Author's Note: I took quite a few creative liberties with the events in this chapter, but I don't want to follow the game so closely that there is nothing new to enjoy. I also wanted to weave in some of the lore (and my theories) from DA:I. It will help if I ever follow Hawke as far as the events in that game. Enjoy!
"All right, listen up," Bartrand's voice boomed, echoing in the cavern. Hawke cringed inwardly. "Our pals here," he motioned toward Hawke, Varric, Fenris, and Anders, "Are going to scout out the far end of the thaig. Meantime, the rest of you worthless shits get to work on excavating those houses. Pack lunch, we don't have time for you little girlies to play tea. We've got coin to make." Everyone stood, waiting for further instructions. "What in the blazes are you nughumpers waiting for? MOVE OUT."
Fenris and Hawke headed back to the tent to get everything they would need for the day ahead. After giving her daggers a quick polish, she sheathed them and grabbed up her pack along with her waterskin. She waited for Fenris as he began pulling the two remaining wine bottles out of his pack. He hesitated with the Aggregio and glanced up at Hawke.
"Might improve the dry sandwiches at lunch?" he gently shook the bottle back and forth temptingly.
Hawke laughed, "You'll get no argument from me."
Fenris slipped the bottle back in his bag and slung his sword onto his back. They headed together toward the mess tent to collect their rations for that day. Bodahn handed them their sandwiches, wrapped in cloths. "How much do you think I can eat?" Hawke raised an eyebrow at him.
"Bartrand doesn't think the expedition will be back in time for dinner," Bodahn informed her. Ugh, Hawke sighed. That dwarf is insufferable. She shoved the sandwiches in her pack and walked with Fenris to the thaig entrance where Anders and Varric were already waiting for them.
"I swear," Hawke grumbled to Varric, "I may find it difficult to not strangle your brother when we get back. I've never met someone I've hated so much in such a short time."
Varric laughed, "You don't know the half of it, Hawke."
"Onward, then?" she turned to the group, catching Fenris' smile. Without a word, they began to make their way down the enormous stone staircase that lead into the thaig.
Fenris' lyrium was pulsating brighter as they began to draw nearer to where the veins of red lyrium were.
"Maker!" Hawke jumped as she heard Anders shout behind them. Everyone turned to look at him as he pressed his forefingers into his temples, squeezing his eyes closed, "I swear this stuff is talking to me, but I don't understand it." Fenris glared, It's probably your demon friend, Abomination. He wanted to lecture him, but bit his tongue. This day started out far too pleasant to let the likes of that apostate ruin it.
Hawke was concerned however, which made Fenris cringe further, "Do you need to go back to the camp?"
"No, no," he waved his hand at her, not making eye contact with anyone, "I'm fine, let's just get this over with." Hawke shifted her pack on her shoulder as the group continued forward. As they drew nearer to the enormous stone building that they had seen the night before, Hawke reveled in the detailed and intricate carvings that adorned every inch of it. This is so beautiful. How could anyone abandon this?
"I swear this architecture looks more elven than dwarven," Varric looked more uneasy than Anders. He muttered under his breath, "This is why I hate the sodding Deep Roads. Nothing makes sense down here."
As they reached the bottom of the stairway that lead to the entrance of the building, everyone slowed to a stop and stared up in awe. A silence fell over the group. It felt like hours that they had been standing there when Hawke heard Fenris clear his throat behind her.
"We should probably head in if we're going to make any progress today," he said pointedly. The rest of the group broke out of their trances and they continued up the stairs.
With no small amount of effort, they were able to slide the large stone doors open, stirring up dust that glittered in the light of Fenris' markings, which were still glowing in intervals from the red lyrium veins. It cast a haunting image as they stared into the darkness ahead of them. Anders quickly cast a spell that lit his staff again, but the light was still weak in the dark room in front of them.
"What about those torches along the walls?" Hawke pointed to one of the several rusted, iron sconces that lined the portion of the room they could see. Anders stepped to the nearest one to examine it, when suddenly another soft glow began to fill the room.
"A-Anders?" Hawke's heart began racing as the all-too-familiar light began filling Anders' eyes and crackling under his skin. Justice? Why now? What is going on? Fenris began to take swift step forward but Hawke held her arm out to stop him in his tracks. He shot her a wary glance, furrowing his eyebrows. She looked back and shook her head, trying to signal to him to wait. He got the message but continued to stand with his chest pressed against Hawke's outstretched arm, ready to take any necessary action should the mage lose control.
Ander's hand raised slowly and with a fluid flick of the wrist, a peculiar, green fire appeared in the sconce. "Veilfire," Justice's voice echoed in the room, "I had not thought this could exist outside the fade. I do not understand this place." His voice sounded strained and confused. Hawke felt the pressure increase on her arm as the group watched Anders move around the room, lighting each torch with the same strange fire. In a few moments, the room was well lit but everything was cast in an eerie green-tinted light. The ceiling stretched up into the blackness and the floor was covered in a beautiful bronze mosaic that was shattered in many places. Slowly the light in Anders' eyes faded as he regained control of himself.
He glanced nervously at Hawke, "I- I'm sorry."
