Chapter Three

For the Inquisitor

{-Cullen-}

They were marching on Adamant, again. Cullen and party pushed their horses as hard as they could. Hold on Ellaina, I'm coming.

When they arrived at the forward camp Adamant was in clear view, and heir worst fears were confirmed. A massive rift was hanging above Adamant and a giant spider-like demon was visible through it. Just like Ellaina described. Cullen had to suppress his fears. He couldn't allow the monster to feed any more.

"When will we be ready?" Cullen asked desperately.

"The trebuchets are primed Commander! Soldiers are getting into position now. We march on your command ser!" a small elven scout replied.

"Good work." Cullen said to the little elf then turned his horse to face the rest of the soldiers, "Men, this is the most important mission of your lives. Today we march on Adamant yet again, but this time we don't have the privilege of having our Herald, our Inquisitor, at our side! Today we march on Adamant to bring her out! Will you fight for your Herald?" An earthshaking yell erupted from the soldiers, "Are you willing to save her and protect everything we have worked for?" Another yell. "Then with me men! For our Inquisitor!"

Cullen unsheathed his sword and gave the motion to march. Leading his soldiers into battle as he always did, but this was not like the other times. This was personal. He would strike down anything to get to her and get her out safely. He desperately clung to the hope that she was still alive. It was the only thing he had left. The trebuchets and archers kept the soldiers on the tower walls busy enough for Cullen and his foot soldiers to march right up to the gate. They didn't have the use of the sappers this time, but they did have enough soldiers to break down the badly repaired door. Cullen bashed the door with all his might and hacked at the handles with his sword. He needed through this gate. Open damn you! With one final shove from the soldiers the doors and barricades came down, and Cullen went barreling through.

Cullen, Cassandra, Dorian, and Varric followed Cole as he headed deep into what Cullen could only presume were the dungeons. Cole had been mumbling and crying this entire time. Cullen only presumed that he knew where Ellaina was based on what he was feeling from her. If it was causing Cole this much pain Cullen dreaded to see what they had done to her.

As they descended further into the bowels of Adamant Cullen could hear the sound of demons and Maker only knows what. Then there was a voice inside his head.

"Do you honestly think you can save her?" The voice took over his consciousness and Cullen froze in his tracks. "Her mind belongs to me now. She is not the woman you love. She fears you. You will fail her just as you failed the Templars at Kirkwall."

Cassandra turned around, "Commander! It's the demon! Don't let it get to you! Fight it!"

Cullen snapped out of his daze and pushed onward with the rest of the group. "Well he's lovely company isn't he?" Cullen spoke more to himself than anyone else.

"Yes. And he is obsessed with Ellaina. She's the only one he targeted while we were in the Fade."

"He targeted her?"

"You don't know? She was terrified so it's no wonder she didn't tell you. All she told me is that she experienced all our fears as well as her own."

No wonder she had been so shaken after coming back from Adamant. That's why they brought her back here. This was the place her fears materialized. The thought of the Nightmare feeding off of her again enraged Cullen. He asked Cole through gritted teeth, "How close are we?"

"I can't be sure. Her cries for help are growing fainter. She is losing control over her mind." Cole started mumbling again, something about fear, darkness, and then, "Helpless."

Cullen felt the fear rising up in him again. He didn't suppress it quickly enough as the voice filled his consciousness again.

"Yes Knight-Captain," the demon hissed, "you are much to late now. Soon there will be nothing left of her. She will become a part of me, and a she will be a servant to my demon army. She will do so willingly, whether she knows it or not." The demon laughed.

"Commander! Fight him!" Cassandra exclaimed and Cullen snapped back to reality.

"Let's go. We must move faster!" Cullen yelled as if to drown out every other thought. That's exactly what he was trying to do. Focus. Focus on only her, her skin, her smell, her hair, how it feels to hold her. Think of nothing else.

Cole quickened the pace and the party found themselves at a wooden door. The green glow of a Fade rift poured through the door. This must be it. Cullen thought as he broke down the door. Sure enough it was a dungeon lined with cells.

"Ellaina!" Cullen cried out her name.

Cole continued onward down a set of stairs and allowed Cullen to break down the door to another dungeon room.

"In here!" Cole cried in front of one of the cells.

