Someone had sewn a tabard for her horse. The pretty little mare looked majestic in the silver studded saddle and bridle. Cullen offered her his hand as Ruya climbed up, then vaulted into the saddle of his own horse. She'd offered a horse to Hawke, and the man had merely laughed in response. He and Varric sat atop a wagon with Sera and a rotating group of soldiers, playing cards.
Cullen filled her in on the plan they'd developed. He'd taken her suggestion regarding the deployment of the mages, and had paired the mages at the front lines with templar bodyguards. He'd done the same for the healers in the back ranks. "Good to see the willingness to work together, on both sides." She waited until they were out of earshot of most of the soldiers. "You and the red templars' leader seem to have a personal history."
"When I arrived in Kirkwall, Samson and I shared quarters. He seemed a decent man, at first." He shrugged. "Knight-Commander Meredith later expelled Samson for 'erratic behavior.' He ended up begging on Kirkwall's streets. He committed further crimes, but managed to evade the Order's justice. Now Samson serves Corypheus as his loyal general."
She sighed. "Why do you think Samson joined Corypheus?"
"He had a chronic lyrium addiction. He spent every last coin buying it from local smugglers. Perhaps Corypheus appealed to his vanity, gave him purpose as well as lyrium. Perhaps that's all it took."
"It sounds like Samson had a miserable life."
Anger entered Cullen's voice. "The Order expelled him, but he had choices. He could have found another path." He glanced over his shoulder at her. "I don't understand how he became so powerful. Even with red lyrium, Samson's glory days are long behind him."
They rode in silence for a while. Josephine and Leliana had remained in Skyhold, though Leliana had sent plenty of scouts with them. Blackwall rode next to the wagon that contained Sera, and the woman seemed to be doing her part to keep his spirits up. Loghain kept to himself, and his face seemed permanently set into a scowl.
#
Adamant was massive. She imagined there was a time when the sight of the thing would have been inspiring. Ruya started to head in, but Cullen pulled her back and told her to save her strength until the walls were down. She wanted to argue, but knew he was right.
The trebuchets fired, taking down the men on the walls for the Inquisition soldiers on ladders. The ram was moving forward. The tower shields and barriers of the mages protected the men, and then Cullen touched her shoulder. They headed in together. Loghain, Cassandra, Solas, and Cole moved in with them. Blackwall led Iron Bull, Sera, and Dorian in with another group. Vivienne remained on the heights, helping coordinate the attacks of the Inquisition's mages. Varric was with Hawke, though she'd lost sight of them.
With a shuddering crash, the ram breached the wall, and her soldiers flooded in. She put up a barrier as she moved in alongside them. Loghain and Cassandra went left, while she and Cullen went right. Cole stayed near Solas as the mage arced lightning through the Warden archers. One of her soldiers took an arrow to the shoulder, and she poured more strength into the barrier. From above she heard a voice shout, "Pull back! They're through!"
The Wardens began retreating further into the fortress. A moment later, there was nothing standing in the small courtyard but Inquisition forces. Cullen turned to her. "All right, Inquisitor. You have your way in. Best make use of it." He gestured at his soldiers. "We'll keep the main host of demons occupied for as long as we can."
"I'll be fine. Just keep the men safe." She wanted to tell him to keep himself safe as well, but now wasn't the time. And she doubted he'd listen.
"We'll do what we have to, Inquisitor." He narrowed his eyes, proving her right. "Warden Loghain will guard your back. Hawke is with our soldiers on the battlements. He's assisting them until you arrive." Both of them turned at the sound of a scream, and saw a demon throw an Inquisition soldier off the wall. Cullen shook his head. "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." He strode away, barking orders at his men.
She took a deep breath, and headed in.
#
Cassandra started to brace for an incoming blow, but Loghain moved to intercept it. The magic blade formed in the Inquisitor's hand, and a demon fell before her. Based on the faint shimmer her allies had, either the Inquisitor or Solas were using their powers to increase their defenses.
Another Warden fell before her blade. She spared a quick glance. It was not a face she recognized. Based on Loghain's expression, he was not so lucky. More demons attacked, but the Inquisitor kept them all moving forward.
"Brothers, can't you see this is madness?"
"It's no use. They're enslaved."
She looked down over the ramparts. A small group of Wardens had their blades drawn on other Wardens, and were being attacked by demons. In front of her, she saw the Inquisitor let the blade vanish. Ruya raised her staff, and arced lightning between the demons and their handlers. Solas did the same. Within moments, the attacking Wardens had fallen.
Cassandra glanced at the Inquisitor, and then at the defenders. The Inquisitor held up a hand. "The Inquisition is here to stop Clarel, not to kill Wardens. If you fall back, you won't be harmed."
