"Go with the Maker, mother—!"

Cullen shouted as he killed one of the red templars as he heard one of the Bull's Chargers, Krem, let out an expletive, as he and the others continued to fight the onslaught of red templars. He was tired, fighting alongside his men and the Chargers as Alex and her party ran towards the outskirts of Haven, where the trebuchets were positioned. He could see Vivienne casting Barriers to his men, Solas freezing their enemies into ice as Cassandra hewed them to bits and Dorian made them explode with fire, while Sera shot arrows around them from what seemed to be a sniping position on top one of the guard towers. Even the newcomer, Cole, was helping, appearing and disappearing in puffs of smoke and flashing daggers.

He heard a rumble in a distance, and he looked up, seeing a slope of the mountain move. He couldn't help but grin in triumph as the snow avalanched, burying their enemies in a thick coating of ice. She did it, he thought, hearing the cheering of the men.

But he was suddenly thrown back when one of the trebuchets exploded, and he heard the flapping of wings. He straightened and looked up at the sky, only to see a hideous blue-gray dragon hovering around them, breathing fire around Haven, burning huts and people along the way.

"Maker's breath!" He exclaimed, before he shook himself back to his senses and headed for the main doors of the village, "Head to the Chantry, quickly!" He pulled at some of his soldiers, and soon they were running. He saw Alex, Varric, Bull and Blackwall hurrying towards them, "MOVE IT! MOVE IT!"

The four of them hurried through the gates, and he and Bull closed it shut. But the dragon was still hovering around them, and he couldn't help but growl as he rounded on Alex, who was looking at the sky, watching the creature.

"We need everyone back at the Chantry! It's the only building that might hold against that… that beast!" He told her, and she turned her attention at him. Her emerald eyes were wide with fear, and he couldn't help but feel a little afraid and defeated. He sighed loudly, "At this point… just make them work for it."

Alex scowled at him, but she remained silent and he headed up towards the Chantry, seeing his soldiers bringing in the wounded. He helped them inside, and he spotted Leliana and Josephine, placing burn poultices at the injured. Vivienne, Solas and Dorian were there, looking exhausted as they drank lyrium potions, and Sera was cringing, cradling her burnt arm, as she was flung from the look-out tower by the blast. Cassandra was putting bandages on soldiers, even though her own face was bleeding from a wound on her forehead, just on her hairline. He was surprised to see Chancelor Roderick walking amongst the wounded, and Cole was there beside him, unharmed and not even sweating. He could see the Chantry brother holding on to his stomach painfully. He could see blood dotting his coat, and he swore a bit before turning to Sera.

"Come here, girl. Let's see what we could do with that." He muttered as he went to Sera, and she held out her arm as he took it and poured a health potion on it. She winced, "Piss-eared piece of shite dragon…" the elf muttered out, "Where's the Herald?"

He looked behind him, thinking that Alex was following him, but he was surprised to see she wasn't there, and that the doors were closed after he had entered. He grit his teeth, "She'll be coming soon. Don't worry."

The doors opened, and a group of people entered, which included the alchemist Adan, the quarter master Threnn, researcher Mineve, the tavern girl and one of the workers. Bull, Varric, Blackwall and Alex followed, with blood smeared on their faces and arms, but fortunately the blood wasn't theirs. Roderick ushered them inside, "Get in! The Chantry is your shelter!"

But the man collapsed a little, just as Alex went through the door, and Cole caught him before looking up at her. "He's dying. He tried to fight the red templars. It would be soon."

Roderick had enough strength to smile at the boy's frankness, "What a charming boy…"

"Herald!" Cullen called out to her and she looked up at him. She looked exhausted, but unharmed as Solas came forward and offered her a lyrium potion, which she accepted gratefully, biting the stopper off the bottle and chugging it. "Our position is not good. Any time you have bought us was destroyed by that dragon. Another attack would kill us all."

"I saw an Archdemon in Fade." A small voice spoke, and Alex and Cullen looked down at Cole, "It looked like that."

Alex blinked, "An Archdemon. Are you telling me a Blight has started?"

Cole shook his head, "It looked like that, but it's not. The Elder One controls him… holds him his will. He's too loud. I don't like him."

Cullen looked at the boy and shook his head in exasperation, "You don't like… urgh… Herald, there is nothing I could think of that could make this survivable."

"He doesn't care about the mages… of the village. He only wants you… the Herald." Cole said, his face hidden in his hat again even though he looked up at Alex, and she scowled, the look as fierce as that of Solona's, "If it would mean that I could save the people, then I'd give myself up."

Cullen blinked up at her, seeing her determination, he felt a wave of panic through him, he was about to object, but then Cole spoke up again as he looked at Chancelor Roderick. "Yes…. That would work. He knows how to get out of here. He wants to say it before he dies."

They looked down at the Chantry cleric as he pointed at the halls of the building, into the War Room. "There is a path… you wouldn't know about it, unless you have taken the Summer Pilgrimage as I have. She must have shown me… Andraste must have shown me so I could… tell you."

