Cullen stood beside Alex as their soldiers marched, and she smelled the scent of blood from a mile away. A sense of foreboding bubbled in the pit of her stomach, and she swallowed a little, both in fear and anticipation for the battle ahead. Behind her, she heard Varric cock Bianca's mechanisms, and Cole and Blackwall drew out their blades.

Her Commander looked at her in inquiry, and she nodded slightly. He nodded back and unsheathed his sword, raising it up to the heavens. The soldiers stilled a little, watching him, and as he pointed the tip of his sword at Adamant Fortress, they yelled and charged, drawing out their own weapons and storming the keep. Arrows flew to the air from behind them, and from inside the fortress, Alex heard screams of pain as they hit their mark.

By the doors of the Keep, the soldiers were pushing a gigantic battering ram, while the other soldiers were pushing up huge metal ladders so that they went over the fortress' battlements, killing the Grey Warden warriors along it. Her soldiers began ramming through the keep's doors, and she withdrew her staff, running down the hill that they were positioned as the battering ram blew the doors off its hinges, revealing some surprised Wardens.

She jumped through the hole, and set out Ice Mines, just as Alistair, Blackwall and Cole came up behind her in flashes of steel and silverite. As she casted her spells, Varric had jumped up the battering ram, using its high vantage point to shoot bolts into their enemies.

The last of their enemies by the gates fell down dead, and Alex huffed as a flaming ball flew through the air from one of her trebuchets and collided with the ramparts, and she heard one of the Warden shout, "Pull back! They're through!". She scowled as she looked up at the battlements, just as she heard someone coming towards her.

She turned around to see Cullen to see his sword stained red, his face scowling, "All right, Inquisitor. You have your way in, best make use of it. We'll keep the main host of demons occupied as long as we can."

Alex smirked, "That's a worrying lack of specificity there, Commander."

"There were more of them than I was hoping, Inquisitor." Cullen admitted, and she laughed a little, "You don't say."

Cullen grinned a little, but soon it faded back into his scowl, "Warden Alistair will guard your back. Hawke is with our soldiers on the battlements. She's assisting them until you arrive…"

A loud growl made them look up the battlements, only to see one of the Inquisition soldiers get thrown off by a demon, who shrieked menacingly at them, before turning around and disappearing. Cullen growled, "There's too much resistance on the walls. Our men on the ladders can't get a foothold. If you can clear out the enemies on the battlements, we'll cover your advance."

"Will do, Commander." Alex said, and she turned around to head to the battlements, but she stopped when a hand wrapped around her wrist, only to see that Cullen had stopped her.

"Alexandra…" Cullen said, his voice tense, "Be careful."

For a moment, Alex softened at the frightened look on the man's face, as he feared for her safety. As her companions turned away, she stood on her toes and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck before letting him go, "You, too."

"Quaking, quivering… trembling with fear." They heard someone say, and they turned around to see Cole lurking near them. "He scared that you'll get hurt, injured, harmed. I am here. I'm going to help. I won't let her get hurt, Cullen."

The Commander smiled as he nodded at him, "I'll hold you onto to that, Cole. Now, go!"

Cole nodded and took Alex's hand, and she nodded back at him before sprinting towards the battlements, navigating the various stairs that led up. "Thanks for that, Cole." Alex said as they charged at their various enemies, and her magic flowed through her as she casted various spells, "But you don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself."

The boy grabbed her by the back of her neck and bent her backward, making her shriek a bit, but soon she realized that he did so because a Warden archer was aiming at her, and that he had sent a dagger flying through the air to hit him. "Cullen is hurting. The fear of losing you eats at him everyday." He said as he straightened her upright and continued fight, "My words healed him. But he would hurt more if you get hurt, so I'll help."

She smiled brightly at the boy, "Thanks." She rushed up the battlements again, seeing some of her soldiers, and she nodded at her companions, "Take them down! We have to make sure the soldiers can get in!"

"Yes, Inquisitor!" Blackwall and Alistair said, charging at their enemies with his shield, with Cole disappearing in a cloud of smoke, and Varric shooting arrows.

They made their way into the Main Bailey of the fortress, only to see a group of Warden warriors fighting of the mages. "Brothers! Can't you see this is madness?!" One of them shouted, but still the mages kept attacking. It seemed that they were aware that Alex and her party were helping them, but when the battle ended, one of them raised his sword against Alex, "Keep your distance!"

Alex sheathed her weapon, raising her hands up as the Wardens grouped together in fear, but Alistair had beaten her to it and walked forward to the Warden in front, "Chernoff, I just helped SAVE you!"

But the man, Chernoff, seemed a little speculative, "Why should I trust you, Alistair?! You're a traitor to the Wardens! Clarel called for your death!

"The Inquisition is here to stop Clarel, not to kill the Wardens. If you fall back, you won't be harmed." Alex said, hoping that the men would at least trust her.

The Wardens looked at each other in uncertainty, before their sheathed their weapons, "Alright. My men will stay back. We want no part in this. Deal with Clarel as you must."

She let out a sigh of relief, "We will. I promise. If head out by the doors, you will meet our Commander Cullen. Tell him you wish to help stop the demons, and see to the wounded."

"Yes, thank you, Inquisitor." One of the Wardens said, and they turned around to head to the higher areas of the Keep. Alistair clapped a hand on her shoulder, "Nicely done, sister-in-law. I'm glad some of them could be reasoned with."

"Yeah, me too." Alex admitted, "I'd hate to kill these Wardens without proper reason. But enough of that, come on."

They continued to head up the Keep, battling demons, and a few moments later, Alex saw Hawke pass by, and behind her were demons, which included a gigantic Pride demon. "Marian!" She cried out after her as she casted spells, with her companions coming in behind her. Together they killed it, and when it was done, Alex blinked to see Hawke look at her with a little smile, "Always a pleasure, cousin."

She smiled at her a little, "Good work. Stay with my forces and see that they survive this."

Hawke nodded as she twirled her staff to her other hand, "I'll keep the demons off them as best as I can." She said, before heading off towards the other side of the battlements.