The leader of the defenders glanced at his comrades, then nodded. "All right. My men will stay back. We want no part of this." He sighed. "Deal with Clarel as you must." They moved back, letting the Inquisition forces past.
"Well spoken." Loghain's voice was quiet. "I did not look forward to killing more Wardens."
#
It felt like old times again, going into battle next to Hawke. The soldiers of the Inquisition fought bravely, reminding him for a moment of the times they'd gone in at the side of the Kirkwall Guard, or even the templars. If only Aveline and Fenris were here, Varric might have felt unstoppable. Except for the nagging feeling that Hawke shouldn't be here either. He should be home, with the kids, with Fenris.
If only they'd known for sure that Carver wasn't anywhere within these walls. Or Stroud, or Nathaniel, or any of the other Wardens they'd met over the years. Blondie. Varric took aim, picking off a demon that had managed to escape the storm Hawke had conjured. The Inquisitor was no slouch on the field, but the only one of his new friends who came anywhere close to the sheer chaos Hawke could bring to a field might have been Dorian.
#
They came up stairs to find Inquisition forces battling demons. As narrow as the battlements were, she stood back to let Loghain and Cassandra charge forward, and focused instead on her magic. Ruya and Solas moved in unison, using their staffs to direct pointed fire rather than risk catching an Inquisition soldier with a stray bolt of lightning.
As soon as the first siege point was clear, Cole gestured and led them to the second. A pride demon was tearing through some of her people, and they were standing anyway. She brought forth a barrier, and then used the power of the mark to begin ripping away the creature's defenses. The soldiers cheered as their blades began to bite deep.
#
She started towards another group of demons only to see them get blasted apart by a rain of fire. The demon that managed to avoid the flames caught a crossbow bolt. She blinked, and then saw Hawke and Varric. Hawke tossed her a salute. "Inquisitor. Always a pleasure."
"Good work." Impressive as hell, actually. Maybe Varric's book wasn't all that farfetched. "Stay with my forces and see that they survive this." With his sheer destructive capability behind them, her forces might actually have a shot at this.
He nodded. "I'll keep the demons off them as best I can." He punctuated his words by smashing a demon in the face with the blade of his staff, arcing lightning into it as he did so.
#
Shades appeared before them. In the chaos, some of the demons were turning on the Wardens. Ruya felt her gut wrench. It may well get worse before it got better. She used her defensive magic to aid where she could. More Wardens withdrew.
#
They emerged onto the lower battlements. Hawke and Varric had beaten them there and were fighting alongside the soldiers. Ruya blinked. And apparently they were keeping score.
The last demon faltered, then fell to the mace of one of her soldiers. She clapped the woman on the back as she moved past, checking on the wounded. "How many of them are there?" Hawke asked.
"Fewer thanks to you," a soldier replied. He glanced at Ruya. "Hawke saved a lot of lives on the battlements, Inquisitor."
"Some of the recruits listened to reason." Loghain glanced back at where a small group of Wardens had withdrawn from the fight and lowered their blades. "Perhaps Erimond doesn't have them all."
A soldier saluted. "Commander Cullen will hold a path open for us as long as possible, Inquisitor. Our forces are ready when you are."
She nodded, and began walking towards the large wooden door into the heart of the fortress.
#
Clarel stood on the balcony. Wardens and their demons stood in a circle around a rift, with several mages using their power to hold the rift open. Clarel gestured. "Wardens, we are betrayed by the very world we have sworn to protect."
Next to her, Erimond stood impatiently. "The Inquisition is inside, Clarel. We have no time to stand on ceremony."
"These men and women are giving their lives, magister. That might mean little in Tevinter, but for the Wardens, it is a sacred duty." She turned to the man standing behind her. He was old, and when he stepped forward, it was clear he'd seen many years of battle. Clarel's voice saddened. "It has been many long years, my friend."
"Too many, Clarel. If my sword arm can no longer serve the Wardens, then my blood will have to do." He closed a fist over his heart.
"It will." She stepped behind him, and with a smooth motion, opened his throat.
Ruya felt her stomach twist at the sight. She continued down the stairs. Erimond saw her and gestured. "Stop them. We must complete the ritual."
"Clarel, if you complete that ritual, you're doing exactly what Erimond wants." Hopefully, the woman was not completely beyond reason.
Erimond sneered. "What, fighting the Blight? Keeping the world safe from darkspawn? Who wouldn't want that?" He gestured dismissively. "And yes, the ritual requires blood sacrifice. Hate me for that if you must, but do not hate the Wardens for doing their duty."
