Anders made a wild swing with his staff and sent a bolt of energy at the Divine. She laughed and batted the spell away. He was tired and drained from the fight with the Templars, but he would not go down without a fight. Leigh and Sebastian were trying to find an opening to attack her directly, but every time they moved she would throw a ward spell or attack Sebastian making Leigh have to protect him. Anders could see how frustrated his wife was getting. He knew her too well and knew she was holding back. If she wanted to she could use her magic to end this, but she held back. All he wondered was why. Was she buying the others time or was it because she was afraid to let go and unleash her full power.
"Leigh we can't keep this up much longer." Sebastian had burn marks on his armor and he was panting. All his strength and stamina was being sapped away. Leigh cursed and threw up her own warding spell. She saw the look of surprise on Strife's face. She was not expecting Leigh to be as strong as she was.
"Anders get him out of here. I will end this." With her other hand she placed a barrier to block both men from trying to stay. She had lost enough in life to know this was a hopeless battle.
"No! I will not leave you here to face her alone!" Leigh smiled at him with tears in her eyes. Even if she won it would take everything in her to do so. She would not lose either of them to this fight. Anders pounded his hands on the barrier a look of pure terror graced his face.
"Tell...tell Meghan, Karl and Drea I love them and I will be waiting for them on the other side."
"Love please don't do this, let me help you. Let me stay." She shook her head and gave him a sad smile.
"It's my turn to face the fire Anders. I have been safe while the rest of our kind has been enslaved. I have to do this and I have to do this alone. Please go...if I fail it is up to you and Sebastian to keep our children safe. I love you. You are my heart and soul. I...I need you to live, please go." Anders shook his head and Sebastian followed suit.
"We are not leaving Hawke. You can't stop her on your own. Even Mercy knew this. Remember the scroll, what Andraste said ""When the virtues stand up against her as one she will not be able to stand. Purity must be protected or all hope is lost. Compassion for one's enemy is the greatest gift one can give in seeking justice. Courage and fortitude are needed to show one's valor in the darkest of times. Above all else faith is needed. Faith in yourself, your allies and the Maker himself. This is the only way to defeat Strife." Please let us help you." Leigh let the barrier on their side die. Anders ran to her and wrapped her up in his arms.
"Don't ever do that to me again."
"If we fail here there won't be a next time." Sebastian caught movement out of the corner of his eye and gasped. Four Templars filed in flanking Miranda Amell. In her arms was Meghan looking scared. Leigh wanted to run to her daughter, but the sight of a dagger near her daughter's throat made her stop.
"Ah Miranda, perfect timing. I take it Ser Cullen is dead."
"He is. Pity, but he would not repent. We did have a few people try to save him, but they too are gone." Leigh let out a howl of anguish and Anders had to stop her from jumping at her cousin. Seeing the blood on two of the Templars armor proved it. One of the Templars had Bethany's staff, another had Fenris's sword. Leigh fell to her knees all the fight had left her. Her sister dead, her friends gone and now her daughter in the hands of a monster. Miranda stopped just in front of were Leigh and the men were standing.
"I am very pleased with that news." Strife turned to Leigh a wolfish grin on her face. "You see Serah Hawke, you can not win. You are beaten. Save yourself the pain and beg forgiveness. I will grant you all a quick death." Sebastian looked at his daughter and Strife turned her tone to honey.
"Do not worry Brother Vael. Your child will live. This body I am in will age and I will have to take over another. Her powers added to mine...there will be no one to stop me."
"Monster!" Sebastian jumped at the Divine not caring that the warding spell was still up. Blind hatred drove him and he would rather die than let the demon take his little girl. When his dagger hit the ward it shattered and the cold steel pierced woman's arm. With a hiss she grabbed his arm and threw him back toward the others.