Alex bent down at him, "What are you on about, Roderick?"

"There… in the War Room… there is a hidden door that leads out of Haven to the mountains beyond. You could send the people through that way." Roderick said again, with some difficulty.

Alex's face tightened before she looked up at Cullen, "What about it, Cullen? Do you think it could work?"

"Maybe." He said, looking at her, "But what of your escape?"

She silenced, a scowl marring her features, and his fear doubled. He wanted to keep her with them, to escape with them, but he knew that she wouldn't stand for it. "Maybe you'll kill it or… find a way…"

"Maybe. But… get them out of here first, Cullen." Alex said as she grasped her wand, and looked around, "Blackwall, Varric, Bull… with me. Everyone else… evacuate Haven. Help the wounded. Chancelor Roderick will lead the way."

Solas blinked in surprise at her, "Herald… you must…"

"Go, Solas." Alex said simply, and she gave him a smile, "I'll be fine. We'll catch up to you, I promise."

The bald elf looked at her, and nodded, leaning over to Cole and Roderick as they helped the elder man to his feet. "Herald… if this is what Andraste wanted, if this is what you're meant to be, I pray for you."

She nodded to him as they brought him away, and she squared her shoulders as Varric cocked his crossbow, Bianca, and Blackwall unsheathed his sword. Something gripped at Cullen and he rushed forward, grasping her upper arm. "Herald…!"

Alex looked up at him again, her emerald eyes shining with determination, and once again he felt speechless. Just like Solona… he couldn't help but remember, and it pained him. He lessened his grip on her as he said, "If… if we are to have a chance… if you are to have a chance, let that thing hear you."

She smirked at him, the fear on her eyes fading into what seemed to be a look of anger and cockiness, "Oh… you bet, he will. Go, Cullen. And… be careful."

He nodded as he finally let go of her, heading to the doors of the War Room, where the others had began leading the people away. Amidst the moving people, he heard Alex say to her companions, "One with the lowest body count buys a round of drinks, eh?"

He heard Bull say "Fuck yeah!", but Varric merely shook his head, "Leave it to you to find a good thing about a life-or-death battle. You're just like your cousin."

Alex laughed, her light voice reaching to him, and he had to smile a little, No, not so much like Solona. He thought as he closed the War Room door as the last civilian entered the cave.

Cullen stuck behind the line of evacuees, but he could see Dorian and Vivienne ahead of the people, holding their staffs aloft to shine a light on the dark, winding cave path. Solas fell a step beside him, doing the same, casting a bright white light from his weapon. "Are you alright, Commander?"

"I am fine, Solas. I am not injured." He said as they continued to walk, "I am… just worried that the enemy might come up to us."

The elf gave a small smile at him, "They will be distracted, I assure you. Having to deal with a rampaging Qunari would probably do it. The Herald and the Iron Bull has made a game of the fighting. It is… rather brutal, to be honest, but effective."

"A game, you say?" Cullen said as they continued to walk further, "What kind of game?"

"I believe Alex called it 'Bull In The Orlesian Shop'. She would freeze an enemy and Bull will try to shatter them, like a druffalo bull in an Orlesian glassware shop." Solas said, still smiling a little. "The Qunari is brutal, but it seems like she finds it… amusing."

He felt himself smirk, No, definitely not like Solona.

"Am I to understand, Commander, that you knew her sister? The Hero of Ferelden?" Solas asked.

He nodded, "Yes. I was a templar at the Ferelden Circle. I attended her Harrowing."

"Is she similar to our Herald?" The elf asked again, and Cullen had to laugh before shaking his head, "Oh Maker, she isn't. Solona is… much more refined than Alex. And she disliked violence. She was a spirit mage… a healer. I believe that she got that from her teacher, Wynne."

Solas nodded in comprehension, "I dreamt at Ostagar, once. I saw her and the Grey Warden Alistair light the fire that signaled Teryn Loghain's forces. She was a brave woman… much like our Inquisitor."

Yes… yes she is. Cullen thought to himself, but not saying it out loud. But the two of them started when they heard movement behind them, and he drew out his sword as Solas readied his stance, holding his staff in front of him to light the cave.

But the mage's staff revealed Varric, Bull and Blackwall, looking forlorn. Varric's cheek was bleeding, and Blackwall reeked of burnt fabric, while Bull still had splashes of blood on his chest and arms. He sheathed his sword as he came forward, "Master Tethras!"

But the dwarf looked at him sadly, "Haven is buried under snow, and the Archdemon and the Elder One fled."

Fear gripped Cullen's insides as he took in the news, and he blinked as he looked behind them, looking for the red-haired woman, "The Herald?"

"I don't know." Varric said, and Cullen's breath got caught in his throat, "She was behind us, but the Elder One cornered her alone. I'm sorry, Curly… but I think she's gone."