When the door burst open Cullen thought for sure he was going to vomit from the stench. There was blood all over the floors, walls, and the door. A table, lined with instruments of torture, was placed next to shackles that hung from the ceiling, all this in a particularly bloody area of the room. Cullen could only imagine, even though he didn't want to, what they had done to her here. Focus. Don't let the fear consume you. You can be scared after you get her out. Cullen turned to find Cole in front of the cell fiddling with the lock. His hands were shaking so badly it would take him hours to pick it.

"Varric, go help Cole." Cullen instructed.

Varric walked up to Cole. He glanced inside the cell and Cullen could see all the color draining from his face. This is bad. Maker, Andraste, preserve us all. Cullen prayed but he couldn't make himself take another step into the room until he was certain her cell door was opened. As soon as he heard it click and creek he bolted to Cole and Varric, practically knocking them over.

What he saw brought him to his knees. Ellaina. His, Ellaina, she was breathing but so bruised and battered he barely recognized her. Her clothing was torn, her arms and legs were crusted over with blood, and her fingernails had been scraped down far past the quick. Her face was so swollen and bruised in places that it didn't even look human. Then Cullen noticed the elven woman lying on the ground in front of Ellaina, her face covered in blood. Her lyrium philter had broken and crystalized on the floor. She was trying to break free. She still has fight left.

She was unconscious. Her hands were unbound, holding onto a key ring and a hastily scribbled note, but her feet were still shackled to the wall. Cullen gently took the keys from her mangled hands and used them to unlock the shackles binding her ankles. Cullen picked her up as gingerly as he could and held her in his arms like she was a newborn baby. He was terrified that he would hurt her worse by holding her. That's when he noticed the blue glow. Cullen reached into his apothecary satchel and pulled out a healing potion. He parted her lips and poured some in a little at a time. When the vial was almost empty her eyes fluttered and she let out a little gasp. She drank the rest of the vial and looked up at Cullen.

Fear flashed in her eyes. She struggled against him with all her might, unleashing Holy Smite upon them all. "Let go of me demon! I know what you are!"

"Commander should I bind her?" Cassandra asked Cullen.

"Glad I was out of range for that one." Dorian interjected.

Cullen shook his head in Cassandra's direction and held Ellaina tighter, ignoring the pain of the spell and the invisible knives that stabbed him in the heart. "Ellaina it's me! Your Lion, my darling."

"Of course you'd say that! Of course you would use that against me! You're lying! I won't give in to you! I don't care what you do to me!" she struggled harder. If she had been at her full strength she would have easily broken from his grasp by now. But she wasn't. She was weak and he didn't have to hold on to her very tightly to keep her from getting away.

"Cole help me out here!" Cullen barked at the young man as Ellaina's eyes began to glow, foreshadowing another Holy Smite.

Cole walked over to Ellaina. "It hurts, it hurts. I want him to be real but is he, or his he just another demon? Maker, please, this is more than I can bear." Cole enunciated her thoughts and then waived his hand over her heart and simply said, "This is real."

A harsh silence fell over the room as Ellaina eventually stopped struggling and stared at Cole. It seemed as though they were all holding their breath, hoping, that whatever he did had brought her back to reality. After what seemed like ages she lifted her head and spoke to Cullen.

"It's really you? You came?" She whispered.

"Of course I did." He replied quietly. He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, but he blinked them back. He had to help her be strong again. He needed her to close this rift one last time.

"Do you have another potion, and some elfroot? I think I can stand, but I need help from a healer or herbs, or both." She chuckled quietly.

The party walked out of the torture cells and up into the space between stair flights. There, while Cassandra and Dorian stood watch, Cole and Varric cleared off a table and Cullen laid Ellaina on it ever so gently.

"The Nightmare hasn't taken you yet." Cullen thought he saw a slight smile cross her lips as he reached back into his satchel and helped her drink another potion. He chewed on the elfroot and slathered the paste over the worst of her external wounds, including the one on her head that looked rather recent. She cried out in pain but Cullen kept going. He knew if he didn't do this now she might not make it out alive, and the lyrium would kill her. If I know my Ellaina, she will want to fight, and in her condition she can't do it without lyrium. He was doing his best to heal her external wounds and prayed the potions would heal her internal ones. Her screams wrenched Cullen's heart, threatening to tear it to pieces. He had to keep going. Her back was arching, feet and arms flailing. I can't help her like this. I need her to be still.