"We make the sacrifices no one else will." Clarel stepped forward. "Our warriors die proudly for a world that will never thank them."
"And then he takes your mages minds for his real master: Corypheus." Loghain stepped to Ruya's shoulder.
Clarel actually took a step backwards. "Corypheus? But he's dead."
Erimond moved to her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "These people will say anything to shake your confidence, Clarel."
For a moment, Ruya thought Clarel was going to listen. To back down. Then the woman straightened. "Bring it through."
"Please, I have seen more than my share of blood magic." Hawke shook his head. "It is never worth the cost."
"I betrayed the Wardens once, and it cost me everything." Frustration filled Loghain's voice. "Are you mad enough to think I'd do it again?"
On the balcony, Erimond actually looked amused. "Be ready with the ritual, Clarel. This demon is truly worthy of your strength."
Green light shimmered from the rift as the Warden mages began to focus their magic. Ruya took another step forward. "Listen to me. I have no quarrel with the Wardens. I have spared those I could. I don't want to kill you, but you're being used..." She met the eyes of the men standing in front of her. "And some of you know it, don't you?"
A dark-skinned man in Warden blue slowly nodded. "The mages who've done the ritual? They're not right. They were my friends, but now they're like puppets on a string."
"You cannot let fear sway your mind, Warden Chernoff."
Hawke glared up at Clarel. "He's not afraid. You are. You're afraid that you ordered all these brave men and women to die for nothing."
Loghain gestured at the gathered Wardens. "One day, you may be asked to give your lives to stop a Blight. But not today."
Erimond moved to stand between them and Clarel. "Clarel, we have come so far. You're the only one who can do this."
The Warden-Commander hesitated. She shook her head, doubt evident on her face. "Perhaps we could test the truth of these charges, to avoid more bloodshed."
He backed away from her, drawing his staff as he did so. "Or perhaps I should bring in a more reliable ally." He slammed the butt of his staff into the stone of the balcony as he turned to face Ruya and her comrades. "My master thought you might come here, Inquisitor. He sent me this to welcome you."
In the distance, a roar could be heard. She saw the look of shock and horror on the faces of the Wardens as the dragon appeared in the sky. It landed atop a tower, and spread it's tattered wings as it roared again. Erimond started to laugh, and Clarel arced lightning into him, driving him to the ground. Almost as one, the Wardens drew their blades and turned on the demons.
#
They fought their way through the demons as Clarel began to chase after the fleeing Erimond. Ruya threw herself to the side to avoid a blast of fire from the dragon. Two Wardens and an Inquisition soldier died to the flames. Cassandra pulled her back to her feet, then charged in, using her shield to clear a path for Cole and his blades. Ruya moved to stand at Solas's back, using her spirit blade to clear enemies from him so he and Hawke could focus their magic on a massive pride demon that was slaughtering Warden and soldiers alike.
It fell, and she gestured to her comrades. They moved up the stairs in the direction Clarel had gone. With the thinness of the veil and the Warden mages still compromised, demons were everywhere. The Wardens fought alongside the Inquisition soldiers, pushing back where they could, but chaos reigned on the field. And the dragon... every time it dove, soldiers and Wardens alike died. There had to be some way to remove it from the field.
#
Clarel had Erimond at her mercy. The Tevinter mage faltered beneath the furious woman's magic. "You. You've destroyed the Grey Wardens."
He laughed weakly as he tried and failed to push himself off the ground. "You did that to yourself, you stupid bitch. All I did was dangle a little power before your eyes. And you couldn't wait to get your hands bloody." She sent another blast of energy at him and he slid across the ground. "You could have served a new god."
She raised her staff again. "I will never serve the Blight."
The dragon landed, catching Clarel in its massive jaws. It leaped atop a tower and shook it's head violently from side to side. Ruya heard the Warden-Commander scream, and then the dragon tossed her aside like a rag doll before it began to move towards them. Cassandra moved to stand in front of her, shield ready. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Loghain do the same for Solas, and felt a slight bit of surprise when she saw Hawke move to protect Varric. She poured energy into the barrier, strengthening it as the dragon came towards them.
On the stone, Clarel was still moving, though blood pooled around her. She dragged herself towards them. "In war, victory..." She rolled to her back as the dragon stepped over her. "In peace, vigilance..." Magic glowed around the woman's hand, and as the dragon stood above her, she unleashed the last of her magic into its belly. The creature roared in pain and flung itself sideways, smashing into the stone. The bridge they were on started to shake.
"Run."
