Chapter 4: A Son's Strength
Nellas was the one out in front. He did remember the trail leading to the Temple except this time it was filled with dead bodies and signs of fighting. It looked like a war zone. He was feeling guiltier with every step. Why was he alive? Why did everyone else die? He didn't understand how he was thrust into this position. First he was a criminal now he was their only hope. Such a whirlwind of events unfolding in his life when his greatest worry was when he would be able to eat next or where to have a good night's sleep. The Breach overhead seemed to mock him on his survival, shining its horrid green light on the bodies of the fallen.
Nellas wouldn't fall though. He has a responsibility and he won't turn away from it. That feeling from closing a rift was fresh in the teen's mind. Nellas had the power to change this fate, to close the door to the demons, to make sure there weren't any more deaths in his vicinity. Nellas wasn't going to run away now, not when everyone was running around as if their heads were lopped from their heads. The Breach was the problem, the infighting can be dealt with later. So Nellas led their group back to the place that held their problems.
He looked back and saw groups of swordsmen and archers following them. This battle with the Breach wasn't going to be easy, Nellas' stomach told him that. By the time they reached the entrance of the Temple, everything was completely different. It was destroyed and the shambles of the gate only remained. There were bodies wrapped up in line after line with clerics giving them their final rites. Other soldiers were resting here and there, too exhausted to continue to fight with the bodies of the injured being tended to surrounding them.
"Get ready, there is a rift nearby." Cassandra said, unsheathing her weapon and securing her shield. Everyone else followed along. Nellas felt the stares of many on his back as he walked through the destroyed gate. He saw soldier against demons on the battlefield, a few falling as they arrived. They took action, saving the soldiers that could not fight against the demons. Nellas made one into a pincushion while another was frozen by Solas and shattered by his mother. Varric was going into a line, taking down demon after demon. Once they were at the center of the battlefield is where Nellas saw a blonde hair man fighting against the demons spurting from the rift alone.
"Cullen!" His mother shouted and he looked over after killing the last demon of the first wave. He nodded while kept his shield. Another pulse came from the rift and four shades came out.
Varric came by and pushed something into Nellas' hands. "Put that on the end of your arrows, the demons might like a little kick!" Varric laughed as he let Bianca turn out a barrage at two that were coming toward them. They were pushed back by Elera's precise cuts and Cullen's shield. Nellas lifted the items up and they were small bags. He tied one to his arrowhead, having to get closer so his trajectory can't be messed up by the added weight.
The arrowhead exploded on contact with the last demon. Nellas gaped as he held five more in his pocket. He tracked Varric and he winked at him. Nellas felt a small bit of excitement. Another pulse came out and it was a team of wisps. Nellas had to roll across the debris of the Temple to avoid their attacks. He saw two floating together and sent out another explosive shot. Two wisps down, three to go.
He watched as Solas released a spell that gathered the three of them into a single point. Varric shot them first with Cassandra and Cullen making the final kill. When they started to relax, another pulse came out.
"How many more demons are we going to fight!?" Varric growled, adding more arrows into Bianca.
"As many as it takes!" Elera grinned. Nellas was also enjoying himself against his judgment. Two terror demons came out, their tall and spindly bodies were atrocious and their long claws dangerous. Cassandra shield bashed one with the other melted into the ground. Nellas saw his mother hammer kick the other one and slashed with all her might. Nellas then saw the ground shine green underneath him.
The terror demon's claws sprung from the ground and Nellas cried out. He shut his eyes and covered himself, waiting for the sting of the attack but it didn't come. He opened his eyes and a shiny blue barrier covered him from the claws of the terror.
"Run!" Solas shouted and Nellas wasted no time in doing so. The terror demon tried following before being belted with more arrows from Varric and Cullen shield bashed from behind. It dropped unceremoniously on the ground where Cullen stabbed through it with his sword. All the demons were gone and Nellas got near the rift and closed it.
"Sealed as before. You are beginning to be quite proficient in this." Solas came up and nodded at Nellas.
"Let's hope it works on the big one." Varric commented, putting away Bianca.