"Cole, Varric! Help me hold her down!" Cullen took a cloth he had soaked in embrium out of his satchel and put it in her mouth as Cole and Varric took positions to help him. Cullen continued chewing and slathering.

"Dorian." Cullen heard Ellaina whisper after she had calmed down. Her voice was scratchy, but it was stronger now. It was working.

"Yes my dear?" Dorian did not abandon his post to reply.

"I need some of that Tevinter magic of yours." The corners of Ellaina's mouth twitched.

"Of course my Lady." Dorian concentrated a healing ward on her that would have normally covered the entire party. Then Dorian spoke quietly so that only Cullen could hear, "I'll keep it up as long as I can Cullen, but I have to reserve mana in case a fight breaks out."

Cullen nodded his head in understanding and turned his attention back to Ellaina. She was still straining from the pain but her face looked more serene now than moments earlier.

"Cullen," Ellaina opened her eyes to look at him, "I have to close that rift. I can't do it…"

"Without the lyrium. I know." Cullen pulled a vial out from his satchel. "I have it whenever you're ready." Cullen had covered every wound, major or minor that he could see with elfroot and she had drank 3 healing potions already. He didn't know what else he could do aside from wait for her strength to return.

"We don't have much time." She tried to sit up on her own but she couldn't. She moaned as Cullen helped her to sit up. "I'm ready Cullen."

Cullen looked at her with doubt. He couldn't bear to lose her. Not after all this. Her wounds were not yet healed and she couldn't even sit up on her own. The lyrium could destroy her. He didn't want to take the risk.

"Ellaina…"

"Cullen please, do this for me. I can't fight without it."

"What if you don't have to fight? What if I fought for you? I could-"

A flash of confused panic, and then sudden understanding flashed in her eyes. "No. I will not allow it. You've come so far. You can't take it now. Give it to me. Please, I'm begging you."

Cullen felt more defeated than he ever had in his life. Maker, Andraste, whomever, please save her, He prayed as he handed Ellaina the lyrium philter. She grabbed it from him, hands trembling, and uncorked the lid. She downed the entire thing in one gulp. Then, the screams of pain ensued. Cullen held her tightly with eyes closed. He couldn't watch. He couldn't see her be torn apart from the inside.

"This is how you dream of her dying isn't it Knight-Captain? The lyrium bursts out from within her destroying her, ripping her to shreds from the inside, as you listen to her screams of agony." The Nightmare called to him.

Stop it. Stop it!

Then, from behind closed eyes he saw the light. He opened his eyes to see Ellaina, enveloped in a golden glow. Lyrium doesn't normally do that to people. Then he remembered. This is what happened to her at Starkhaven isn't it?

As if to answer his question the Nightmare called out again. "Ah yes, all of those innocent people she killed, the other Templars, innocent mages fleeing from the demons, her own sister? Yes, perhaps I should show you Knight-Captain?"

Stop it demon! That is no longer my title! Then with a flash he felt himself being taken over. Vivid images of what happened at Kirkwall raced in front of his eyes, but then they settled on something that Cullen hadn't seen before. He was somewhere in the Fade, he knew it but he didn't understand. He recognized Starkhaven but he didn't recognize any of the people there. Then his eyes found her. In Templar officer armor, blonde hair hanging down to her waist, face young and free of scars, piercing blue eyes filled with the same resilience and determination, and still as radiant as ever. She couldn't have been any older than nineteen or twenty.

She was so young when this happened. How could she already be a lieutenant? She must have been training since birth. Why did I not notice her training when I first saw her fight? For a moment he wondered why she hadn't kept her hair long like that, why she cut it all off. However, Cullen was only able to think that for a moment as the view flashed forward and he saw the rogue Nevarran mage Ellaina had described. Every single Templar and mage in Starkhaven's circle had been either possessed or put under mind control. The demons and abominations were added to the legion already accompanying the nameless, faceless mage. He saw Ellaina and a young brunette mage, whom he could only assume was Bryanne, running toward the great hall of the Circle. Ellaina cut down everything in her path just as she said she had while trying to shield her sister from the onslaught of attacks. He saw the fear, anger, and despair in her eyes as she cut down demons and her Templar brothers and sisters alike.

