As the group made their way down the stairs Kora felt the magic charge up behind them. She turned her head in time to see the barrier flash into existence, sealing them inside. She knew it was going to happen but it made her heart jump into her throat regardless. Hawke caught her expression and took her arm, walking with her the rest of the way down the stairs.
"Are we alright, love?" he whispered, slowing their pace to take up the rear of the group. Kora nodded, swallowing hard.
"Yes, just… it's one thing to imagine things happening and another entirely to experience it." Kora looked for Carver and, seeing him close to the front, pulled Hawke's arm to get him closer. "Did you tell Carver what I told you about your father?" Hawke's grip on her arm tightened.
"Didn't really have the chance, now, did I?" he said sarcastically, the sting from that piece of information obviously still fresh. Kora caressed the back of his hand then gave it a squeeze.
"He will find out shortly anyway, the room with the first part of Malcolm's message is up ahead. Unless you want to leave the demons where they are and just march straight through…" Trying to keep her voice calming, she stopped walking and smiled up at him. His normally handsome face was stern, holding back the hurt just barely. Still trying to keep all the bad stuff to yourself, she thought. "I'm here Hawke, whatever you decide I have your back." Surprise then resolve crossed his face as he gave her a quick nod.
"Let me think on it," he replied as he held tight to her arm and continued on, catching them up with the group.
Kora freed herself from Hawke's grip and moved to the front to stand next to Cullen. Seeing the hallway that eventually lead to the binding marks and the trapped shade, she held up a hand to stop everyone and turned to the Knight Captain.
"We should take a break," she said quickly and turned to the rest, "10 minutes people, rest, food and water." Everyone nodded and started rifling through their packs. Cullen touched her shoulder, making her turn to face him.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly. She nodded with a smile and he nodded. "I take it something is up ahead," he said more than asked, glancing back down the hallway. Kora nodded and grabbed his arm, turning him so she could reach the pack on his back. Removing two water skins she slapped one on his shoulder and waited for him to grab it before popping the cork on the other.
"Nothing too big but honestly I'm trying to decide if we should bother with it," she said between gulps. "We can leave it be, it's trapped permanently, and save the health potions for the bigger fights." Cullen gave her a suspicious look, drinking from his own skin then narrowing his eyes at her.
"You'd leave something that you know is dangerous behind us?" he asked, or more aptly, accused. Instantly on the defensive, she shot him a nasty look of her own and stepped closer, almost nose-to-nose with the taller man.
"I have been agonizing over every step of this journey for months. Do you honestly think I would make any rash decisions when other people's lives are at stake?" She lifted her hand to poke him in the breastplate. "I had one moment of weakness and now you are questioning my decisions. I have my reasons and I will share them when we have privacy, is that acceptable Knight Captain?" She held her ground and waited, breathing steadily through her nose as she watched his eyes, looking for some hint as to what he was thinking. Finally he blinked and she started to relax.
"Alright, Your Grace," he replied with a bit of venom, "I'll trust you will explain later." Taking a long drink from his water skin he then corked it and shoved it into her breastplate. She snatched it from his hand and stepped behind him to put it away, corking hers and shoving it in the pack as well. As he marched away Varric approached, standing next to her to watch Cullen.
"Ha, and I thought only married couples fought like that," he said, shrugging his shoulders. When he looked up he saw Kora glaring back at him. "And there's my cue to leave," he smiled up at her and walked a bit faster than normal over to where Hawke and Merrill were sitting. Kora shook her head and went to speak with Lyle and the rest of her contingent to see if they needed anything.
A few minutes later she and Lyle were watching their people practice a move she'd told them about to fight a mage. She was directing one of the younger men on how to properly grip his shield when Hawke approached her. Turning her attention to him she smiled, knowing he'd made up his mind on how to proceed. He nodded away from the group and made his way over to the outlook, leaning his forearms on the barrier with a sigh. Kora followed then waited patiently.
"So if it is agreeable to you," he said softly to avoid being overheard, "I'd like to bypass the whole 'Hello son, I'm a blood mage, do as I say and not as I do' thing and get straight to the Wardeny stuff." He had yet to make eye contact with her, afraid of the judgment he might see, but when she didn't answer right away he turned to face her. As he did she appeared next to him, bending over to rest her forearms on the barrier as well and let out a sigh of her own.
"Ok," she breathed out, "but you get to tell Cullen." She glanced back to where the Knight Captain was standing, speaking to the other Templars. "He is not thrilled with the idea and frankly I'm not in the mood to fight with him again." Hawke huffed out a laugh and stood up, straightening his robes and puffing out his chest.
