Chapter Ten

Crimson

{-Ellaina-}

They were almost back to Skyhold from Halamshiral and the Empress's death was still weighing heavily on Ellaina's mind. She wasn't sure she had made the right decision, but she couldn't change it now. Gaspard would be a ruthless ruler, but that's what Orlais needed right now. He had been raised to be Emperor. Regardless of how the throne had been robbed of him it was his birthright. Celene had served her time and this was the only way. Maker, give me strength; this is far from over. Cassandra, Cullen, and Ellaina sat in silence within their carriage. They had chatted idly for a while but eventually retreated within their own thoughts. The sudden halt of the carriage jarred Ellaina from her pity. A scout ran to their carriage, a sense of urgency in his face.

"Commander, Inquisitor, forces ahead it's-" before the scout could finish his sentence an arrow pierced his chest.

"To arms!" Cullen roared as he leaped from the carriage ahead of Ellaina.

The trio drew their swords in unison and tried to defend against a threat they could not yet see. Volleys of arrows came first, then the roar of troops.

"Get behind cover!" Ellaina shouted orders to the men. They weren't far from Skyhold if they could just get a message there, Leliana and Josephine could send a flanking charge from the gates to hit the ambush hard. We don't have time! Think Ellaina! She shook her head trying to clear the fog in her mind. No matter how hard she tried she could only shake her head harder. Her mind was racing. She heard screams and a thousand voices fighting for dominance in her ears. The hand on her shoulder was doing nothing to comfort her even though the golden eyes that accompanied it were full of concern.

"We have to charge. We don't have any hope fighting the archers if we can't see them." Cullen said gently. "Varric and the others will give us cover but that's our only chance. We need a distraction so Patrice can get word to Skyhold." Cullen gestured to a young scout who was dressed in the uniform of one of Leliana's spies.

The scout saluted. "Yes Commander."

Ellaina was frozen. She understood that this was our only hope, but she couldn't bring herself to allow more soldiers to die for her. Not like this. Not when they were returning from a victory. It wasn't fair.

"I'll lead the charge." Cullen continued.

"No." Ellaina interjected, determined. "I'm the Inquisitor. I will lead them. It's my duty."

"Ella-" Cullen started to object but Ellaina would hear nothing of it.

"I said, I will lead the charge Commander. Ready the men."

"I cannot allow you to do this."

"You can, and you will." Ellaina met his eyes. His brow was furrowed with concern and there was anger at her stubbornness in his eyes. She met his golden orbs with ferocity of her own. After a few moments she was about to give in when he closed his eyes.

"Very well."

As Cullen turned to shout orders to the soldiers Ellaina surveyed the field. It was open, too open for a small force. The opposition's archers had the high ground which put the Inquisition at a sever disadvantage. Ellaina spotted several overhangs within the mountainside: large boulders that would suffice for cover for small battalions to advance, patches of foliage that the rogues could blend into to keep a small element of surprise on their side, and…she needed something else. Ellaina looked over the field again at the men, the landscape, and the carriages.

"That's it!" Ellaina exclaimed.

Cullen and Cassandra startled at her sudden outburst and turned to look at her.

"What's it?" Cullen asked as he quirked an eyebrow.

"The carriages! We can send them as decoys."

"But what about the horses?"

"If I remember correctly these horses were gifts from the Teyrn of Highever?"

"This is true. I suppose the Inquisition would not be losing it's best. However, I know Fergus. He won't be happy if he finds out we used his horses as bait."

"We can only hope that some of them make it back to Skyhold. Beyond that would the Cousland's be more upset at the fall of the Inquisition or the loss of a few dozen horses?"

"You have a point. All right, we will use the carriages as decoys. I will position the rest of our forces accordingly. Those who remain will charge with us after the carriages have gained the opposition's attention."

"With us?" Ellaina's tone was more accusatory than she had intended.

"Did you honestly expect me to allow you to lead the charge alone? I'm the Inquisition's Commander it's just as much a responsibility to lead them as it is yours."

Seeing that there was no arguing with him Ellaina bowed and shook her head. If we survive this he's going to hear about it. Without a moment to doubt their plan was set into action. Scouts took cover behind boulders and in wooded areas around the carriages as volleys of arrows began falling again. The carriage doors were swung shut and the horses were lined and directed toward Skyhold. On Ellaina's signal the horses were spurred into action and they galloped, empty carriages in tow, toward the oppositions hidden forces.

The moments that passed between the spurring of the horses and the signaling of the charge seemed like forever. Patrice, the agent who was to take a message to Leliana was positioned as far on the right flank as they dared put her. She would be able to slip past the enemy unseen, or so they hoped. Ellaina and Cullen waited for the perfect moment. The timing between the decoys and the charging Inquisition was essential. Too early and the decoys would not do their job, too late and the enemy would discover that the carriages were indeed decoys. Finally after what seemed like hours had passed Cullen nodded to Ellaina. That was all she needed. With a mighty roar she raised her sword into the air and, with Cullen at her side, they charged into a force they could not see. Ellaina swore she saw a shadow cross the battlefield, barely noticeable, unless you were looking. Ellaina sent up a silent prayer to the Maker that Patrice would make it in time.