Hawke actually picked Varric up as he ran. Solas stumbled, and Loghain grabbed his arm, throwing the mage forward. A moment later, Loghain himself started to slide, and she caught his arm. For a heartbeat, she thought they'd make it. The dragon thrashed again, and the bridge began to collapse.
Instinct guided her more than thought as they fell, and she willed energy into the mark as she saw the rift below.
#
For a moment, she floated with the ground above her. Slowly, she stretched out a hand. Her finger was a hair from the surface when gravity seemed to reverse itself and she hit the ground with a grunt. Ruya heard groans from her companions, and looked around. Cassandra was picking herself up off the ground, while Solas was looking around in a daze. Cole's eyes were wild. Loghain had landed on a piece of floating debris in a sky that was entirely the wrong color, and was oriented to a different gravity. The sight made her feel a bit dizzy. She looked around for Hawke and Varric, and found them on yet another piece of floating rock.
"What happened?" Loghain asked.
"We were falling." She looked around. At first glance, it was a canyon, with ankle deep water forming pools. The stone glowed with silvery-green veins of light and jutted out in all directions. Here and there were bits of construction, often oriented at different angles. A pale mist hung in the air, making it hard to focus on anything more than a hundred feet or so from them. And more pieces of stone hung in the air, some still, some tumbling slowly as they floated.
Hawke shook his head and ran a hand down his face. "If this is the afterlife, the Chantry owes me an apology. This looks nothing like the Maker's bosom."
"No, this is the Fade." Solas's voice held a note of wonder as he looked around. "The Inquisitor opened a rift. We came through..." His face broke into a smile. "And survived. I never thought I would ever find myself here physically..." He pointed at what appeared to be a dark structure hanging in the air above them. "Look. The Black City, almost close enough to touch."
She had to shake her head to keep herself from staring in fascination. At least she was in the right company for such a thing. "This must be very exciting for you, Solas. Any advice you have on what exactly's going on would be wonderful."
"Cole, how does it feel to be back home?" Solas turned towards the spirit.
Ruya's eyes widened. Cole looked panic-stricken. She immediately moved towards him as he twisted this way and that frantically. "I can't be here. Not like this, not like me."
Solas went to Cole's other side, and they both put hands on his shoulders. "It's all right," Solas assured him. "We'll make it right."
"This place is wrong." He looked back and forth at them. "I made myself forget when I made myself real, but I know it wasn't like this."
Above them, Hawke folded his arms. "It's not how I remember the Fade, either."
"Perhaps it's because we're here physically, instead of just dreaming."
He looked down at her. "The stories say you walked out of the Fade at Haven. Was it like this?"
She frowned, and took in the sights. It was familiar, somehow, but... she couldn't draw the memories to her. "I don't know. I still can't remember what happened the last time I did this."
Hawke nodded. He glanced down at Varric, and then lowered his friend to where Cassandra stood before using his staff to push himself off the floating debris. He landed on his feet. Hawke straightened back up. "Well, whatever happened at Haven, we can't assume we're safe now."
Loghain jumped down as well, landing lighter than she would have expected from a man his age. "That huge demon was on the other side of that rift Erimond was using, and there could be others." He glanced at her. "In the real world, the rift producing the demons was nearby, in the main hall. Can we return to the world through that?"
"It sounds like our best option." Ruya took a deep breath and looked around. Green shown to what she somewhat arbitrarily decided was 'north'. "There. Let's go."
#
Ruya touched Cassandra's shoulder reassuringly. The Seeker nodded in reply. Solas was still looking around like a child at a Wintersend celebration. "This is fascinating. It is not the area I would have chosen, of course. But to physically walk within the Fade..." He sighed happily.
Cassandra gave him an irritated look. "Concentrate on the task at hand, mage. There is nothing more dangerous than this place.."
"Thank you for the warning."
If her people weren't back in the real world, fighting and dying, she would have shared Solas's fascination. "Solas, you're the expert on this place. Anything helpful?"
He considered the question for a moment. "The Fade is shaped by intent and emotion. Remain focused, and it will lead you where you wish to go." He tilted his head as he looked around. "The demon that controls this area is extremely powerful. Some variety of fear, I would guess. I suggest you remain wary of its manipulations and prepare for what is certain to be a fascinating experience."
Varric glanced up at Hawke. "Is this really what it's like when you dream? How do you people ever sleep?" He shrugged. "Remember last time you ended up in the Fade, Hawke?"
"Oh, how could I forget? My closest friends showed such loyalty in the face of a demon's temptations."
"Well, they got better. Some of them."
They continued moving forward. Cole's movements were jerky. "Wrong, wrong, wrong. Wringing me out. Wrought right and rigid. Can't relax. Can't release..."