"Watch this," he whispered with a wink and marched over to the heavily armored Templars, clearing his throat. "Gentlemen, and My Lady," he said rather loudly as he bowed dramatically to them, "the area up ahead is sealed tight and as we have limited supplies I suggest we simply make our way through and save our strength for the real fight. A tactical decision that I hope you will agree with Knight Captain?" Hawke paused for a split second and as Cullen opened his mouth to speak Hawke clapped his hands together. "Good! Let's get moving then, shall we? Varric! Put the quill down and get your shit together, we have things to kill. Fenris! Stop glaring at everyone and pick up your greataxe. Come on people, let's go!"
Everyone started moving at once, shuffling around to get their rations gathered and get into formation. Through the crowd Kora could see Cullen giving her a suspicious glare and shaking his head. She shrugged her shoulders and smiled, giving him a little wave that he rolled his eyes at. He then waved her over so she sidled up alongside him and winked, getting a small laugh from the Templar as he shook his head again.
"Remind me never to be in the same room with you and Hawke ever again," he whispered as he walked toward the hallway. Kora smiled, glad to not be on Cullen's bad side for longer than a few minutes and followed him in.
As they made their way through the first part of Sashamiri's Floor and fought their way through the darkspawn waiting for them a voice was heard over the last of the fighting. Shit, I forgot about that, Kora thought as she scanned the crowd and saw Hawke distracting his brother. She smiled, shaking her head as she shouted orders to avoid listening to much more.
"Do not touch anything," she insisted. "The trapped demons will stay trapped as long as you keep your hands to yourselves." She gave Cullen a pointed look to which he shrugged his shoulders and gave her the 'who-me?' innocent eyes and kept walking.
Navigating the halls proved a bit harder than expected, Kora's memory having faded a bit in the last seven or so years, but they made it through to a large chamber where they came upon an old man in a Warden uniform rummaging through what appeared to be a darkspawn corpse. Well, he appeared to be an old man until they got a good look at him. Kora gasped.
Larius was much more haggard than the game had portrayed; his skin translucent and his eyes hollowed out holes in his skull. The gray and blue armor hung off of him as if his shoulders were simply a hangar and his hair thin wisps that appeared to only be resting on his head and face, easily blown away. The pity she felt for him fell to the pit of her stomach as she struggled to speak.
"Larius," she said, getting the Warden's attention. He looked up, obviously confused, until he spotted Hawke's new staff.
"The key!" He shouted as he rushed toward them. Everyone started drawing their weapons until Kora held up her hand to still them. Larius stopped abruptly, looking at Hawke suspiciously. "How do you bring the key here?"
"He means the staff, Hawke," Kora explained. "It's the key to breaking the seals. Larius," Kora held up her hands to show she meant no harm and took a step toward the Warden. "Can you help us navigate our way through the prison? We're here to destroy Corypheus." Larius looked around frightened, cowering in fear.
"SHHHH! Do not say his name! Do not wake him!" He hissed. She nodded her head, trying to remember the game and that she was dealing with someone who was no longer a man. He probably hadn't seen another human being in years.
"Alright, Larius, it's alright," she cooed, stepping closer. Her presence seemed to calm him so she crept even closer as he slowly stood up straight. "We're just looking to get through. This is Malcolm's son." Kora reached toward Hawke who approached the Warden as well, hands out in greeting. Larius' face lit up.
"You are the blood of the Hawke?" he asked, inching toward Hawke. "I smell the magic on you and you hold the key. The key to his death," he mumbled and as if something clicked inside his head he started nodding, "I can show you through, yes." He stilled, seeming to consider something then he looked at Kora again. "You know my name?" Kora nodded. "Then you know who I was, who I am." Kora felt the pity in her gut swell as she reached for his hand, gripping it tight.
"You are Warden Commander Larius," she said quietly, "Commander of the Grey. Do you remember?" She held back the tears that threatened to fall as he looked to the ground, pondering her words. Maker, is this what awaits Alistair? Caden? Elissa? Pushing the thought aside she rested her hand on his shoulder. "Let's get moving, Commander." Larius hesitated, then nodded and moved off across the small bridge that lead deeper into the Dwarven ruin.
"Down, down in the depths," he murmured as Kora motioned for everyone to follow and started after him. Cullen, still in shock as to who they encountered and what was going on, shook his head as if to clear it then rushed after her, prompting the rest of the group to follow.
What have I gotten myself into, Cullen asked himself as he tightened his grip on his sword and shield.
What have I let Kora get into?