"Hope is something that is the only thing we have now." Elera said, coming up and checking Nellas for injuries.
"Mamae, I'm fine." Nellas shooed her away.
"I am only making sure." Elera pouted.
"Cassandra, you couldn't have come at a better time." Cullen said, helping a soldier up and putting their arm around his neck to better support them.
"You should thank the prisoner. He's the one who led us down this path." Cassandra smiled at Nellas and he looked at Cullen.
"Thank you and," Cullen looked at Elera, "I'm glad you have been reunited. I will be taking the soldier's that cannot fight to the healer's tents. May the Maker protect you Cassandra." Cullen walked away shouting orders to gather the wounded.
"You know him?" Nellas asked his mother.
"He was the one that believed me when I said you were my son and promised that no harm will come to you. I owe him my thanks though that will come later." Elera motioned to the Breach and everyone else going toward it. Elera jumped down from the mangled steps and Nellas followed.
It was something that couldn't even be created out of his own nightmares. He saw the rubble, felt it underneath his feet. The great Temple was gone, unrecognizable in the pile of large rocks jutting toward the sky but it was the bodies that was going to stay with him. The dead bodies were charred beyond identification. They were all in states of agony, their last silent scream hanging in the air. Nellas was chilled to the bone seeing these bodies. He jumped when he felt his mother's hand on his shoulder.
"This isn't your fault da'len. Don't start thinking that way. We only have one goal and it is something you can do. If you still feel guilty think of that mark as your redemption." Elera explained. Nellas let out a shaky breath and nodded. He put on a strong face and walked toward the Breach, ignoring the rest of the bodies.
"That is where we found you." Cassandra motioned toward an area that was next to a corridor. Nellas felt his head hurt trying to remember anything besides that stint in the fade. They walked through the corridor that was still standing and they were met with the Breach. Nellas gasped at the size of it. His fingers tingled and his magical sense was going crazy and that's without practice. The veil was extremely weak here.
"That Breach is a long way up." Varric commented as Leliana and her troops came from around the corner.
"Good, you've made it." Leliana sighed in relief.
"Leliana, take your men and put them in positions around the Temple." Cassandra ordered before looking to Nellas. "This is your chance to put a stop to this. Are you ready?" She asked.
"I'll do whatever I can though I'm not sure of the range of this or how to get closer to that." Nellas explained.
"Your mark should easily reach for it and it will close. This rift is the first and the key. Seal it and it should seal the Breach." Solas explained. Nellas looked at his mark with doubt.
"No pressure kid." Varric chuckled.
"Let's get down to where it is then." Elera said. Nellas sighed but followed down the trail. As they went down, Nellas thought he saw something shine.
"Keep the sacrifice still." A deep booming voice reverberated throughout the ruins.
"Who is that?" Elera asked.
"At a guess? The one who opened the Breach." Solas said.
"Someone help me!" An old woman's voice cried out.
"That's the voice of the Divine!" Cassandra gasped.
"What's going on?" Nellas' voice echoed which caused him to stop.
"That was me." He said quietly. Cassandra glared but Elera walked in front of Nellas.
"We don't have time for this." Elera said. Nellas kept on walking before the group found ruby like stones on the walkway.
"What is that?" Nellas wandered over before Varric stopped him.
"Don't even touch it kid. That's stuff dangerous, more so than you know." Varric had a heated glance toward the ruby stone. "It's red lyrium. You think that regular lyrium is bad? This is on a whole 'nother level. Don't touch it if you value your life." Varric warned darkly. Nellas gulped and stepped away.
"If it's that bad, how did it get here?" Elera asked.
"The magic which created the Breach could have reached the lyrium deposits below the mountain, corrupting it." Solas explained.
"How swell." Elera deadpanned. They reached the bottom and jumped off the ledge. They grew closer to the Breach as Nellas noticed the soldier's going to points surrounding them. Nellas's mark flared but without pain. The Breach shined and soon they were met with a vision. There was a large shadow like figure with glowing red eyes and Divine Justinia being held up in the air.