"Impossible!" Leigh could hear Pash laughing with glee in her head. "When the virtues stand together she will fall. Look to the ones who wear our enemies' armor. Look closely Leigh." Leigh looked up and met the eyes of the Templar holding Bethany's staff. Warm brown eyes met hers and she let out small laugh. Bethany took her helm off and the other three did the same. Cullen, Fenris and Isabela smiled down at her. Miranda let the dull dagger fall to the ground and handed Meghan back to Anders.
"Not impossible, we warned you that we would stop you Strife." Miranda's skin cracked open and green light poured out of the cracks. Her voice shifted into a very smooth alto. "Miranda had the courage to take your abuse and still not give in. She knew the dangers, but still she chose to fight back."
"Who are you?!"
"What's the matter Your Grace, do you not remember your first Knight Commander?"
"No!" Leigh and Anders step up next to Miranda and let Pash and Justice take over. Blue and red joined the green light giving the room a eerie glow.
"Our mother gave us the answer years ago and we did not listen. Our failure was a lesson. It was costly and I will not give you another thousand years to inflict more horrors on this world."
"So he made you spirits did he? Which are you murderer?" Anders smiled.
"Justice, I did warn you that the day you would be defeated Mercy and I would be here. It ends now Strife. He chose us as his vanguard. Here stand his two daughters. His flesh and blood. Who are you to claim you are his chosen? You gave up that title long ago when you turned from him. In murdering his daughters you sealed your fate."
"What do you know of fate? He coddled mortals and forgot his first born. He turned his back on us."
"So like a spoiled child you tormented your younger siblings. Did you not trust his love? Did you not think he gave mortals more of his time because they needed him more? He trusted his eldest to take care of the Fade while he watched over his youngest children. You are nothing but a bully."
"He threw us away. He made us leave the Golden City because of you." Justice shook his head sadly and Mercy stepped forward.
"Like any father he made you leave so you could grow. He wanted only for you to learn and think for yourself. He loved you Grace. Part of him still does, but you have fallen so far and done things that are hard to forgive even for our father."
"I will not stand here and listen to your preaching spirit." Strife's body began to shift and change. Mercy threw up a shield around them to stop the energy blast Strife threw before completing her change. When the smoke cleared a twisted figure stood before them. A pride demon, but smaller and thinner. Leigh could imagine that Grace was beautiful once before she let her malice twist her. "I will prove to him I am the only one worthy of his attention!"
"Move!" Mercy put her hands together palm to fist and made her flaming long sword. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Isabela pick up Meghan and move her out of danger. With a flick of her wrist she put a barrier between the fight and Leigh's daughter. "Sebastian stay as far away as you can to cover us." The prince gave a sharp nod and fell back to safer position. His hand reached back to his quiver to ready an arrow. Bethany stood behind Cullen and waited for her chance to strike. Fenris stood in front of the barrier that Leigh had put around the pirate queen and Meghan. His tattoos glowed fueling the mages near him. Leigh, Miranda and Anders moved forward striking with spells, staffs and in Leigh's case daggers. Strife fell back and let out a ear piercing scream. Her magic pulsed out knocking her attackers off their feet and shaking the very building they were in.
"I will not be defeated by the likes of you. I have come too far to let mortals win." A evil sneer graced the demon's lips and she looked up at the ceiling. "This body might die, but I will return. Sending you to the Void will be worth the set back." Leigh gasped right before the building shook itself apart. Her eyes met Anders' and she reached for him, before the world went dark.
OoO
Carver stood in front of his men. Most were tired and beaten up, but their eyes shone with a determination that made his heart swell with pride. Gregior and his men had joined the ranks of the soldiers giving a much needed boost to the battle weary army. The presence of the mages also gave them a better advantage. Most that were brought were seasoned veterans from the battle of Denerim. Carver smiled at his wife before putting his helm back on his head.
