Disclaimer: I do not own the Dragon Age Series! Why must I keep repeating this?!
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No Title 6
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"ARRGH!"
Cassandra let out a war cry as she cut down an abomination.
A small regime of Inquisition scouts and soldiers were evacuating Redcliffe and also trying to fight off the demons. Cassandra, Varric, Iron Bull, Solas, Vivienne, and Leliana were cleaning up the streets and trying to get to the Redcliffe Castle. Up and down the hill, passing the windmill, there's always a demon or a Venatori.
"Vints here, Vints everywhere," Iron Bull groaned in distaste mostly because they always bind a demon and take it out to attack them.
It could be worst, Solas thought. If they were here too late, then this whole place would be infested with abominations.
They got through the opened gates of Redcliffe castle and fought more Venatori agents on the ground. Once the whole courtyard was cleared out, Leliana went over to the huge supply cache all packed up and ready to be moved.
"Hmm… They were going to leave and somewhere far," Leliana pointed out, noting how much there was and there were a lot of Brontos.
"Looks like we got here on time," Varric said.
"They wanted to take the mages with them. Were they trying to recruit them?" Vivienne offered.
"Whatever the case, these Venatori must be stopped now." Cassandra concluded, but she was a bit distracted.
Where was the Herald? Why must he leave everything in to her hands? And make the mages allies? After this? This is one of the reasons why they need the Circle of Magi in all of Thedas, and Tevinter serves as a warning.
She was on the fence of offering an alliance. Also, why should she listen to a man she only met once? To a man who couldn't be and might be a Herald? On the other side, she wanted to believe that this Trevelyan is the Herald of Andraste and will not do them wrong.
But where is he?!
"I'll be taking a…shortcut." Leliana said before she gestured to her scouts and they went into the side door.
Perhaps she has a plan.
They invaded the castle, and they entered the throne hall and at every column, a Venatori agent stood and ready to fire at them. There in the middle, Former Enchanter Fiona and two other notable Rebel mages knelt down before an Agent with her wrists bound behind their back.
The Elite Venatori turned around and summoned a tempest.
"Humph! You're not the Herald… None of you are!" He said, quite displeased.
"Well, sorry to disappoint you." Varric 'apologized' and the elite just sneered at him.
Cassandra deadly glared at him. "Release them and surrender now while you still have your head!"
"Never! We will succeed! We will deliver the Rebel mages to the Elder One, even if it means to bind them all!" The Elite said and the tempest of a storm started to grow greyer.
"The Elder One?" Vivienne questioned quietly.
Bull said back, "Must be some crazy evil Vint leader of all these Venatori."
"Venatori! Attack!" The Elite shouted but then he heard a short yet agonized cry and he looked over to see Inquisition scouts coming out from the columns and swiftly killing each Venatori agent in the room until only he was left.
Leliana slit the throat of a Venatori agent and came walking out, "You lose."
"No…" The agent said in horror and then he looked at Fiona. He raised his fist about to kill the former enchanter as he gathered all the storm magic but then an arrow bolt was shot and punctured through his skull.
He choked before he just dropped dead to the ground.
Cassandra was about to charge to stop him but she paused when the villain dropped dead. She glanced at Varric, giving him wryly look.
Varric only casually reloaded his Bianca and then he noticed. "…What? You were going to kill him too, weren't you?"
"I wanted to question him first, Varric."
"You mean you weren't going to take his head off like you said––?"
"I am not a brute!" Cass snapped a bit huffing as she went over to go help Fiona and the others, unbinding them.
"Uh huh, sure you weren't," Varric said unconvinced but the Seeker ignored him.
When they made sure the Rebel mages were okay, they started to question Former Enchanter Fiona.
"How did this happen?" Cassandra asked.
"It… happened when I arrived back today in Redcliffe then suddenly these agents came out of nowhere, they were forcing us to join them, but I knew nothing would come out good from it," Fiona said, sighing wearily. "It must be a blessing from the Maker to have send you the Inquisition here so fast before we would be forced to leave tonight."
So if they were a day late, the Rebel mages would have already been gone?
"You have the Herald to thank then," Leliana suddenly said. "He sent us a letter this morning that your people were attacked by the Venatori."
Fiona's eyes widened, hearing that. "He did… Where is he?"
"As usual… a holy mission." Bull responded. It was their way of saying, they really had no idea where the Herald is.