"You doing all right, kid?" Varric glanced at the spirit worriedly.
"It's all right, Cole." Ruya touched his arm. "We'll get you out of here soon."
"Thank you." He gave her a hopeful look. "It should be like home. It's not. This isn't me, not this part."
#
They fought a group of demons. Their forms were slightly different than the ones they'd fought back on Thedas, and no sooner did she realize that then they seemed to shift to adjust. After the first battle, she focused on the spirit blade, backing up the warriors. Solas focused on their defenses. And Hawke more or less just set everything on fire. The man's sheer destructive capability was a little bit awe-inspiring.
She set a fast pace, but there were riddles. Answers. Puzzles to be solved. And each time, there seemed to be some small lessening of the weight in the air, abet barely enough to notice. Still, it felt right.
Cole stayed near Solas, apparently drawing some comfort from the man's presence. She couldn't blame him. Cassandra and Loghain had shifted at some point during the last fray, with Cassandra now guarding Solas and Loghain guarding her. Hawke and Varric seemed to be taking turns guarding each other, in movements practiced enough to seem second nature to both men.
"You seem to be taking this well," she said as she healed a cut Loghain had taken.
"One does not fight at the side of the likes of Maric and Jerath without learning to accept a level of insanity."
Despite herself, she laughed.
#
She walked up a staircase of stone, and stopped dead in her tracks. Loghain nearly stumbled into her. Ruya could only stare. She knew the woman. Maker, she knew that woman. "Impossible." Loghain's voice was barely a whisper.
Divine Justinia inclined her head as they approached. "I greet you, Warden. And you, Champion."
Cassandra took another few steps forward. "Divine Justinia? Most Holy?"
"Cassandra." The Divine's face was warm and kind when she looked at the seeker.
It couldn't... could it? "Cassandra, you knew the Divine. Is this really her?"
"I..." Cassandra's face showed how badly she wanted to say yes. "I don't know. It is said the souls of the dead pass through the Fade and sometimes linger, but..." Cassandra swallowed. "We know the spirits lie. Be wary, Inquisitor."
"This can't be the Divine." Loghain narrowed his eyes. "It's most likely a demon."
"You think my survival impossible, yet here you stand alive in the Fade yourselves." The Divine spread her hands. "In truth, proving my existence either way would require time we do not have."
"Really?" Hawke folded his arms, and then lifted one hand. "How hard is it to answer one question? I'm a human, and you are..."
"I am here to help you." The Divine turned to meet Ruya's eyes. "You do not remember what happened at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, Inquisitor."
A spirit, then. The Divine would not have known her, and certainly not by her title. "No, I don't."
"The memories you have lost were taken by the demon that serves Corypheus." She gestured. "It is the nightmare you forget upon waking. It feeds off memories of fear and darkness, growing fat upon the terror. The false Calling that terrified the Wardens into making such grave mistakes? It's work."
Behind her, Loghain bristled. "Then perhaps I owe this Nightmare a visit."
"You will have your chance, brave Warden. This place of darkness is its lair."
Ruya shook her head. "Corypheus seems to have a lot of demons at his disposal. How does he command so many?"
"I know not how he commands his army of demons. His power may come from the Blight itself." The Divine's eyes were calm and clear. "But the Nightmare serves willingly, for Corypheus has brought much terror to this world. He was one of the magisters who unleashed the First Blight upon the world, was he not? Every child's cry as the Archdemon circles, every dwarf's whimper in the Deep Roads..." She gestured. "The Nightmare has fed well."
Alright. One step at a time. They knew now what they faced, now they just needed to get back, come up with a plan. "Can you help us get out of the Fade?"
"That is why I found you. When you entered the Fade at Haven, the demon took a part of you. Before you do anything else, you must recover it." She pointed at a mote of green light hanging in the air, then at another. "These are your memories, Inquisitor."
#
The Divine hung in the air, held aloft by magic. Held aloft by the magic of a half dozen Gray Wardens. Corypheus strode forward, holding the orb in his hand. "Now is the hour of our victory."
"Why are you doing this?" Justinia stared at the Wardens. "You of all people?"
"Keep the sacrifice still." Corypheus held out the orb, and it began to glow faintly. The energy surrounding Justinia seemed to pulse and change.
"Someone help me."
The door opened. Someone entered. Ruya saw herself, the day of the Conclave. "What's going on here?"
Corypheus turned to look at her, and Justinia took advantage of his distraction to strike the orb from his hand. It rolled and she caught it in her hand. The marked hand. The orb glowed with a spiraling green light that flooded into her, and she heard herself cry out in pain. Corypheus started to move towards her, and the memory faded.