"I know you are tired! I know we have lost men and supplies, but we have not lost any ground! They are hurting worse than we are! I have never been prouder of my countrymen as I am right now! We will win this battle! We will send those spoiled shits back to their Empress with their tails between their legs! And we will let all of Thedas know we will not be bullied into following a leader that harms innocents! Let's show them how we do things here in Ferelden!" The roar from his army was deafening. Ori shivered for a moment next to him. Her gaze met his and he grasped her hand in his. "Ready?"
"As I will ever be." Carver let go of her hand and began to move to the back of his men. "Carver."
"Yeah?"
"I will see you on the other side. You'd better be there."
"I promise. Just make sure you're there and I will not be far behind." Ori smiled and ran to join the other mages positioned to strike from cover.
OoO
Bethany groaned and rolled over onto her back. Pain blossomed in her left shoulder and her head lulled to that side. She could see a large shard of wood in her arm. She hissed as her right hand gripped the top of the shard. With a quick jerk she pulled it out biting her lip to stop the scream of pain. She lay panting there for what seemed like hours until she felt something touch her arm. She tried to jerk away from whatever was touching her, but the pain made it impossible.
"Aunt Bethy?" Bethany's eyes flew open and she let out a strangled sob.
"Meghan?" Warmth ebbed into her form the little girl's hands. Her wounds knitted themselves back together and the older mage was able to sit up. "Have you seen any of the others?"
"Izzy and Fenris are looking for them." Bethany looked around and let out a startled gasp. The large stone and wood building that had been the Chantry here in Haven. From the debris it looked like the place had blown from the inside out.
"Are you hurt sweetheart?" Meghan shook her head and stood up. "Where are you going?"
"To find Mum and Da. It isn't over yet." Bethany jumped to her feet and followed the small girl. As they searched the sky lightened. Bethany knew the sun was going to be rising soon and she did not know if she was grateful for the coming dawn or scared about what they might find when the light came.
"Meghan?" The little girl had stopped dead in front of a pile of wood and stone. A man's hand peeked out from rubble and Bethany ran forward to shift the stone and wood off of whoever might have been buried. She tore at the rubble and dislodged Cullen from his stone prison. "Cullen! Love open your eyes!" Calling her healing magic into her hands she checked his injuries. She let out a sharp cry when she could not feel a heartbeat. "No, oh Maker please..." Meghan stepped closer to them and frowned. Her little hand reached out and touched the armor right over Cullen's heart. A jolt of magic passed between Meghan and Cullen. After a second Cullen gasped and began to cough. "Cullen!"
"Beth..." Bethany let out a sob of relief and buried her face in the crook of Cullen's neck.
"You need to stop doing that to me." Cullen smiled a bit and sat up.
"Where are the others?"
"I don't know. Meghan said Isabela and Fenris are trying to find them. I guess they were kept safe from the blast by the barrier Leigh put around them." Cullen stood up and pulled Bethany up with him. He looked around and shook his head sadly.
"All this destruction, all this death. How can she do this?"
"I don't know." Meghan looked around for a moment before letting Cullen pick her up. Her eyes fell to the horizon and she smiled. The sun had just began to break over mountain.
"The light." Bethany gave her niece a questioning look. "The light, it is golden in color. He is here with us, watching."
"He?"
"The one who made us all. The Maker." Bethany and Cullen shared a look. The sound of a angry roar of in the distance made the three jump.
"That sounded like Anders." Bethany took off running followed closely by Cullen and Meghan. In the roar she heard anger, but she also heard anguish. She prayed she was wrong, but the scene they came upon gave the answer she did not want to know. Leigh was on the ground, her face ashen from blood lose. Anders stood in front of her facing Strife and trying to buy time for Miranda to heal his wife. Strife was injured, but she had a wicked smile on her face. Bethany ran for her sister only to be stopped by a well placed spirit bolt from Strife. The bolt barely missed the younger mage who fell back to avoid it. Strife wagged her long thin pointer finger at Bethany and tsked.
"No fair helping."