Cassandra was in deep thought at the moment as she was still thinking about what the Herald did. They will not know why he was not here, but they will soon. For now, she thought about how he had helped. By sending the letter, they were able to get to the Rebel Mages before this Venatori would get to them and take them to who knows where this Elder One is.
And who is this Elder One?
"Seeing Redcliffe… I fear now King Alistair will have no choice but to force us to leave," Fiona said, knowing now her people is in grave danger. Ferelden won't let them stay here no longer due to the incident of demons and abominations. "Where will we go? We have hundreds that will need protection…"
"…We will offer you a full alliance." The Seeker suddenly said, shocking those around her, except for Leliana, who knew she was putting her faith on the Herald again. "Help us close the Breach and we will protect your people."
Fiona was also stunned, hearing this come from a Seeker. "I… Thank you… I hope your associates would feel the same?"
"Whether they do or not, we cannot afford to be divided now," The Seeker simply said.
And besides, if this is the wrong decision, she will throttle the Herald.
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"Achoo!" Damien sneezed out of nowhere, catching the attention of the Red Templar guards.
"What the frig was that?!" Sera exasperated.
"Sorry! I did not mean to!"
"Intruders!" The guard shouted and one of the four ran inside to sound the alarms while the other three charged to attack them. It didn't take long to kill them.
"Bad weather?" Dorian asked, amused though. "What happened to sneaking in quietly?"
"Plans always change," The Herald argued a bit.
Blackwall offered, "Perhaps someone's talking about you."
Damien resisted to snort. "Good things I hope."
They ran inside and definitely they could all hear the Templars clamoring behind the castle walls, shouting and running here and there. Then, the horrid that Damien had been expecting finally came into the picture. They just started, but he could see their eyes glowing red.
They were turning into monsters now.
"What is that?" Dorian asked, aghast at the sight.
"Whatever you do, do not touch the red lyrium!" Damien shouted to them before they charged into battle once more. He easily hacked down one of them, knowing very much how to take them down. Templars all had similar training and similar training meant almost all the weaknesses and open points. His staff was made out of metal, so that, when he would withdraw using magic, he can knock a Templar down with just a few direct swings.
He looked at his team however and as always they were doing great even though they had little experience in fighting them.
When the battle was over, Blackwall was drained a bit. "Maker… what is happening here? Did you know this was going on, Herald?"
"…I had a feeling, but it seems we were too late," Damien said a bit forlorn. Shit. So there's really no way to save the Templars from Corypheus. Perhaps he should have just barged in from the beginning or something.
"It's not too late."
His party flinched hearing the voice but the Herald knew that voice very well.
"There are still survivors here."
Damien looked around until he finally spotted Cole right down the hallway. He turned to a certain direction and walked into it. The others didn't notice him but it was enough he did.
"Let's go!" The Herald prompted them to move as they rush down the hallway.
"H–hey! I wasn't the only one hearing that voice right?" Sera asked, weirded out.
Dorian assured her, "No, no, I definitely heard someone too. Herald?"
"He is a friend, and if he said there are survivors then there must be!" Damien said. They have to save as many as they could.
They rushed down the hallway only to meet more Red Templars, but this time the others noticed another presence with them. Dorian had to pull back when he saw a strange young lad with a wide–brimmed hat appearing out of nowhere and dancing around with daggers, cutting a Red Templar apart. Then he disappeared again.
This time, he appeared right behind the Herald, but he knew he was there as he stepped until they touch back to back encircling a bit to watch their enemies.
"Nice to see you, Cole."
"You know me… but I don't know you."
"Yet."
"You are to here to help."
"Yes."
"They are in the dungeon." 'They' probably meant the remaining survivors. Those who were not tainted yet with red lyrium. "The singing is almost getting to them."
"Then we better hurry." Damien summoned a storm and unleashed lightning rounds, specifically hitting each Templar from behind where their shields could not deflect them in time.
Cole once more disappeared, but he knew he was there with them.
"Who was that? A demon!?" Sera asked.
"A friend, Sera," He told her gently, but before she could protest, he prompted again, "We need to hurry! Now!"
They rushed down completely and hid a bit when more of them ran into their direction. Luckily they passed them. They snuck down the stairs into the dungeon. Damien was just following wherever Cole appeared. He would have liked it if Cole would just walk with them but he probably knew the others are wary and unsure of what to make of him.