"Someone help me!" She cried out again.
"What's going on?" Nellas came into the picture.
"Run while you can! Warn them!" Justinia shouted.
"We have an intruder. Kill the elf." The shadow figure pointed at Nellas before the vision dissolved.
"She called out to me?" Nellas wondered.
"So you were there! Who was it that held the Divine? The one that started the Breach? Is she…? Is this vision true?" Cassandra questioned Nellas.
"I swear I don't remember and I'm getting a headache even trying to." Nellas sighed in exhaustion.
"Echoes of what happened here…The Fade bleeds into this place." Solas said quietly. Everyone focused on him. "The Breach is not sealed but it is closed although temporarily. The mark should be able to open the rift and then it can seal it properly and safely. However, opening the rift will likely attract attention from the other side." Solas warned.
"That means demons. Stand ready, everyone to your positions!" Cassandra shouted. More soldiers came with their group near the Breach. Several archers were seated on high ground. Nellas closed his fist around the mark, waiting for the go ahead to open the rift. Elera twirled her daggers, Cassandra had her sword and shield, Varric reloaded Bianca, and Solas stood ready with his staff. As soon as Leliana gave the go ahead, Cassandra nodded to Nellas.
Nellas brought his hand up and remembered the pulling sensation. It flared to life and grabbed at the rift. It was harder than before but he 'grabbed' at it and pulled even harder. There was a minor explosion as the rift opened and one single demon came out of it: A large pride demon. Nellas stepped back as the Pride demon roared.
Elera stood in slight fear. There was only one time Nellas and her fought against a pride demon and that was with several of their best hunters, the clan leader, and their first. Of course they had several of the Inquisition soldiers but that still didn't sit very well in Elera. A pride demon was insanely strong, this was going to be a tough fight.
The pride demon summoned a whip of lightning and got rid of a few soldiers that were already attacking him. Then it laughed in their faces, concentrating its strength into its armor. The swords that were cutting it started bouncing off and clanging against its skin.
"We must wear down its armor!" Cassandra shouted as she kept on trying to shove her sword in its skin and failing. Nellas hand flared again and he tried reaching for the rift. He grabbed it and heard an odd sound as if he was forcing it. The rift exploded and the pride demon knelt.
"Go!" Nellas shouted, shooting his arrows, sticking from the demon's hide. He did a full draw and managed to strike out an eye. The pride demon roared in pain. Elera did successful slashes on its legs, Cassandra and the other soldiers were weakening it, and Solas kept on throwing elemental damage. The demon was having no more though as it concentrated on a ball of lightning and shot it out to the group. They screamed in pain and agony as their body stopped listening to them and began to spasm.
The pride demon let out a whip behind him catching Elera and she rolled around on the ground, grunting in pain as the shocks went through her system. The archers kept on doing their thing and hitting the demon before he hardened his skin again. Nellas made the rift open again, breaking its armor.
The pride demon wasn't stupid though. Attacking the soldiers was mostly just it trying to find the one that's stopping him. Cassandra did a shield bash on his leg and he released two whips at the same time to get rid of the ants. It followed the mark and saw Nellas. It strutted over to him when Elera growled from where she laid. She saw Solas let out a barrage of elemental spells that didn't stop the demon. It was getting closer to Nellas who tried to step back.
"Oh no you don't." She growled, punching her chest to get her heart back on its rhythm. She grabbed her daggers and ran toward the demon. She roared and jumped onto the demon's back. It growled and bucked underneath her. Another flash of the Breach weakened it as Elera climbed its back with her daggers, its rough skin breaking apart her chainmail and giving her small cuts.
Other shades targeted Nellas before Varric helped and shot them down. Nellas and him dodge a lightning ball before it roared in pain. Elera dug her dagger into the nap of the demon. It reared back its arm and managed to grab her. Elera struggled in its grip before it released lightning all over its body. Elera screamed in pain.
It tossed Elera's body like it was a ragdoll toward a group of soldiers and knocking them out. Nellas felt a rage build inside him when he saw his mother tossed. Nellas commanded the rubble around him and they levitated off the ground. The pride demon got another set of whips ready but Nellas had enough. No one hurts his mother and gets away with it. He crashed two boulders together to shield him from the whips and gathered more.
