The fighting seemed to go on for days, Corypheus having regained full power plus being able to harness the power of the seal that held him. Kora was drained, even with everyone taking the offensive in waves the creature was putting up one hell of a fight. She moved inside one of the alcoves and sat on the ground.

Lyle and his men were up, some distracting while others attacked, and Cullen appeared at her side.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, sitting next to her and handing her a healing potion. She shook her head, refusing it.

"Just tired, stamina draught would be better," she breathed out. She was feeling light headed which confused her. "This thing is doing something to me, I feel fuzzy." Cullen shoved the stamina draught into her hand.

"Maybe it has something to do with your awareness," he thought out loud, "if it's hyper-sensitive you may be picking up on whatever he is putting out like the Wardens. Maybe you should…"

"Do not even think it," she growled, "this thing is more than a nuisance and it's threatening my family. I will have a hand in destroying it Cullen." Her eyes narrowed, she glared at the Knight Captain. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Standing up, he rolled his shoulders and put out a hand to help her.

"Wouldn't think of it Your Grace," he replied sarcastically as she stood. Shaking off the fog, she pulled out her sword and smirked at the Templar.

"Betcha I can get more hits in than you," she whispered. Cullen snorted, shaking his head.

"I'll take that challenge," he replied, leaning in close. "And win." He winked at her and jumped into the fray. Laughing to herself, Kora followed.

Slash and stab, run away, shield bash, run away, repeat. Every hit someone got in was followed up by another, a constant barrage on the creature who claimed to be a magister that invaded the Golden City.

Corypheus seemed to have an unending pool of mana as well as health, taking blows that would have crippled a normal man. He laughed them off, calling to his gods to strengthen him and pulling the elements from each of the griffin figures that had bound him.

And then there were the demons.

Shades popped up out of nowhere, slashing and throwing themselves at the troops. Splitting their efforts, they broke into two groups; one to defend from the demons and one to attack the Magister.

Hawke suddenly stopped throwing fireballs and turned his attention to the statues, eyeing how the energy ebbed and flowed toward their adversary. Turning away from Corypheus he ran to the nearest statue, encasing it in ice.

"Kora, see if you can smash it!" he yelled. Kora turned, confused at first. Realizing what he was up to she ran and shield bashed the statue. The line of power that Corypheus had been drawing from disappeared. Kora and Hawke grinned at each other, nodding and moving to the next statue.

"I am an acolyte of Dumat!" Corypheus yelled, "You cannot harm me!" Another statue down, Hawke moved to the third. The magister reached out to Kora, throwing some kind of magic at her. Suddenly she was trapped in a thick fog.

"Kora!" Cullen yelled, rushing to her side and releasing a cleanse. The fog dissipated and Kora fell to her knees. Cullen tried to move her without success so he knelt down and shielded her. Turning to look for his fellow Templars, he spotted them fighting shades sent forth by the creature. "Templars! Smite the bastard!" Carver nodded and dispatched the nearest shade.

"Together now!" he yelled as they all powered up for the smite. The four recruits directed their focus on Corypheus. "NOW!"

A blinding flash of light and the creature howled in pain, dropping to his knees. Hawke shouted to Carver who ran to his side, helping him take out the last of the statues while their foe was incapacitated. The last statue destroyed, everyone turned on Corypheus at once.

"WAIT!" Hawke yelled, moving to the front. Never once breaking eye contact with the magister, he stood before him, staff raised, "he is MINE."

Corypheus, in a last-ditch effort to survive, sent a fireball toward Hawke's head which the mage skillfully dodged and sent one of his own back at the creature, sending him to his knees. As if sensing defeat, he looked up from the ground, glaring at Hawke, daring him to strike him down without a word. A small smirk started to form as Hawke's energy blast hit him dead-on. The would-be darkspawn lord went still, his body slowly falling to the ground.

All was still, everyone watched and waited, expecting the thing to rise and continue the fight. Cullen held his breath, remaining on bended knee and holding his shield up to protect Kora who had yet to regain consciousness. He watched the body for any sign of life and counted. One, two, three, four… all the way to 100. Nothing.

Convinced it was over, Cullen dropped his shield to examine Kora. She was still, a few small wounds and bruises were apparent but nothing life threatening. Pushing her hair away from her face, Cullen felt his heart clench. She was so pale…

"Kora," he whispered, "hey, come on, wake up." He wrapped his arms around her and shook gently, trying desperately to wake her. "Kora, dammit, wake UP!" A soft moan escaped her lips as Cullen positioned her to sitting, leaning her up against a wall.

"Why are you yelling at me," she whispered, "meanie." Cullen laughed and kissed her forehead. She smiled up at him, sleepy eyes barely open.

"Are you alright?" he asked, examining her eyes for a sign of an issue.

"I… I think so," she replied, motioning for him to assist her in standing. He pulled her to her feet, steadying her before letting go. Her hand to her head, she shook it to try and clear it. "Ugh, that hurt and I feel really fuzzy, what the hell happened?"

"You did well, all of you," Larius said, drawing everyone's attention to him, his voice lowered and with a bit of an accent. The Warden smiled at Kora as if waiting for a response. When she nodded, still rubbing her temple in an attempt to clear her head, he turned to Hawke. "More than the Grey Wardens of old were able to accomplish. I will tell the Warden Commander of your service here. You've gained an ally today."

"Why are you talking like that?" Hawke asked, suspicious of the Warden's new behavior.

"My head is clear now, without Corypheus' call I can think again." Larius smiled wickedly. "I thank you for my freedom." Not entirely accepting that, Hawke sighed.

"I can't imagine the Wardens being happy about the deaths of their people, are you sure you want to go back there?" He looked at Janecka's corpse, her dead eyes staring into nothingness.

"Janecka ignored the Warden Commander's express orders when she sought to free Corypheus," Larius' voice lowered another notch, "they'll be relieved she's gone." The Warden turned to walk away. "The prison stands no more. My gratitude you have, for my freedom."

"Wait!" Kora shouted. Squeezing her eyes shut, still trying to clear her head, she moved away from Cullen to approach Larius. He was wary, keeping one foot turned as if to run at a moment's notice. Giving her head one final shake she looked him in the eye, searching. "Something isn't right."

"Are you well, Your Grace?" Lyle asked as he appeared at her side. Her eyes never left Larius'.

"Larius," she asked, "there's… AWGH!" Kora fell to her knees, grasping at her head. She was howling in pain, so loud that everyone's eyes turned to her…

Seeing his opportunity, 'Larius' slipped away.