#
"So Andraste didn't bestow her mark upon you." Loghain's voice sounded curious. "It came from the orb Corypheus used in his ritual."
The Divine nodded. "Corypheus intended to rip open the Veil, use the Anchor to enter the Fade, and throw open the doors of the Black City." She raised her chin slightly as she met their eyes. "Not for the Old Gods but for himself." She turned to Ruya. "When you disrupted his plan, the orb bestowed the Anchor upon you instead."
Ruya's eyes went to the mark on her hand. The power to rip open the world. And it... Oh, Maker. How... She forced herself to remain calm, and raised her eyes back to the Divine. "That's it?"
"Yes."
Words bubbled out of her in frustration. "That tells me nothing. Not about Corypheus or a weakness for the demon..." Or how to get rid of the mark. "Or even a way out of here. All it tells me is that I should break his damned orb next time it starts glowing."
"Yet even that information may one day help you." The Divine's face was sympathetic. "You cannot escape the lair of the Nightmare until you regain all that it took from you. You have recovered some of yourself, but now it knows you are here. You must make haste. I will prepare the way ahead." She vanished into into a pass between rocking outcroppings.
Ruya started to walk forward, and heard Loghain's voice behind her. "Is there a problem, Hawke?"
She turned. Hawke was glaring at the Warden. "I wondered if you might be concerned about the Grey Wardens holding The Divine in that vision." He gestured. "Their actions led to her death."
"Corypheus had clearly taken the Wardens' minds. You yourself have seen them do this." Loghain shook his head. "In any case, we can deal with that after we escape."
"Oh, I intend to."
#
Cassandra glanced at Solas. "Could that truly have been the Most Holy?"
"We have survived in the Fade physically. Perhaps she did as well." Solas used his staff as a walking stick as they came up an incline. "Or, if it is a spirit that identifies so strongly with Justinia that it believes it is her, how can we say it is not?"
"Whether she is a spirit or a demon, she wishes to help us... for the moment, at least."
"I'm less concerned with her than I am with the Nightmare she mentioned."
Cassandra started to ask another question of Solas, but Cole began shaking his head and shifting from foot to foot. "It's nothing like me. I make people forget to help them. It eats their fears. I don't know if I could do that, but I don't. I don't want to. That's not me."
The Inquisitor put a hand on Cole's shoulder as Solas spoke to him in a gentle voice. "Peace, Cole. None of us mistake you for the Nightmare." He turned towards the rest of them. "It is a fear demon, as I suspected, likely drawing on terrors related to the Blight. Fear is a very old, very strong feeling. It predates love, pride, compassion..." He gestured. "Every emotion save perhaps desire. Be wary. The nightmare will do anything in its power to weaken our resolve."
Loghain clenched his fists. "After its corruption of the Wardens, I'll see it pay."
She followed the Inquisitor, but spared a glance for the Champion. He was certainly living up to his reputation. How then, had Corypheus survived his encounter with the man?
#
"Ah, we have a visitor." The voice seemed to come from all directions, reverberating from the very stones. "Some silly little girl comes to steal the fear I kindly lifted from her shoulders. You should have left your fear where it lay, forgotten. You think that pain will make you stronger? What fool filled your mind with such drivel? The only one who grows stronger from your fears is me."
Ruya kept moving forward. The spider like things moved to attack, and she swept her spirit blade through the first to reach her. The swords of Cassandra and Loghain made short work of the others, and Varric made a beautiful shot that dropped one foolish enough to try to leap at Cole's back as the spirit stabbed his blades into another.
The voice kept talking through the battle. "But you are a guest here in my home, so by all means, let me return what you have forgotten."
They hadn't gone much further when the voice began to speak again. "But perhaps I should be afraid, facing the most powerful members of the Inquisition." It laughed. "Are you afraid, Cole? I can help you forget. Just like you help other people. We're so very much alike, you and I."
"No." Cole's voice was small. She smiled at him proudly, and saw him draw himself up slightly in response.
More demons fell. The voice chose a new focus. "Your Inquisitor is a fraud, Cassandra. Yet more evidence there is no Maker, that all your 'faith' has been for naught."
Cassandra's blade felled the last of the attacking demons. "Die in the Void, demon."
A dead end. They began to backtrack towards the fork in the path they'd passed earlier. "Dirth ma, harellen. Ma banal enasalin. Mar Solas ena mar din."
Solas shook his head. "Banal nadas."
More spiders, skittering ahead. Ruya put up a barrier, and let the warriors sweep the narrow path. The voice echoed off the walls. "Once again, Hawke is in danger because of you, Varric. You found the red lyrium. You brought Hawke here..."