Well, to each his own pace.
They made it down the low level cells and sure enough, there was a small entourage of Templars, less than ten of them. These were all who is left?
"Who are you?" A Templar demanded, but then he examined them closely, and his eyes widened in realization. "You… You're not one of them, aren't you? Wait… Are you the Herald of Andraste?"
At that mention, every Templar in the cell looked towards at him, brimming with hope. He couldn't help but feel a little pressured even still, though he knew he has to do all he can to protect them.
"Noticed the hand, did you? Stand back," Damien ordered and when he did, he froze the lock on the cage then he took a stepped back, and the staff's crystal started heating up, blazing in heat. He swung it right at the frozen lock, and it shattered into pieces as if it was a mirror.
Dorian noted that. He'll have to remember that neat trick.
The Templar that spoke to them first, came up to him and saluted, "Sir! I am Knight–Templar Ser Delrin Barris, we…are immensely grateful for your assistance, Herald. I… I never thought anyone would come… Thank––"
Then suddenly, they heard inhumane howls of angry animalistic sounds that echoed through the castle's stone-walls.
"You can thank me later when we get out of here. Templars, get your equipment! Blackwall, Dorian, help me barricade the door!" Damien ordered as he rushed to it, and the two followed.
Barris also followed and even Fletcher as they helped barricade the metal door.
"Sir! This is our only way out though!" Fletcher protested a bit.
"There is another way!" Damien said as they barricaded it. They could hear footsteps already coming down and when they pulled away, the Herald froze it into a very thick ice.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"OPEN UP!" A demonic voice shouted. Huh. So it really was a demon who took the form of Lord Seeker Lucius Corin.
"Get your equipment and follow me!" Damien said as they rushed down to the other metal door that led nowhere but to deep dark cellar of a storage room.
When they reached a dead end, they heard a blast that went off above them. Did they break through the barricade?
"Ahh, cornered into the wall like rats… Any plans Herald?"
"Just one." Damien said as he walked up to the wall and he lifted his left hand.
The Templars all watched astounded as a strange moving green–lightning shot out to the stone-wall, causing a portal started opening, wider and wider. As for his companions, it was how they were able to get out of that place they were in.
"They are coming." Cole appeared next to him. "I've barricaded the other door, but I'm not sure it will hold."
"It should be enough!" Then they heard another blast. "Or not…"
The portal started getting bigger and bigger, and already Red Templars were there.
Ser Barris then shouted, "Protect the Herald!"
Then they attacked the first wave that came at them, and they were fighting with everything they have. It was taking Damien longer to make the portal since he had to make it stable enough to let this large group to pass through.
Soon it was wide enough and he held it right there. "It's stable! Come through! NOW!"
He held out his staff and started casting winter's grasp that stopped most of the Red Templars, allowing the others to finish their fight and break away.
"Just go!" Damien yelled as he pushed one through forcefully and after that they all followed until it was only Ser Barris left.
Cole then grabbed the Templar by the back of his collar and shove him through the portal. He looked at Damien and said, "He was about to needlessly sacrifice himself."
Oh.
"Thank you."
Cole nodded and he went right through. More Red Templars came charging through, but Damien leaped back and closed the portal.
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Dorian half–expected them to be back at that strange realm that the Herald brought. He had wondered how they would explain about the sentient Darkspawn being there, but they found themselves somewhere in a ruin of a castle. Every person stumbled out of the spinning portal, and out came Ser Barris staggering out of surprise from the wild short ride.
The Altus watched a little longer at the spinning portal and it was getting smaller, then two more persons came right out before the portal would close permanently with a boom.
The Herald only stumbled a bit, and he stood with ease.
"We… we made it out!" Fletcher said out of surprised and relief.
The remaining Templars cheered a bit and were relieved to be out of that nightmare, though some were saddened. How could this have happened to them? The order…
Ser Barris walked up to him. "Herald… we should have listened to your entourage back at Val Royeaux… if the offer still stands…"
"Yes." Damien didn't have to think about it. "…Tomorrow, we will head over to the Inquisition. We will not decline your help."
"We… may not be enough, but we will try."
"It's all I can ask…. Come." He gestured them, all of them to follow as they walked out of the ruins, and not too far away, there was an Inquisition camp.
They walked over the camp, and the scouts were surprised to see him and an entourage of Templars. He asked them if there was any food or water, and explained to them concisely of what happened to these Templars. They graciously offered them food, water, and extra blankets and tents.
