to float on the trail. Cassandra killed the other shade and Nellas did a full draw that went through the shade's head, killing it. He picked up his arrows and followed Cassandra.
"Wherever you are mother, I hope you're safe." Nellas whispered. They went through the frozen trail, encountering demon after demons. They rained down from the sky, came out of the ground, and took him by surprise a few times. He was glad that Cassandra was a skillful fighter.
"We're getting closer to one of the rifts. You can hear the fighting." Cassandra said as they went up a flight of stairs.
"Is it your soldiers?" He asked, almost slipping on the steps a few times.
"We shall see." Cassandra replied and Nellas found his first rift. It was different from the ones that were in ruins. Those were planned out with old runes, old magic, kept open with the weakened veil. This was freely floating with nothing keeping it open. It opened because it opened. No magic, no runes, nothing. Cassandra dropped down into the fighting and Nellas got into his position. He noticed a bald elf, a dwarf with no beard, as well as very familiar armor.
Nellas gulped down his tears as he let out arrows after arrow, avoiding the wisp's attacks. That was his mother fighting out there. He only saw glimpses of her as she moved like a dancer in the snow, cutting down her opponents, using the ground to her advantage. Nellas came down as the last demon was being taken care of by the dwarf. He nearly called out to his mother before the bald elf grabbed his wrist.
"Quickly! Before more come through!" He shouted before thrusting his hand with the mark into the rift. Nellas felt as the mark seemed to forcefully close the rift. As if he was stretching a net over it and healing the weakened veil. The rift exploded and collapsed on itself and Nellas gasped, looking at the mark.
"It was able to close the rift." Nellas stated.
"Very astute observation from one so young." The bald elf said.
"Nellas!" He heard a shout before being caught in a very strong embrace. He felt his mother's body shake and he felt his own tears start to come out.
"Mamae." He whimpered and hugged her tight as well. Then Elera broke the embrace and grabbed his shoulders. He looked at her angry face and got ready to face some shouting.
"What do you think you were doing!? You deliberately disobeyed me! And what's worse?! You have that strange mark on your hand!" She shook him and Nellas remembered that he hasn't seen her this angry since he made that drake angry. "I told you not to go to the Conclave until everyone got here." She started to pace. "But no! You let your curiosity get the better of you and went ahead anyway! Do you even realize the situation you are in now!? These humans think you caused all of this!" His mother kept on pacing. "And even worse, I thought you died." Elera's voice cracked and her anger dissipated. "Do you understand what you've put me through?" She put her face in her hands. Nellas heart dropped to the floor. He never liked making his mother cry.
"I'm sorry mamae." He said softly and they both embraced again.
"Please don't scare me like that again." She whimpered. Nellas sniffled and let a few of his tears go.
"I promise I won't. I'm sorry. I'm sorry ma." Nellas whispered.
"Well Seeker? Isn't that proof enough?" The dwarf said as they both broke out of the hug to wipe their tears.
"It seems so." Cassandra sighed.
"Now about that mark…" Elera said, grabbing Nellas' hand.
"It closed the rift!" Nellas stated.
"I have theorized the mark was connected to the Breach, leading to the conclusion it might be able to close the rift's that it created as well. It seems I was correct." The bald elf said.
"So it could also close the Breach." Cassandra stated.
"Yes. It seems you hold the key to our salvation." He said. Nellas swallowed audibly.
"Good thing too. Here I was beginning to think the world would be ass-deep in demons." The dwarf said, putting his crossbow away. Nellas gave him a confusing glance. "Oh where are my manners? Varric Tethras at your service. Rogue, storyteller, and occasional unwelcome tagalong." Varric winked at Cassandra.
"He guarded you while you were asleep. Though not from the one I was expecting." Elera gave a sideglance to Cassandra who was too busy making disgusted faces at Varric.
"That's an interesting crossbow you have." Nellas said.
"Ah good eye you have there kid. Bianca and I have been through a lot together." Varric looked at his crossbow happily.
"You named your crossbow?" Nellas wondered.
"Yes and she will offer her assistance in the valley." Varric nodded.
"Absolutely not. Your help is appreciated Varric-" Cassandra started.
"We need all able hands, even ones that you can't stand." Elera said.
"I couldn't have said it better myself." Varric chuckled. Cassandra scoffed.
"My name is Solas if this is the time for introductions. I'm surprised you still live." Solas said.
"He's the one that controlled the mark on your hand and kept it from spreading any further." Elera explained.
"Do you know a lot about the mark?" Nellas asked.
"Solas is an apostate that was actually trained, unlike you." Cassandra said. Elera felt there was a small insult in that.