When they reached the great hall the mage was waiting for them. They were only meters from the exit. We could make it! If I can just get around him! Cullen heard Ellaina's thoughts and knew her hope was futile. He knew what would happen next. As soon as Ellaina was prepared to make her move the mage knocked her back with such a crushing power that Cullen swore he felt it in his own chest. He was just as powerful as Ellaina had said, if not more so. Still reeling from being knocked apart Ellaina and Bryanne were straining to stand. As soon as Ellaina got to her knees the mage bound her. Arms beside her ankles so that she was forced to look at what happened, but at the same time being unable to do anything about it. Two Templars were restraining Bryanne. She was helpless. Every time she tried to cast they released a spell purge almost immediately. Not only did this drain her mana but it caused her pain as it released massive amounts of magical energy into the air.

"Ella! Help me!" Bryanne's screams shook the entire hall.

"Bryanne!" Ellaina's feral scream rocked the heavens, "Maker, no! Leave her be! Please I beg you!" Cullen thought for sure his heart would be ripped from his chest; as he was unable to do anything but watch.

Another Templar about Ellaina's age, perhaps a year approached Bryanne from behind, unsheathed her sword, and, with a completely blank stare, ran her sword through the young mage.

"NO!" Cullen swore her scream shook the very Heavens.

As Ellaina continued to scream, tears streaming down her face, fighting with all her might against her bonds, Cullen watched Bryanne's face morph and change. First it changed to Josephine, then Cassandra, Leliana, Varric, Dorian, followed by the rest of her companions, including nameless soldiers in the Inquisition uniform, and finally came to rest on his face. So this is the Nightmare's work. Cullen thought as he stared at his own face as "he" died. Then it rose up, an Abomination in the place where "he" had stood. Ellaina continued to struggle and scream; she released spell purge after spell purge, desperately trying to break her bonds and destroy the demon her sister would become before it emerged from the Fade.

Maker she was so strong. Cullen couldn't help but revel at her strength. No wonder she was promoted so quickly. She probably would have been in Kirkwall had this not happened. Maker was he glad that didn't happen. When her efforts to break free from her bonds proved to be in vain Ellaina looked up toward the Heavens and Cullen saw her lips move as her thoughts echoed inside his head.

"Andraste save my sister!" She begged.

As she began to recite the Canticle of Benedictions, she was enveloped in what Cullen could only describe as holy light. It happened just as it was happening at Adamant. Adamant. Cullen thought. He must get back. She needed him now more than ever.

"Oh no Knight-Captain. There's no leaving for you." The Nightmare sneered into the scene, his voice echoing off the walls and into his consciousness.

"Oh yes there is." Ellaina turned, still bathed in holy light turned around to look at him.

"NO! How can this be? What are you? What is she?" The Nightmare exclaimed.

"Ellaina is my chosen. I could no longer sit idly by while the Maker abandoned his Creation. The anchor she received on her hand was an accident I put into motion."

"Then you're…" Cullen was rendered speechless. The rumors were all true. His Ellaina was truly Andraste's Chosen. More than that, she was Her vessel. I knew I did not deserve her. Cullen thought to himself.

"Cullen Stanton Rutherford, do not be so foolish. She still possesses free will. I have no direct hand in her actions, aside from the anchor bestowed upon her. She is not my human incarnation, or vessel as you so eloquently put. She is just as human as you and her comrades, and what you have seen here should be testament to that. She chose you."

She chose you. The words echoed in his head.

"Go back to her. She needs you, Knight-Captain."

As he watched Ellaina collapse as the entire Circle was bathed in that holy light he was jolted back to reality. Staring at the same golden glow enveloping her.

"You are…" Radiant. That was the only word that came to Cullen's mind. "You are the strongest woman I have ever met."

She smiled down at him and that was when he realized he had collapsed to the floor. His cheeks flushed crimson and he hoped he hadn't dropped her.

"Come with me my Lion?" Her voice was augmented with power as she stood with him.

"To the ends of the Beyond and back."