All the while, the Herald stood not too far away, overlooking Ferelden near a cliff, possibly in deep thought. Dorian watched him moments longer in awe and admiration. He remembered how he said the Templars were under attacked… and though they were too late to save many, he managed to save the few.
The Altus walked up over to the Herald and asked. "A copper for your thoughts?"
Damien turned to him and charmingly smile, "It's free for you."
"Only for me?" He asked, teasing.
But the Herald teased back, "Only for you."
The Altus felt his cheeks blushed but he waved off dismissively, "Don't distract me. Come on. Spill."
"…I am uncertain of some things… Did I do enough to change the course of events?" He asked.
"The course of events?"
"To make things better than before––to…get a better ending."
"No one ever really knows if we get a good or bad ending until the end, right? Unless you're some kind of Seer, because that would explain a lot."
Damien laughed a bit. "No, no, not a seer… Not a Herald either."
"Then how do you know all this?" Dorian asked. "You come in blazingly fierce with knowledge beyond comparison and––you fight like none other with almost no mistakes."
"Almost no mistakes?"
"Your ice barricade didn't last long."
"Hahaha! True…"
"…Was that all that was in your mind, Herald?" Dorian asked as he saw the Herald looking out again.
"…Damien."
"Hm?"
"Call me Damien, Dorian. I am hardly a Herald…" He said. No. He had a better title than just Herald. "…Dorian. I need you to do me a favor."
Dorian did not refuse. "Anything… you did cure my friend from the Blight. I don't know how you did it, but I am grateful I get to see him longer than the borrowed time. And you stopped my mentor, Alexius, from doing anything stupid."
"Parents do stupid things desperately for their children, good or bad," Damien said and Dorian felt a twist in his stomach where he just wanted to wretch. How fucking true that was…
The Herald continued anyway, asking the favor, "Take Sera, Blackwall, Cole, and the Templars with you back to the Inquisition in Haven… There is… something I need to do."
The Altus tilted his head. "There's always something you need to do, I hear. Can't it wait? It is dark out."
"It can't wait, but thank you for the concern. You need to not worry for me." But he was happy that Dorian did.
It only made him happier when he said, "Well, someone has to."
"…I'll be going," Damien said as he started to walk away, but then he stopped to turn. "Ohh! And if they ask? Tell them I'll be back in three days, and one that third day, we'll close the breach with the Mages and the remaining Templars."
With that, Dorian watched him walk away and he disappeared through the thickness of the dense nature.
He let out a breath, unaware that he had been holding it. Why? Was he that nervous around the Herald? Well, he had to admit the man is handsome but he can't possibly be interested…. Can he?
Confused, he shook his head. Stop it now, Dorian. You're here to help, and not to fuck the Herald… but if it came to that…
Kaffas. He felt like a blushing maiden meeting her crush. He walked away now, heading back to camp to clear his head with some shitty ale…
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Dragon 9:63
The Architect looked over at the dead dwarf near him. Dagna… a fierce woman, only to be killed by a God that used to be friends of the Inquisitor. Why was the Inquisitor so determined to save this man that would only bring death and destruction?
Solas stood over the dead corpse, looking at the amulet. "…You have succeeded but nothing had change… yet…"
"The amulet is broken. You will not go back."
"No… I won't be able to… but I can send a warning," Solas said as he began to force the amulet to work, empowering it with his energy.
The amulet crackled and charred; a small portal ripped open with an unstable force. Solas then gestured a spirit to come over and when it did, he infused it with his memories and vision of this world.
The Architect watched curiously, and Solas, as if hearing his unheard question, answered…
"I will try again… make it better. My former self will know this."
With that, the spirit with his vision and memories was sent into the time portal, before it exploded like a rift in the veil being closed. That brought back memories–––memories far gone from him.
Trevelyan had tried to stop him, and perhaps he should have listened, but now, he won't. He knows now.
And his former self will do better.
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Note: That is the best interaction I can get between Cassandra and Varric at the moment. I don't think their relationship improved until after Varric gave Cassandra the last chapter of Swords & Shield, but I'll try to write more moments of them. As for DorianxInquisitor, the Inquisitor already loves him and Dorian already has an interest, so… ^^ sweet romance.
Next chapter, they'll be closing the breach!
By the way, did you like that last snippet? Bwuahahah!