"How could you let this happen Kora?" Caden shouted, his face reddening as he stared down his sibling. Kora took one step toward him and straightened her shoulders, meeting his glare.
"You overgrown Hurlock," she hissed, trying to keep her voice low to avoid the already lingering audience at the meeting place they'd arranged prior to leaving Kirkwall. "I didn't know Corypheus could do that until I sensed it, he…"
"Bullshit!" he roared, "I knew it was a mistake to send you alone, one of us should have come with you." Kora took another step toward the much larger man, now only a foot away.
"Really? So one of you could become possessed by his mind and try to kill us all? Wonderful idea brother, you are fucking brilliant!" Kora realized she was shouting and shook her head, lowering her voice once again. "We already had to kill three Wardens because of that fiend, you'd have me slaughter what's left of my family as well? You are an ass Caden Kendalls." She turned to stomp away when she came face to face with her sister-in-law.
"No," the red head insisted, "you two are not leaving things like this." Elissa put her finger to Kora's nose, her eyes narrowed and her voice low but firm. "You will turn around and deal with this," she said, turning to her husband, "both of you, and you will not walk away angry. I love you both but I will kick both your asses if necessary." The tiny Warden took a step back and crossed her arms, waiting for the twins to comply.
Caden sighed, prompting Kora to turn back around to look at him. His face was slowly losing the red tinge as he calmed. Kora felt his heart rate slowing which also calmed her down. He shook his head, running a hand through his blonde hair.
"Shit," he mumbled then looked his sister in the eye. "What do we do now? I don't know what to do now." Kora felt his frustration and realized where it was coming from. Not what happened, but where to go from here. The mission was not accomplished. Corypheus was still alive and now running around Thedas in a borrowed body. She stepped closer to her brother, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"We find him," she replied. "We break camp, head back to Kirkwall, jump on a ship and find the bastard. I think it's a safe bet he's going to Tevinter, maybe we should start there." She waited, seeing the cogs turning behind those familiar blue eyes.
"You, Your Grace, are going nowhere," Caden said calmly. "Your husband would have my head if I tried to bring you along, however we do need assistance of the non-Warden variety." He looked over at his wife. "Do you think your brother would be willing to lend us some of his guard? I'm sure my sister would throw a few our way." He sent a sideways wink to Kora who smirked in return. Walking past him to get to her tent, she bumped her shoulder into his.
"You're still an ass, Caden Kendalls."
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Safely back in Lowtown, Kora sighed as she walked into the Handed Man. She smiled, seeing the pirate in her usual spot, and moved to stand next to Bela in her roost at the bar. The dark haired beauty smiled sideways and waved at Corff for another drink.
"Well, I fucked that one up royally," Kora sighed, taking the whiskey and downing it in one gulp. She heard Bela gasp in shock and had to stop herself from snorting it back out her nose. "Was that for the comment or…"
"What happened?" the pirate asked, turning to face the blonde. Bela's face was stoic, something Kora had never seen before. The Arlessa shook her head and waved at Corff for another drink.
"Everything was going fine, we killed a shit ton of dwarves, even more Darkspawn, even a few Wardens that were possessed by Corypheus' mind," she replied light-heartedly. Suddenly her face went dark. "Then we killed him." She took a swig of the new beverage, wiping the remnants from her mouth. "At least we thought we did." Bela put a hand on her hip and sneered.
"I can't imagine you making a mistake like that, love," she replied, taking a swig from her own cup, waiting for Kora's explanation. Kora stared into her cup.
"The bastard must have the same ability as an Archdemon," she began as if thinking out loud, "his soul must be able to move from one blighted body to another. That is why it's so important to have a Warden kill the Archdemons, the soul goes into the Warden…" Kora stopped, realizing who she was talking to and shook her head. "Never mind, suffice it to say the bastard still breathes." She could feel the confusion from the dark haired woman. It made her want to kick herself.
"So wait," Bela said as she tried to absorb the information she was just given, "Archdemons' souls move from one darkspawn to another if the dragon is killed by anyone other than a Warden?" Her shock turned into a shriek, attracting Corff's attention. Kora shook her head, making a gesture as if to say Bela had drunk too much to which Corff nodded and returned to cleaning.
"Bela, you have to keep quiet about this shit," she hissed, "this cannot get out." Bela's eyes narrowed.
"What happens to the Warden?" Kora sighed, shaking her head as she tried to figure out how to say 'none of your business' politely.
"Well then, you're back!" Garrett exclaimed as he wrapped an arm around Kora, planting a kiss on her temple before moving to grasp his lover by the ass, taking her lips fervently. Slightly breathless, he turned back to his one-time love. "Mission accomplished I assume? Going home?"
"Her Grace will be gracing us with her presence for a bit longer, lover," Bela replied, turning his face back to her. "Don't get any ideas." Kora laughed at the pair.
"No, I'll be heading home," she said, chugged down the last of her drink and waved Corff off. "I have to go pack. I'll see you all before we leave." Kora quickly headed to her room, grateful to not have to answer Bela's question.
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Everyone said their good-bye's at the dock as their bags were loaded. Isabela had apparently taken Kora's words to heart, keeping her mouth shut. When hugging the Arlessa good bye she whispered a warning in her ear akin to 'this isn't over' but smiled as she pulled away. Kora smiled back and nodded, understanding fully what the pirate was thinking. She would be just as relentless.
"Do take care of yourself," Cullen insisted, pulling his long time friend into his arms. He rested his cheek on top of her head and sighed. "I don't know what I would do..."
"Hush," Kora said, looking up at the Templar. "I love you too." Before the shock of her words hit him Kora reached up and kissed both his cheeks. Smiling up at him, she swallowed the tears threatening to appear. "You take care of yourself, I don't know what Kirkwall would do without you, much less me." They loosened their grip on each other, still looking into each others' eyes, both smiling from ear to ear.
Hawke swooped in, squeezing Kora in a tight hug, making her giggle. He laughed as well as he pulled away. He looked into her eyes, quietly assessing her state of mind. She knew full well what he was trying to do so she arched an eye brow at him.
"Like you have a prayer of reading my mind, Hawke," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "Let me know if you need anything, will you be coming to Denerim to sail with Caden?" The Champion nodded.
"We leave in the next two weeks," he replied. Bringing his face closer to hers, he whispered, "after dealing with the psycho you warned me about, that is."
"Psychos, as in more than one," she corrected. "Orsino is no angel, you know that." Hawke nodded solemnly, remembering Orsino's connection to his mother's murderer. "Plus our mutual friends..."
"Yes, but I was hoping to put a stop to that before it starts," he said. Kora knew he was referring to Anders and hoped that with the information ahead of time he would be successful. "We shall see, anyway, off with you! I hate long good-byes and this one has been long enough." He kissed her cheek and backed away. "Thank you for your help with my city."
Kora nodded with a smile and looked around, searching for Anders, but he was nowhere to be found. Hawke shrugged. "He said to tell you all good bye and good luck, he was afraid he would get emotional and with Justice..." he rolled his eyes then crossed them, sticking out his tongue. Kora laughed.
"See you in a month," she said, waving to everyone as she backed toward the gangway of the ship. Maker, please help Hawke show Anders the light. She blinked back tears. Please don't let it be too late.
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"I see," Alistair said, committing what the Senior Grey Warden had just told him to memory. "So she has murdered our fellow Wardens. Should I take her into custody when she arrives, Commander?"
"No," 'Larius stated. "You will join me in my endeavor to remake this world." The possessed Warden put a hand on Alistair's shoulder, looking into his eyes only to see the Arl stare blankly back at him. The imposter grinned wickedly.
"That will be her punishment."