"Monster! You're nothing but a coward!" A dark chuckle bubbled out of Strife. She turned her attention back to Anders and took a menacing step forward.
"Even with the help of your spirit friends you can not beat me. Give up!" Anders fueled by Justice's rage set his feet to cast a spell. He was waiting for an opening and knew he had only one shot.
"I will never submit again Strife. I would rather die."
"I can arrange that mage." Anders threw a warding spell up just in time as Strife sent a fire ball at him. "I will enjoy burning you. I think I will even heal Hawke just so she can watch you die before I do the same to her." A fire storm came next and Anders let out a pained scream as the fire singed his clothes and skin. He grit his teeth and stood his ground. The ward kept most of the fire at bay, but not all. He fell to his knees and looked over at Miranda. She too was beaten and exhausted, but she kept trying to heal Leigh's wounds. "I will not be defeated! Thedas is mine and there is no one who can stop me!" Meghan wiggled in Cullen's arms and broke his grip on her. Dropping on to her feet she ran for her parents.
"Meghan no!" Cullen and Bethany tried to reach the girl, but Meghan was fast. Strife smirked and cast her hand towards the girl as she ran. Sick green light coursed to her fingertips. Anders struggled to his feet to place himself between his daughter and the spell. His legs betrayed him and he fell back to his knees.
"Leave her alone! She is just a child! She is innocent!" Strife cackled and let her spell fly at the girl. Meghan turned and smiled. Her small hands were out in front of her and she caught the spell. Shock registered on everyone's face, but the girl kept her sweet grin.
"How!?"
"She is purity, pure innocence. Evil can not touch her." Sebastian limped out of the rubble supported by Fenris and Isabela. "Every child of the Maker is born innocent even you Strife, were born innocent. Life breaks us, takes our innocence piece by piece, but a small little part always remains."
"She is mortal, fragile. I can kill her easily."
"Aye, but there will always be innocence. Strip all else away, faith, love, justice, courage, valor, hope, and fortitude, but you will still have what we are when we are born. Every child is born pure, untainted by the world around them. It is life and what happens that shapes us. Makes us good or evil, teaches us to have love for our fellow man or hate them. You have shaped so many lives to show hatred. Meghan was raised in a home where she was protected, cherished and loved by all around her. You cannot destroy that." Meghan turned the green ball of energy between her hands. As she did so the color changed to a bright silvery light. The little girl's smile had not left her face as she turned and let the ball go. It floated passing first through Anders, then to Leigh and Miranda. It made it's way to the entire group and as it touched each one their wounds healed, their strength returned.
"NO! Impossible!" Leigh jumped to her feet and began walking toward Strife. She made no move to draw her blades or use her magic. The look on her face was one of pity, not of anger. Once she was close enough she stopped and held out her hand to the demon.
"It is over Grace. Your reign over Thedas is at an end and it is time to give up. I don't want to kill you, but I will. I am giving you one last chance to end this peacefully." Strife glared at Leigh and snarled. Her gaze ran over all of the ones who were against her until it landed on Meghan who was standing close to Anders. A wicked smirk formed on her lips. Before Leigh could move the demon lunged claws first. Anders reacted and swung his staff connecting with the creature's head. Strife fell to the side and tried to scramble to her feet only to find Fenris standing over her.
"Going somewhere?" For the first time fear shone on the demon's face. There had never been an opponent she could not defeat before. The closest anyone had come was Knight Commander Drea and that had been over a thousand years ago. Now she faced nine people and she did not like the odds. She had one more card up her sleeve and now it seems like she did not have much of a choice.
"No, but you will be." Leigh felt the Veil tear. She quickly threw a shield up around her companions. Strife laughed with glee. "If I cannot have this world I will make sure your kind cannot either."
"You're insane!"