"Take this!" Nellas shouted as he released all the boulders in quick succession, raining them down like a landslide against the demon. It roared against the tide before one giant piece of rubble hit it square in the face. It knelt again, on its last legs when Cassandra came up and dug her sword straight through its head. It dissolved into the ground where the rift finally lit up, ready to be closed.
"Close the rift now!" Cassandra commanded and Nellas spent no time dawdling. He lifted his hand and showed his palm that held the mark. He pulled at the 'door' that he felt beyond the rift. It was harder this time. All the other times it felt like closing a small door but this was almost like closing a large castle door but Nellas held on.
"Creator's damn it, CLOSE!" He roared, grabbing his wrist and yelling with all his might to force the mark to close the rift. The Breach exploded with a bang and caused a sonic boom all over the battle field. Nellas was hit by it and thrown against the wall where he was knocked unconscious. Once the dust had settled, the soldier's and the group got up checking the damage. Cassandra groaned and looked up. She sighed in disappointment when the Breach was still there but had hope that they could seal it again.
Varric wandered toward Nellas that had blood running down his head. He checked his pulse and Varric felt relief that he didn't die. Solas walked over to Elera who was still breathing but not in good condition.
"Carry the wounded back to Haven! Leliana, bring Cullen so he may bring back Nellas!" Cassandra ordered.
"Cassandra, it's best we tend to his mother first." Solas said. Cassandra walked over and she realized that Elera's chainmail has all but whittled away and had two large wounds on her feet. Cassandra looked her over and knew that the loss of her chainmail probably saved her. Lighting conducts with metal, that she learned from her previous experiences with pride demons. Cassandra hefted her up and carried her out.
"We didn't seal it." Cassandra pouted as Solas followed her.
"We need more power for the mark if we are to fully close it but it is stable now and will grow no further. Take your victories when you can Seeker." Solas said. Cassandra sighed but inwardly agreed with him. For now, they need to regroup and rest. It won't be the last time she came here and she will make sure that next time, it gets sealed.
.._
Elera groaned as she found herself staring at white cloth. She heard the bustling of the tent and turned her head. There were many makeshift cots with other injured soldiers. Healers were scampering about rewrapping bands, giving some potions, and trying their best to deal with the ones that were on their last legs. Elera was changed out of her armor again and she was with her own poultice soaked bandages yet again.
"Excuse me what happened with the Breach?" She asked a healer.
"Oh? The Herald of Andraste was able to stabilize it but that's all I know. You will have to ask the Seeker of the Commander for more details, please excuse me." The healer mentioned. Elera nodded but something didn't seem…right? Elera rubbed her chin before it hit her.
"Herald of Andraste?" She whispered. Could that be Nellas? No, it couldn't possibly…
She got up from her cot and hissed in pain when she realized her feet were bandaged. She cursed as she walked out, ignoring the healers from the tent and went into Haven. It felt like she was walking on daggers and she couldn't even walk in a straight line. Elera did manage to get to the Chantry. She opened the doors and the Mothers and Sisters gave her a look of incredulity. Elera didn't care if she walked unnaturally but she walked across the rug, making a face at all the incense and candles they used. The room at the end opened with Leliana, Cassandra, and another new face with very poofy, golden sleeves walked out.
"Ah you are awake-" Cassandra started.
"The Herald of Andraste!?" Elera panted and interrupted. "That is what they are calling him, aren't they?" She crossed her arms and tried to look intimidating but she was fooling no one. Cassandra sighed and rubbed her face.
"You must be Nellas' mother. Andaran atish'an." The poofy sleeves said.
"Your accent is atrocious." Elera deadpanned and poofy sleeves pouted. "Why are they calling him that?" Cassandra opened her mouth before Leliana came by.
"Because they believe the woman who was behind him as he exited out of the rift was Andraste. They believe he is her chosen to lead them out of this chaos and into peace. He was blessed with the mark that can heal the sky and they think that only the divinity of Andraste could have given him that blessing. It seems to give people hope." Leliana explained.