"Just keep talking, Smiley." Varric practically growled the words. Hawke reached out and affectionately messed the dwarf's hair, prompting Varric to bat his hand away and smile.
They reached the new path, and began moving forward once more. "Do you think you mattered, Hawke? Did you think anything you ever did mattered? You couldn't even save your city. How could you expect to strike down a god? Fenris is going to die, just like your family, and everyone you ever cared about."
Hawke exaggeratedly mouthed the voice's words, then rolled his eyes. "Well, that's going to grow tiresome quickly." The Champion sent a blast of fire ahead that sent pieces of one of the spider things flying in all directions.
"Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir, the brilliant commander. Pity the one time you tried to rule, you failed so miserably. You had to be beaten, humiliate, lest you destroy your own country. You even doomed the Wardens by bringing the Inquisitor down on them. You destroy everything you touch."
Loghain just grunted. "Is that all you've got? It's nothing I've not said to myself."
#
"Spiders. Always the Maker-damned spiders."
Several of the others commented, and it seemed not all of them were seeing the creatures as spiders. Solas gestured. "Remember, we walk in the Fade. Demons of fear shape their appearance to unnerve each of us."
She'd hated the things since she was young, and had accidentally found herself locked in a cabinet full of them. She'd nearly beaten her hands bloody on the door before Lukas had found her.
#
The Divine, or the spirit that looked like her, was waiting for them again. "The Nightmare is closer now. It knows you seek escape. With each moment, it grows stronger."
Ruya nodded, and then moved through the small valley. When the demons were dead, she used her marked hand to collect the memories once more.
She saw herself, climbing a steep staircase carved from the fade-stone. The Divine stood above her. "This is the Breach back in Haven. That's how we..." She swallowed. "How I escaped."
"The demons," the Divine called as she reached for Ruya's hand. Ruya grabbed it and started to pull the Divine with her as they moved towards a rift. Something caught the Divine, and yanked her backwards, pulling her hand from Ruya's. Ruya tried to catch her, and missed. She started to give chase, and the Divine's voice reached her. "Go." And then the Divine was gone. The Ruya of the memory turned back to the rift.
Ruya opened her eyes, and looked at the woman before her. "It was you." She felt her eyes water. "They thought it was Andraste sending me from the Fade, but it was the Divine behind me. And then you..." She took a ragged breath. "She died."
"Yes."
"We've been following a demon, then."
Hawke folded his arms. "You don't say."
The spirit turned her kind eyes towards the Champion. "I am sorry if I disappoint you." His face softened in response to her words.
There were so many things she wanted to say. To apologize for failing to save the woman. To... She straightened, and blinked back the tears. She watched the Divine's face shift as the spirit abandoned the woman's form to become a warmly glowing being of light. "The only thing that's important right now is getting out of the Fade. Whoever you are, you've helped us so far."
"What we do know is that the mortal Divine perished at the temple, thanks to the Grey Wardens." Hawke's glare returned in full force.
Loghain shook his head. "Corypheus controlled them. We have discussed this already." He turned towards Ruya. "If this spirit has no further revelations, we should work on getting back to Adamant alive."
Hawke stepped towards the older man. "Assuming that the Wardens and their demon army didn't destroy the Inquisition while we were gone."
"I see." Loghain turned to face him, not backing down an inch. "Atrocities are your purview alone? You tore Kirkwall apart and started the mage rebellion."
"To protect innocent mages, not madmen drunk on blood magic." Hawke stepped forward until he was only a few inches from the other man. "But you'd ignore that, because you can't imagine a world without the Wardens..." Hawke clenched his own fists. "Even if that's what we need."
"Agreed." Ruya blinked at the sound of Solas's voice. "The Wardens may once have served a greater good, but they are far too dangerous now."
"The blood sings softly. It never stops, and then it's all they hear. We can't let them hurt more people."
Reluctantly, Cassandra also nodded. "The Wardens are a risk. Send them away before they cause even more trouble."
Varric laid a hand on Hawke's arm, trying to calm his friend.
They were standing in the middle of the Fade, demons all around them. Bickering. Ruya stepped towards them. "Sweet Maker, could all of you please shut up?" They all turned towards her with startled expressions on their faces. "We can argue once we've escaped from the giant fear demon."
"Inquisitor..." Loghain gestured to where more demons were gathering, then drew his blade.
The Divine floated upwards. "The Nightmare has found us."
Hawke drew his staff, and her companions moved to stand at her back as they faced the demons.
#
"Come." Solas gestured for them to proceed as the death of the last demon caused the barrier to fall, allowing them to continue forward. "Real or not, the Divine is the key to escaping from the Fade."