"What is the matter Serah Hawke? Do you not like what I have done." Leigh snarled. Strife had not just ripped the Veil, she had sundered it. Unlike Corypheus' attempt this time it was very powerful. Leigh could feel reality shattering as the tear got larger and larger. Her barrier was holding, but she could not keep it up forever. "Maybe now he will see that he made a mistake in paying all his attention on mortals." Leigh felt Meghan place her hand in hers.
"Call them." Leigh looked confused for a moment then she nodded. Isabela and the other hand was completely lost.
"Call who?"
"The others. With the Veil sundered...Anders hold the barrier. I have to send for help." Anders nodded and cast a tight bubble around them. Leigh placed her hands against it and sent out a pulse of magic. The Divine felt the power pulse out into the Fade and she laughed.
"Yes call out to those who want into this world. I will enjoy seeing the demons rip you to pieces." Leigh stood up and waited. "Now to wait." "It will not be long now Leigh. It ends here." "I hope so." "You know what must be done." "Yes I do."Leigh met her husband's gaze. He knew as well as she did what had to be done.
"I'm ready." Anders leaned down and whispered into Meghan's ear and the little girl nodded. The barrier overhead dropped and was replaced by a much stronger one made by the girl. "Miranda?"
"I guess it is now or never right?" Bethany stepped closer to her sister. She saw the look of determination on the older Hawke's face. The same look echoed on Anders and Miranda's faces as well. It was also frightening.
"Sister?" Leigh could not met her sister's worried gaze, nor that of her other companions. She stared straight forward at the monster she had to defeat.
"Beth I need you to promise me that you will take care of Meghan."
"Of course, but..."
"Whatever happens I want you all to leave. There is nothing more you can do." Leigh turned back to face her friends and took a deep breath. "When we leave the barrier wait til her attention is on us. Put as much distance as you can between you and here. I only ask for one thing." Sebastian stepped next to Leigh and squeezed her hand.
"Whatever it is we will do it."
"Take Morrigan's body back to Denerim."
"Aye, we will. Hawke..."
"I know, I love you too, all of you." Anders knelt down and hugged Meghan. The little girl had tears in her eyes and she gripped the feather pauldrons on his coat.
"Don't cry sweetheart."
"I don't want you to go Da." Leigh joined them on the ground and wrapped her arms around both of them. Her one hand smoothing the auburn curls of her child.
"You know we have to. If it is the Maker's will we will be right behind you and see you at home. You are very loved my little girl. You and your siblings." Meghan nodded and sniffed. Sebastian placed his hand on Meghan's back and gave her a sad smile. The little girl let go of Anders and threw herself into her true father's arms. He small frame shook with the sobs that came. A hint of pain shone on Anders' face, but he knew it was for the best. Meghan needed Sebastian.
"Anders we have to do this now." With one last look at the group Anders and Leigh joined Miranda at the edge of the barrier. "Well it is now or never right? Never thought I would be doing this."
"Mira, I don't think any of us thought about this."
"Ready?"
"Yes. See you on the other side." Leigh's skin cracked and red light glowed around her. Anders's did the same and so did Miranda's. Strife cackled manically and waved the three forward.
"Only three will face me? It seems unfair...for you." Leigh raised her hands and let loose a fire storm above the demon. Strife sneered and then vanished. She appeared away from the fire and threw her own spell. Anders stepped forward and blocked the bolt from hitting his wife. Miranda let a spell form between her hands and gave a wicked grin.
"Hey Strife, let's see how you like to be hit by lightning!" Miranda flicked her wrists and sent the energy crackling into the demon. Strife laughed and batted the bolts away only to have Leigh hit her from the other side. "Not nice when you get a taste of your own medicine is it?" Anders saw their other companions run and gave a nod to Leigh.
"Miranda don't hold back!"