"Andraste though? Why must they label him with such a human moniker, no offense but he is Dalish. We do not serve or worship your God." Elera tried pacing but all she did was look like she was stomping on the carpet. "It's unthinkable to even promote that type of thinking in your followers and I can say that your human Chantry will think it blasphemous, treachery even! They would think that no elf could solve the problems that you have caused let alone a Dalish elf. Didn't you say that there were ones that thought he caused the Breach? What of your opposition to want to see him go to trial or even executed?" Elera brought up some good points, some they have just finished talking about.
"We have decided his innocence. That shadow like creature that detained the Divine was the one who sundered the veil and brought the Breach. You and I are not the only witnesses. Those that have opposed us have moved on." Cassandra answered.
"Besides they are now a scattered group. Without the Divine leading them, the Chantry can't come together as a structured unit, even if we still have the Breach to contend with." The poofy sleeves explained.
"Nellas is going to be so confused when he awakens…" Elera ran her fingers through her hair.
"But until then, we can at least go over what we have planned. After all, it's not like you to stray from your son. It's best if you come with us." Cassandra motioned Elera to follow the three women.
"Of course but first, may I have some leather boots? It seems I won't be able to walk on my two feet properly for some time." Elera pointed down to her very pained feet.
"I will be right on it! And forgive my introduction, we haven't met before. My name is Josephine. You must be the Herald's mother Elera." Josephine came by and put out her hand. Elera shook it and realized how soft they were. How odd, no blisters.
"No forgive me, the pain of my body seems to be my cause for lacking manners." Elera said, shutting the door to the war room. Little did she know that there were clergy woman hearing their every word.
"She's the mother of the Herald?!" One whispered as if it was the biggest scandal they ever crossed. They were in a group of five.
"She looks so young!" The other said.
"Did you see all those bandages?"
"I think I may have seen her fighting with everyone! They even said that she climbed on top of the pride demon's back protecting the Herald!"
"How brave!" One swooned.
"Of course Andraste was born to human parents but was chosen to be the Maker's bride. He was born to earthly parents before becoming the Herald!" Another reasoned.
"The Herald's Mother!"
"Mother of the Herald!"
"No, those don't sound too good."
"…"
"We'll figure something out!"
.._
Elera sighed as she got through introductions and what Cassandra wanted to do. The Inquisition of old. Elera never paid attention to the history of the humans but this was something that peaked her interest. She had completely read the history and how it got started by the end of the day. Now she's sitting in a chair watching how Nellas' chest slowly rises and falls. The legend of the Herald has already spread after only a day.
Elera wasn't sure how to respond to this fervor for her son. The spotlight was something she actively avoided. The only time they even got attention like this was when they found something new to add to their legends and it wasn't always accepted either. Elera sighed as she ran her hands through her son's hair. The world has changed once more. She was planning to leave once they gave Nellas back to her but now? His mark is the only thing that closed the rifts that was spreading throughout Thedas.
It was a responsibility that most adults couldn't even fathom and now it was handed to a boy trying to become a man. Elera was nothing but worrying for him. Nellas was independent in his endeavors. After all, it was HER job to look for ruins and translations, not his. Even then he was prepared, always getting their packs ready, getting their mounts cleaned, regularly securing the area while they were traveling. He was nothing but prepared when it came down to it but the one time he decided to do something without her…
No, she couldn't blame it on him. He was a young man, he would be curious about the world events no matter how much she tried to keep it away from him. It was her fault. She shouldn't have been so smothering. She should have let him do as he pleased now that he was older, let him make his own mistakes, learn from them.
"I guess he can learn from this one. There's no way I could have prepared him for this…" Elera mumbled, reaching for his marked hand. It was beautiful in a sense and, if only she was a mage, she could have tried to research it. Now what could she do? Once he wakes up, he'll have to carry the responsibility of this mark and of the people that are expecting him to rise as their Herald.