"Technically all mages are now apostates, Seeker. My journeys through the fade have offered me much more knowledge of magic, far beyond the teachings of any circle mage. I came to offer any help I can give with the Breach. If it is not closed, we are all doomed, regardless of origin." Solas described.
"And what are you going to do once it's all over?" Nellas wondered.
"Hopefully those in power will remember my actions fondly. But we are getting beyond ourselves. Cassandra, the magic that was involved with the Breach and the Mark is unlike anything I've ever seen. He is a mage but I find it difficult to imagine any mage having such power, especially one that is untrained as you've said." Solas looked to Elera then back to Cassandra.
"I understand. Come, we must make our way to the forward camp." Cassandra said.
"Well at least Bianca is excited to see some more action." Varric chuckled. Elera grabbed Nellas' face and looked him over and patted him down.
"Mamae, I'm fine. Just really hungry." Nellas chuckled.
"I am only checking. It seems you lost your bow when the Breach opened." Elera sighed with disappointment.
"I know. I'm sorry. I know it meant a lot to Varathorn." Nellas sighed and she tussled his hair.
"It's alright. We'll get you a better one once this is all over. If it's lost, it's lost." Elera said and followed the others. Nellas followed quickly. They were all jogging on the trail until they found a wide, clear, frozen part of the river. More demons fell from the sky and everyone got into position. Nellas, Varric, and Solas stood on the high ground while Elera and Cassandra went down to confront the demons. Nellas was impressed by Solas' control over his magic and wondered, once all of this was over, if he could show him how.
Solas froze the wisp that was giving them trouble followed by Cassandra shattering it with her shield. The greater shade and the other shade kept on following Elera. They followed her to where they were and Varric got his crossbow ready and wound it up.
"Ready kid?!" He yelled.
"Yes!" Nellas said, drawing his bow to a full draw. Elera stopped, centered herself, and did a masterful backflip. Varric let out a stream of arrows and Nellas got his arrow right through the head of the greater shade. "Yes!" Nellas fist pumped before pain went through it again. "Ah." He clenched it into a fist.
"That doesn't look too good." Varric mumbled and Elera went up the hill. She tried grabbing Nellas' hand but he took it away.
"It's fine Mamae, let's keep going." Nellas said, trying to put on a strong front.
"Ok but tell me if it's uncomfortable." Elera sighed as they went down the hill.
"So, Dalish right? It's hard to pinpoint where you guys come from." Varric chuckled, trying to ease the tension.
"Or why they are here." Solas said.
"We were here on a mission." Nellas mention. Elera face palmed.
"Oh?" Solas wondered.
"Mamae wanted to know if they were going to reestablish the circles again. She doesn't want that." Nellas explained.
"It would do well for someone that has no control over their magic." Cassandra said.
"I won't let anyone take Nellas away from me. Of course, things didn't go as planned." Elera rubbed her eyes. "Either way, we're here and we're staying."
"Alright another question, are you innocent?" Varric directed that to Nellas.
"I don't remember anything." Nellas said sadly.
"Should have spun a story." Varric chuckled.
"That's what you would have done." Cassandra mentioned, leading them up the trail.
"It's more believable and less prone to execution." Varric said and more demons landed from the sky. Nellas got back and readied his arrows, Elera rushed forward to meet the demons in her own fashion. That's how it was. Nellas would stay back and Elera would attack but now they weren't alone. Cassandra was aiding them with her well timed blocks and shield bashes. Varric would unleash a volley of arrows that would mostly hit their target. They had barriers and offensive spells from Solas' epic magic. In the end, Elera kept to backstabs and giving the demons a run for their coin.
They melted into the ground and Elera kept her hiss of pain hidden. The wisp had managed to damage her hand slightly. She walked near Nellas' side who made sure to keep his bow on the ready. Cassandra mentioned her hooded friend and Nellas knew that, if they were both questioning him, he's pretty sure she managed to get through it all. Once they came to the heavy set doors to the forward camp, they encountered their next rift.
"Help us!" Those from the gate cried as the rift connected to the ground, four lights, four demons. Nellas thought he had heard a faint scream but couldn't think about it too much as he kept on sending volley after volley of his arrows at the wisps. Elera used the slipperiness of the snow to maneuver herself behind the shade. She did a few gouging backstabs and then kicked the shade into the incoming blade of Cassandra. She flipped away from another shade that got frozen by a spell. Elera roundhouse kicked and the demon shattered.