"With pleasure." Both women let loose a torrent of spells while Anders covered them with healing spells. Miranda's magic was not as strong as Leigh's, but what she lacked in power she made up for in application. Miranda had always favored the entropy spells over most others. She looked to her left and let out a gasp when she saw the vortex of magic swirling around Leigh. Fire, ice, lightning and rock all danced around her cousin. It was beautiful and frightening all at the same time. Turning her attention back to Strife she could see true fear in the eyes of the demon. A slow smile ran over the mage's lips and she poured more power into her spells. Even if this fight killed her Miranda would know that she went down swinging. She would no longer bow to a lie.
OoO
Sebastian took one last look over his shoulder before he and the others took off running. He could feel Meghan sobbing against his neck, but he knew he has no words to comfort her. That last hug might very well be the last time she or any of them would see Hawke and Anders alive again.
"Blessed are those who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter..." Meghan lifted her head up and looked into her father's eyes. In her eyes he saw such innocence, but also a great wisdom.
"Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just." The prince could not help, but smile at his little girl. "That's what they are champions, right?"
"Aye my sweet one, it is what they have always been." Meghan looked around at the group and saw them all nod at her father's words. "It is up to them now, we cannot help them. Fenris please retrieve Morrigan's body. We need to head back to Denerim." Fenris returned quickly and Bethany case a ice spell over Morrigan so her body did not start to decompose. Isabela had found a cart in the town and they hooked it to their horses they had hidden when they had arrived. Meghan's eyes never left the hill where her parents were fighting. Even when Isabela gasped at the sight of a large glowing barrier appearing the little girl did not move.
"We can't go back." Cullen stepped up next to the prince and Meghan and stared in awe.
"Did they do that?" Meghan held up her small hand and closed her eyes. She sent a pulse of raw magic at the barrier and frowned.
"No, it is magic far beyond what a mortal or spirit could do." All the adults had worried looks on their faces. Meghan's expression became thoughtful. She tilted her head to the side as if listening to someone. "We can not help, but it does not mean they are alone. He has finally heard the pleas of his children." Isabela shook her head and her voice cracked a bit when she spoke.
"So you are trying to tell us that the Maker is up there with them?"
"No, he is not here, but he is watching."
"Holy sh..." A sharp look from Sebastian halted the curse before the pirate queen could get it out. "Sorry, but you have to admit it went through your head too."
"It did, but I would prefer not to curse in front of my daughter. If what she said is true we will only be in the way here. We need to leave."
OoO
Leigh felt the vanishing of Meghan's presence and she let herself have a sad smile cross her lips. Her heart ached at the knowledge she would never hold her children in her arms again or talk to her siblings again. She felt a squeeze on her arm and looked up to find Anders with the same look on his face. Miranda was kneeling next to them after Strife had used a spell that forced them to take cover.
"Well cousin, I have to say this has been the craziest thing I have ever done."
"Miranda I'm..." The older mage held up her hand and smiled.
"Don't say you're sorry. You did more for mages in your life than most of us have in the last few years. I wanted to hate you for taking Anders from me, but he was never mine to begin with. I almost gave in to her, almost let her win. She has caused so much pain for over a millennium. I think it is time it ends." Miranda's skin began to crack and green light poured out of her skin and eyes. The voice that come from her mouth was no longer hers. "I will distract her. You both need to hit her with all you have." Before either could stop her Miranda ran out into the clearing. She threw spell after spell moving closer to the demon in hopes to wear her down.
"You played your part well mage. I have to applaud you for tricking me into thinking you were mine."
"I never belonged to you Strife. You might have caged most of us, but you never owned us. Our hopes, our dreams were always ours. We let you do this to us and I'd rather die then go back to the way it was."
"I can arrange that mage." Miranda growled and ran straight for the demon. She could hear the screams of her cousin and Anders, but she knew she had to do this. In her head she heard the solemn voice of Drea.
"I am sorry Miranda."
"I'm not. If this buys Leigh time to end this...I am too broken, too much has happened. I want peace, freedom and an end to all this pain. Death doesn't scare me anymore. I know where I am going now."