"It's fine," she replied, but she wasn't really paying attention. She was mesmerized by her surroundings as her eyes wandered around the room. Beautiful curved and flowing sculptures stood in the various alcoves that lined the room. They didn't look anything like the Paragon sculptures they had seen closer to the entrance of the Deep Roads. There were two enormous, circular benches in the center of the room, the high backs covered in delicate designs of leaves and flowers and tree branches. A few scraps of faded and threadbare fabric hung off the seats where cushions likely once rested. Another stone door stood open on the opposite end of the room, with nothing but darkness behind it.
"I don't want to be here anymore, Hawke." Varric was speaking through his tightly clenched teeth. He was gripping Bianca, as though he were ready to take a shot at the next thing that moved.
Hawke reached out to give his arm a squeeze, "It's fine Varric." She was trying to reassure him and herself at the same time. This place feels...wrong. We shouldn't be here. She knew the rest of the group shared her thoughts.
Varric seemed to be gathering up his courage as he spoke up more clearly this time, "Then let's just get a move on so we can get out of this blighted shithole as soon as we can." He trudged forward and the other three followed close behind him. As they entered the next room, Anders once again went through and lit all the torches, but with no sign of Justice this time, much to Fenris' relief. This room was the same width as the prior one but was much shallower, with only a plain stone floor and a single bench on either side of the door ahead of them. A heavy stone latch held the door shut in front of them and it once again took the effort of the group to lift it. What is behind this door that it needs to be barricaded so heavily? Hawke thought nervously, but decided best not to speak, as everyone was already on edge enough as it was.
Once the latch was raised, they all leaned in on the door as it slid open, this time with much greater ease than the previous door. A bright red glow appear in the crack of the door as soon as they began opening it. They stepped into the room which was surprisingly well-lit. A large bronze altar stood in the center with several steps leading up to it, bordered by an intricate stone railing. As they took a step forward, two tall, free-standing lamps suddenly came ablaze with fire. Varric literally jumped, nearly knocking over Fenris.
Hawke looked down at the wire that was wrapped around her foot, "It was a tripwire, Varric. It's okay." Silently she cursed herself, You need to be paying attention. That could have been something dangerous on the ends of the wire. The adrenaline rush returned her focus as her eyes scanned the room for any other hidden traps. Assured that the rest of the room appeared safe, she and Varric made their way up to the altar with Anders and Fenris close behind.
They climbed the steps slowly and as they reached the top, Hawke let out a quiet gasp, letting the daggers she was wielding fall to the ground. The others hurried to climb up next to her to see what could elicit such reaction. Before their eyes lay the most beautiful statuette they had ever scene. Gold looping and weaving through a prism of red lyrium. As Varric reached to pick it up the lyrium bounced off of the metallic areas, casting shards of pink light around the room. Varric handed the object to Hawke and she examined it more closely. There was detailed carving of skeletal woman, frozen in a scream. She appeared to be clasping onto a man in agony as he held her, dying. Hawke was mesmerized. She felt drawn to it in a way she couldn't describe.
"What is it?" she whispered in awe.
"It looks like some kind of...idol." Varric's voice was equally quiet. A sudden noise behind them startled them enough that they glanced away from the object, released from the hold it had on them.
Bartrand was standing at the bottom of the staircase behind them, trying to peer up at what the excitement was about. Varric grabbed the object back from Hawke and held it up proudly, "Look at this, Bartrand! An idol, made of that red lyrium, I think." He shifted it back and forth as it caught the light cast by the flames. Hawke glanced over at Bartrand and her blood ran cold. He had a queer look in his eyes. His gaze was distant and dark. Varric seemed not to notice as he continued jabbering to his brother, "This could be worth a fortune!"
Bartrand let out a long, low whistle, "You could be right…" his voice was hollow. "Excellent find, brother."
Varric tossed the idol to Bartrand and turned back to Hawke and the group, "Let's keep looking around. See if there's anything further in." He motioned to a small door hidden behind a large pillar in the back of the room.
"You do that," Bartrand said quietly, but the group was busy making their way to the back of the altar to check if there was anything else in the room. Suddenly, Hawke heard the sound of stone dragging along the ground. She whipped her head around to see the door closing shut behind them.
"The door!" she cried out, panicking. The others turned and saw what was happening everyone began to rush back to the entrance of the room. Hawke swiftly hopped up on the banister, sliding quickly to the bottom of the stairs, flinging herself at the door just as it slammed shut.
Varric banged his fists on the door, trying to catch his brother's attention. A lump formed in Hawke's throat as she heard the heavy latch fall back into place on the other side.
"Bartrand!" Varric shouted through the stone, "The door…it shut behind you!"
They waited to see if he could hear them. Suddenly they heard low, muffled chuckle on the other side. "Oh Varric, you were always the perceptive one in the family."
Everyone froze in place, realizing what was happening. "Are you joking?!" Varric exclaimed, his face growing red, "You're going to screw over your own brother for a damned idol?" He threw both fists against the door as hard as he could.
"It's not just the idol!" Bartrand's voice sounded strained and heavy, "It's...the location of this thaig. This red lyrium. That alone is worth a fortune. And I swear by the Ancestors, I will not split that three ways." There was a pause and they heard his footsteps as he was walking away, "Sorry, brother!" He called back, but his voice was so faint they could barely hear him anymore.
"Bartrand!" Varric shouted desperately, but there was no response. "BARTRAND!"
But he was gone, and they were trapped in the thaig with no way to reach the rest of the expedition.