Nellas raised his hand and felt a pull from the rift to the mark. It was an odd sensation but he pulled and closed it. It sputtered as there was nothing there besides empty space. Nellas felt a hand on his shoulder and saw his mother smile at him. He couldn't help but shrug it off and feel the heat rise to his ears. He was almost a man not a kid that needed praise, even if it did feel good.
"Open the gates!" Cassandra shouted. As they opened, their group went through. There were boxes of equipment and potions everywhere. Various people talking at fast speeds, ravens coming and going, soldiers praying to Andraste. Nellas felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as they approached a desk with Leliana and another man garbed in holy robes. They were both arguing until their group reached them.
"Ah and here they are." The man said, getting up from looking at the desk full of papers and a map.
"Good that you made it. Chancellor Rodrick, this is-" Leliana started.
"I know who he is." Rodrick glared at Nellas who gave him a confusing look. He was used to glares anyway from humans. "As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution!" He pointed straight at Nellas. Now his confusion was growing. Him a criminal? There were many things Nellas was, a really bad mage, a good shot with the bow, a tendency to get into trouble even when he doesn't mean it, but never a criminal. Besides, his mother would kill him before he would even get put into cuffs.
"How dare you threaten my son?" Elera spoke darkly, her hand over her daggers.
"If that is your son, then you would do best to restrain yourself and allow judgement to pass. Hmph, after all, it's only in your nature to become criminals." Rodrick snuffed his nose at Elera. She gritted her teeth and took a step forward, only for her forearm to be grabbed by Solas. He gave her a side glance and a small shake of the head.
'Listen to your elders Elera, this is not the time.' Elera scowled fiercely and crossed her arms, pumping her chest so she may seem larger. If Solas wasn't sure that this was a nearly life or death situation, he would have chuckled at her reaction.
"This is not the time to be listening to orders from a glorified clerk!" Cassandra put her hand on Nellas' shoulder, seemingly protective of him.
"A bureaucrat I may be and a thug you are but you serve the Chantry!" Rodrick directed his anger at her.
"We serve the most Holy, Chancellor." Leliana reminded him, crossing her arms, getting irritated as well.
"Divine Justinia is dead. We cannot move as the Chantry as a whole until we elect a replacement and obey her orders on the matter!" Rodrick would not move from his position.
"Then what about the Breach?" Nellas motioned his hand at the sky. "We can't pretend that isn't a problem. It's literally raining demons and all you care is about is electing a new Divine? Can't that wait until we save all the lives we can and close it?" Nellas made a compelling argument and Elera's chest pumped with pride, nodding along with him.
"You really think that this can be closed without the aid of an army?" Rodrick spat at him and Nellas' ears flushed with anger. "Call a retreat Seeker. You won't be able to survive reaching the Temple, let alone closing it." Rodrick's tone switched to one of despair as he shook his head.
"We must get to the Temple, it's the fastest way toward the Breach." Cassandra kept with her confidence in closing it.
"But not the safest. We have two options here." Leliana looked toward the mountain. "Our forces can serve a distraction as your group head through the mountains."
"It's too risky. We lost contact with an entire squad on that path." Cassandra sighed and shook her head.
"Or you can come with us and we'll rally the soldiers to hit toward the Temple at a full run." Leliana offered instead. Cassandra thought about this option more.
"Whatever you do, you will only lead more lives to be lost. Abandon this path, there is no hope." Rodrick's despair kicked in again only for the Breach to rumble and pulse. Nellas' hand flared but not with pain too much. He held onto his wrist to calm the shaking as everyone around stared at him. Nellas sighed. Everyone around him were arguing too much and wasting time.
"Look, I understand that the mountain pass is too risky and, although our group is strong, it would be better to get to the Temple in numbers. How fast can we get the soldier's ready?" Nellas wondered. Leliana was surprised at his decision but planned accordingly.
"About a half hour at most." Leliana said.
"If you're going to give me a trial, go ahead but let's do that AFTER we close that thing." Nellas pointed at the Breach.
"You heard the kid! Time to suit up!" Varric laughed. Leliana and Cassandra were rushing around to give the order for a full on attack. Nellas stood by and watched, hoping that this would be enough to lead them through.
Elera watched her son carefully. He was always the one to push her toward a decision on their more riskier travels but now? Something about him has changed. He seemed bigger in her eyes, his back wider, and his eyes clearer. Was it something about the mark? About what he experienced to gain that mark? Elera couldn't pinpoint what exactly only that she was proud and sad at the same time.
Her boy was becoming a man and she wasn't sure what to think about that.
"You've raised him well." Solas said softly. Elera only nodded for she couldn't confide in her own voice.
Beta'd by FearaNightmare and Syutaku!
I almost forgot this was friday lol
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