"You have great courage Miranda Amell. I am glad to be with you at the end." Miranda swung her staff high and tried to bring it crashing down on the demon's head, but Strife was faster than she thought and caught the blow before it struck.
"Foolish mortal, I will enjoy this." Miranda screamed as a wave of dark magic slammed into her body. Strife laughed and grabbed at the writhing mage wrapping her long fingers around Miranda's throat. "Should I snap your neck or rip your throat out?" Miranda spit in the demon's face and sneered.
"Do...it!" Strife's mouth twisted into a wicked smile as she ran a long sharp talon across Miranda's neck. The mage never flinched or broke eye contact with the demon as her life's blood ran out. Strife was so engrossed in her kill that she did not hear Leigh charging up behind her. With a howl of rage Leigh slammed into the creature knocking her to the ground. Strife's grip on Miranda slipped and her body started to fall to the ground. Anders caught her before she hit and began pouring healing magic into her.
"Mira you got to hang on...Maker please...Justice help me!" Miranda used the last of her strength to grab his hand and stop him from wasting his mana. She shook her head and gave him a weary smile. "No...I can still..." Miranda's eyes shifted to were Leigh was battling Strife. She lifted her hand and pointed in that direction. Anders could only nod. "I'm so sorry Mira..." She smiled again and took one last gurgled breath before her eyes slipped shut. Anders heard an ungodly howl and looked up to see Leigh aglow. Pain and sorrow was etched on his wife's face, but there was also the fire of rage in her eyes. When she finally spoke her voice was mingled with that of Mercy.
"You bitch!"
"She told me to kill her Hawke. She would rather die than keep fighting. You mortals are all cowards." Leigh placed her right hand against her left and like Mercy had done down in the Deep Roads, she pulled a flaming sword out of thin air.
"You are the coward Strife and it is high time you know what death feels like." With the grace of cat Leigh twisted her body and leaped at the demon. Her first strike hit Strife right in the arm. Before the demon lashed out in retaliation Leigh was gone only to appear right behind her. Another blow connected and Strife roared in pain and rage. Leigh kept moving using her skills as a rogue and Mercy's skills as a warrior to keep the demon of balance. Before long Strife was a mass of wounds and burns. She stumbled and fell to the ground panting and hissing in pain. Leigh stood over her, her eyes glowing red and her face stoic. She readied her final blow, but Strife whimpered and made her pause.
"Please I beg of you mercy. You have won...I...I will leave...I..." Leigh shook her head and drove the flaming sword into Strife's heart. The demon screamed and a shock wave of magic knocked both Leigh and Anders off their feet. All went still and dark on the mountain.
OoO
Anders woke to pain. His body felt like it had been ripped apart and then sewn back together. He tried to move, but his limbs betrayed him. Even his eyes would not open. He strained to hear anything around him, but silence met him. He opened his mouth to make a sound, but nothing came out. Even his mana felt like it had been stripped from his body.
"Justice?" Anders we met with only silence. Panic began to set in and he tried again in vain to move to heal himself. He had to find Leigh. She had been much closer to the shock wave than he had been. "I have to get up. Dammit, Maker please let me get up!" Warmth began to flood his body and the pain began to recede. Slowly he opened his eyes and saw a woman kneeling next to him. He tried to sit up, but she held him down.
"I have not finished healing you yet Leo. Please hold still for a moment more."
"Who are you?" The woman smiled down at him.
"I guess you would not know me when I look like this. I am Mercy." His eyes went wide and he tried again to sit up.
"Leigh..."
"She is over there. Justice is with her. Her wounds were not as great as yours were." Anders let his gaze shift over to the side and he saw his wife sitting up. She was covered in dirt and blood, but she looked uninjured.
"Is it over?" Mercy held out her hand to him and helped him sit up. His body protested, but he force it up.