"Creators…I'm not one to pray to you because I'm still trying to learn but please…" She bowed her head down and steepled her hands. "Please guide my son and please guide me." She sighed before getting up and placing a small kiss on his head.
She stepped out and many saw her with reverence. She stepped carefully with the boots that Josephine gave her but felt uncomfortable not from the pain but from the stares. The whispers weren't one of hate but…awe? It was very odd. Adan passed her with another who carried herbs to Nellas' cabin, nodding to her along the way. Elera kept on walking to see if she can find some more salve in his cabin when she saw Solas looking at the Breach from the cabin they gave him.
"How are your injuries?" Solas looked over at her.
"Numerous but I'm still alive. It's not the first time I've battled with a pride demon though last time it wasn't as arduous an experience." Elera sighed, absentmindedly rubbing her bandages.
"You have battled against a pride demon?" Solas wondered.
"Yes. I study ancient ruins. Not exactly what my clan really wanted from me but there you go. There was one time back in Antiva where I had stumbled upon Tevinter mages trying to use old magic to open a rift and capture spirits to enslave them. I didn't mean to find them but when the clan and I saw what they were doing, we fought against them. The mages didn't take kindly to that and one used the other's blood to force the veil open, letting go a pride demon. Luckily the clan leader, was able to call upon good spirits to help us win." Elera rambled on. Solas looked at her curiously.
"Your clan used spirits?" Solas asked.
"Not my clan. A different clan. I don't have a clan anymore." Elera said sadly. "They are all dead. Nellas and I are the only ones left of our clan, besides my brother. So we traveled from clan to clan to see who would help in our journey."
"A very odd occupation for someone who is also not magically trained." Solas mentioned.
"Marethari opposed what I wanted to do and several others too. I know I don't have magic and it's our Clan Leaders that are supposed to look for more of our history but that's insane!" Elera said heatedly which surprised Solas. "Why only those that were chosen are able to look? I've seen other clans that actively try and yet most don't even care what we've left behind." Her gaze turned dark. "Then there are those that disregard some of our history just because it doesn't fit their image." She scoffed. "The old bats and their old way of thinking."
"How progressive." Solas commented before looking up at the Breach.
"Will we be able to seal it next time?" Elera wondered.
"We must give power to the mark in order for us to try another attempt. We have two groups to choose from, the mages or the Templars. We shall see in time which one will help our cause. I will stay until then." Solas said.
"Were you having doubts on staying?" Elera asked.
"I am an apostate mage surrounded by Chantry forces. Your son is the Herald and his presence alone will protect you but not I. Cassandra has been accommodating but that does not mean I won't tread without caution." Solas said.
"And so you think that will cause them to drive you out or even kill you? If they tried to do that, then they'll have to get through me." Elera crossed her arms.
"How would one woman stop them?" Solas wondered.
"However I had to. You have done more to help than all the rest, saving my son, controlling his mark, and deducing exactly what was needed in order to seal the Breach. If they so much lay a hand on you, I can assure you that I will introduce them to a world of pain. All you have to do is just say the word and I will protect you." Elera stood her ground. Solas was…nearly moved at her determination. Elera was growing slightly nervous by the way he looked at her and his silence though.
"Thank you." Solas said sincerely.
"Excuse me, mother of the Herald?" A runner came up to them. Elera scowled.
"I have a name." She sighed.
"The Nightingale requires your presence. It seems a Dalish agent has come forth and asked for you." The runner replied.
'There's only a few that weren't there…Clan Lavellan?' She wondered. "Excuse me Solas." She nodded and followed the runner. She had a few choice words to say to those that decided to be late.
Beta'd by FearaNightmare and Syutaku.
Sorry for the late update. My editor was a little on the late side for getting this back to me. He's being very patient with all the long chapters though so for that I am grateful to him!
Thank you naturaetsophia (Nice to see you again!), Lily-Kirkland, and helenGet (Hi!), for favoriting/following! Thank you Chimera Spyke and Ice Clad Shade (Remember the romance is for Elera only not for Nellas. Sorry!) and Annjames for reviewing! Please review!