As their enemy came into view Ellaina recognized it immediately. Red Templars in a force that far outnumbered their small band of troops. Their faces and bodies were twisted from the corruption of the red lyrium they had ingested. The sight of them was revolting. Most of them were beyond saving, but a few of them had such sadness in their eyes that when Ellaina drove her blade through them it seemed that they were relieved. The flow of battle was all Ellaina knew. She, Cullen, and Cassandra cut down anything that stood in the path of their home. Ellaina knew now how the Red Templars had been able to hide from the forces of the Inquisition. As they had advanced up the mountain a blizzard had manifested. In the valley there was only a heavy wind, but here the wind was so fierce that snow swirled in blinding vortices around them. It was all Ellaina could do to keep her bearings. If an archer could see her now there would be no chance of her surviving killing shot. The Red Templars had been well trained, but the corruption in their veins made them reckless and easy targets. We might just hold out.

That was when it happened. The ground below them began to shake and a mighty roar erupted from a place unseen.

"It's a Colossus!" Ellaina yelled hoping to warn her soldiers and companions.

As she was pulling her sword from the chest of a Red Templar Knight Ellaina was hit in the head by a force that caused her to sprawl backwards and made her vision go black.

"Inquisitor!" She barely heard Cassandra yell.

"Ellaina!" Cullen roared above the cacophony.

She felt the hot liquid rolling down her face, a stark contrast to the freezing snow that had been covering her a moment before. Her vision was fuzzy and the ground below her continued to shake making it hard for her to regain her balance. She felt a cool restorative energy flow through her and as her vision cleared she saw Dorian standing over her.

"No time for sleeping dear. We can't kill this beast without you." Dorian winked as he extended his hand to help her.

Ellaina nodded her silent thanks to him and ran back toward the Colossus. She anticipated it's mighty blow this time and charged toward it's weak point; the center crystal in it's abdominal section. Ellaina thrust her sword into the Colossus with all her might and the scream that emanated from the creature chilled the blood in her veins. Maker, take you my brother. May you find peace at his side and walk forever in the light of the Golden City. Ellaina whirled around, dodging the shards as the creature erupted. She looked from the bodies that littered the battlefield around her, to what remained of their small troop, to her companions, and finally to Cullen. When her eyes met his a wave of terror washed over her as he fell into the snow, an arrow sticking out of the left side of his breastplate and pauldrons.

{-Cullen-}

Cullen watched her fight. She was awe-inspiring. If he ever had any questions as to why so many people had joined her army she was answering them before his very eyes. She was a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, and anyone who had seen this display would undoubtedly want to be behind her blade and not in front of it. Cullen almost felt sorry for those unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of her prowess. Blood splattered onto her face, and all over her armor, but it only served to make her even more intimidating. Cullen had enemies of his own to deal with, but he was more concerned with watching her back. When the ground began to shake his stomach dropped into his toes as he saw the Colossus a moment too late.

"It's a Colossus!" Ellaina had yelled in a futile attempt to warn the others as it swung its mighty arm around and landed a square hit on her head. Cullen watched in horror as her limp form flew backwards into the snow.

"Inquisitor!" Cassandra had yelled next to him.

"Ellaina!" Cullen began to run toward her, but before he could the Colossus rounded on him. Cullen could only hope that someone would get to her and help her back up to her feet. The Colossus roared and swung at Cullen with all its might. Cullen barely evaded the hit and used its momentum against it to lay waste to its legs while it was still recovering from the last attack. The Colossus, seemingly furious, roared and rounded on Cullen again. It swung again and this time Cullen was ready. He ran toward the swinging appendage and wrenched his sword upward with all his might successfully relieving the Colossus of its most powerful weapon.

Cullen recovered and was preparing to round on the creature again when he felt something cold bite into the flesh on the back of his thigh. He rounded, lead by his shield, on his attacker. This assailant was quicker than he was but Cullen knew if he could keep it in his line of sight he could time a shield bash and deliver a killing blow. The rogue attempted to flank Cullen but he was not fast enough. Cullen saw his opportunity and ran full speed at his attacker with his shield arm. When his shield made contact the rogue sprawled backward into the bloodstained snow and Cullen was able to drive his sword into his chest. Maker, take you, brother. That was all Cullen could offer before his attention was drawn back to the Colossus. Just as he prepared to charge for the creature's weak point he saw a flash of shining black metal. Ellaina had arisen just in time to deliver the killing blow. Cullen watched as she drove her sword into the creature, but was only able to admire the awesome sight as pain coursed through him. He only had a moment to look down toward his left shoulder to see the arrow protruding from a small gap in his heavy armor. Impossible. This can't be happening. No one could have made that kind of shot in this blizzard. Cullen only had a moment to look around him for help. His vision was fading dangerously fast. He found Ellaina's face before weakness claimed him. He fell into the snow as blood pooled around him staining the pure white substance an angry crimson color.

Ellaina's voice broke through the silence that was enveloping him. "Cullen! Cullen! Stay with me dammit! Don't you dare do this to me! Not here. Not like this!"

Cullen tried to reach for her but he had no strength left. He was losing blood fast and he knew it. He wouldn't make it much longer. He could only pray that he had made her as happy as she had made him. He heard the battle continuing but the only thing he cared about was Ellaina's voice saying "no, no" over and over again. He heard her whispering words he couldn't understand to him between grunts of pain. Is she wounded worse than I thought? Did the archers hit her too? Maker, help us all.

Cullen sent up the silent prayer as the darkness claimed him.