"Strife is gone, her reign is at an end. This does not mean to war is over, but I think that it is coming close." Mercy pulled him to his feet just as Justice did the same for Leigh. When she saw him she ran and threw her arms around him. For a long time they just stood there holding each other. Justice and Mercy stood close by, but stayed silent. Anders ran his fingers down Leigh's face to make sure she was there, that she was real. Tears streamed down both of their faces. The tears were of relief, joy, sorrow and also exhaustion. Leigh laced her fingers in his hair and pulled him in close so she could kiss him.
"We did it."
"Yes love, we did. I thought...when I couldn't move or hear you. Leigh I thought I had lost you."
"I told you before that you would not be rid of me that easy. I would fight my way back from the Void for you Anders." All Anders could do was laugh and hold her tighter. He looked over her shoulder and saw Justice smiling at him.
"You did well my friend. Much more than I ever expected."
"Had not faith in me did you?" Justice barked a laugh and clapped his hand on to Anders' shoulder.
"I had every faith in you, but what you did was beyond what we had ever hoped. I thought I was helping you and in turn you aided me."
"Aided you?"
"I remembered what is was like to be mortal, to love, to cherish life. I had forgotten. In helping you I found myself again. I am whole again, as you are."
"You have Mercy."
"And you have Leigh. You do not need us anymore. The journey to heal is now up to you."
"I thought we couldn't separate. That only death could..." Mercy shook her head and stopped Anders words.
"We did not know if it could be done, but it seems the Maker wants us home and you to live your lives without our interference." Leigh felt tears burn her eyes and she let go of Anders to take Mercy's hand.
"Pash I..."
"You do not need me anymore Leigh. You are a strong woman now, not the scared little girl I found in the Fade all those years ago. Justice and I have done what we set out to do over a thousand years ago. Drea and I stood against her together as was our father's will." Mercy moved to where Miranda's body lay and she let out a sad sigh. "I am truly sorry."
"It was her choice. She stopped me from healing her. I think she wanted to go." A voice from behind them made the group turn.
"She wanted peace Anders. The Templars, they had damaged much of her spirit. She wanted to go on her terms not theirs." The woman in front of them was the carbon copy of Mercy, but where she wore robes, this woman was in full armor.
"You're Drea."
"Yes, and I will be forever grateful to you both for all you have done. Know that all who have fought for this will find their place by the Maker's side. Our father is very proud of you all. You still have much to do and the lands will have to heal after this, but I am sure in time both sides will find a lasting peace."
"Our friends that left?"
"They are safe, as is your younger brother. The battle at the river Dane is over. The Orlesians surrendered when they found themselves surrounded by Ferelden's army and Tevinter's. Never thought I would see the day that those two lands would fight to aid each other." Mercy chuckled and shared a look with her sister. "It is time sister. We need to return to the Fade."
"What about Meghan?"
"She will grow as any other child does. She will change, but she will always hold a light in her heart. We will still guard her in the Fade til we know she is strong enough to stand on her own."
"Thank you."
"It is you that has our thanks Leigh Hawke. Farewell." Anders held Leigh and both watched as the three went back into the tear in the Veil. As Mercy walked through she turned and waved goodbye. The tear sealed behind her and reality returned to normal. Leigh and Anders gathered the splintered wood that had once been the Chantry here and made a funeral pyre for Miranda. Both watched the flames in silence until only embers remained. Leigh took the ashes and spread them to the winds.
"She is free." Anders gave a sad smile.
"Yes she is love. We are free. Our children are free. I'd never thought I would see the day. When we were in Kirkwall I always thought I would die for the cause. To be standing here with you now...the feeling is indescribable."
"Before we head back to Denerim I want to stop and take one last look at Lothering."
"We won't be able to get very close love, the Blight..."
"I know, but I have to see it. I have to say goodbye."
"I understand." Anders held out his hand and Leigh laced her fingers with his. "Shall we?"
"Yes."
Only one more chapter to go. Thank you all for reading and following me on this wild ride. I have most of the next chapter written so I am hoping to have it up soon.
Raven