They continued forward, and once again the voice echoed from the walls. "Do you think you can fight me? I am your every fear come to life. I am the Veiled hand of Corypheus himself. The demon army you fear? I command it. They are bound all through me."
The spirit that had been the Divine's voice was filled with satisfaction, and she seemed to glow even brighter. "Ah, so if we banish you, we banish the demons? Thank you, every fear come to life."
A frustrated roar answered her, ringing from the stone.
#
The spirit floated just ahead. "You must get through the rift, Inquisitor. Get through and then slam it closed with all your strength. That will banish this army of demons..." The spirit glowed with golden light, lighting the path for them. "And exile this cursed creature into the farthest reaches of the Fade."
"Look," Hawke gestured with his staff. "We're almost there."
"Great, Hawke," Varric shifted his grip on the crossbow. "Why don't you just dare the Old Gods to stop us?"
They came to a platform, and stopped short as the Nightmare arrived to do just that. The creature was... Maker, so many eyes. Spider-like and foul and all those eyes, everywhere.
Before them, the spirit glowed even brighter. Her voice sounded sad. "If you would, please tell Leliana, tell them, 'I am sorry. I failed you, too." The spirit threw itself at the Nightmare, pushing it away and tumbling it down out of their view.
Now, they just had to deal with the demons. Ruya murmured a prayer, and heard it echoed by Cassandra.
#
The last of the demons fell. She waved to Cassandra and the others, who began to run for the rift. She, Loghain, and Hawke started to move forward. And then the Nightmare was there, it's bloated body between them and the rift.
"We need to clear a path." Loghain set his shield, holding his sword at the ready.
"Go, I'll cover you." Hawke gripped his staff in both hands.
Loghain shook his head. "No. You were right. The Wardens made this mistake. A Warden must -"
"A Warden must help them rebuild. That's your job." Hawke glared up at the Nightmare. "Corypheus is mine."
She couldn't bring herself to look at either of them. It was seeing Varric disappear into the rift that decided it for her. "Loghain..." She turned towards him.
He smiled, and bowed. "Fight well. You will not die while I draw breath." He charged ahead, his sword slicing through the demon and causing it to shift. She caught Hawke's arm, and pulled him with her to the rift. Before they went through, she glanced over her shoulder. For moment, she thought she saw...
#
She landed, staff in hand. Inquisition soldiers and Wardens were still locked in battle against the demons. Her eyes narrowed, and she focused her energy into the mark. Her palm glowed with green light, and then she clenched her fist, driving her nails into her palm. The rift behind her vanished, and the demons with it.
Slowly, a cheer began to rise. Hawke turned towards her. "She was right. Without the Nightmare to control them, the mages are free, and Corypheus loses his demon army." He shook his head, and smiled. "Though as far as they're all concerned, the Inquistor broke the spell with the blessing of the Maker."
"They came out of this alive. As far as I'm concerned, they can tell whatever stories they like." It had already become apparent she had no way to stop them.
"That's how legends get started." He jerked his head at where the dwarf stood. "Or, at least, that's what Varric always said."
A soldier rushed towards her. "Inquisitor. The Archdemon flew off as soon as you disappeared. The Venatori magister is unconscious but alive. Cullen thought you might wish to deal with him yourself." He glanced over his shoulder as a man in a griffin helmet moved to stand next to him. "As for the Wardens, those who weren't corrupted helped us fight the demons."
The Warden swallowed, then closed his fist over his heart and bowed his head. "We stand ready to help make up for Clarel's..." He hesitated. "Tragic mistake." He raised his head. "Where is Loghain?"
Hawke lowered his eyes. She clenched her fists. Mistake. He actually had the nerve to say it was just a mistake. A brave man had just given his life because of their 'mistake'. "Warden Loghain is dead, thanks to all of you. He alone stood against Clarel's madness. If not for him, you'd be dead - or slaves to a servant of the Blight. And you repaid that by branding him a traitor."
They wilted before her words. The one who had spoken earlier looked around, then back at her. "Inquisitor, we have no one left of any significant rank. What do we do now?"
"You leave." Her voice was blunt. The last thing they needed was Wardens anywhere near the Venatori. "There was one Warden among you who spoke up for what was right, and he's dead now. By the authority of the Inquisition, you are banished from southern Thedas." She caught Hawke's eye, and his nod. "Hawke will oversee your return to the Warden fortress at Weisshaupt."
"Yes, Your Worship."
Blackwall stepped forward. "Your Worship, I would stay, if you allow it, and continue our fight."
In the heat of the moment, she'd almost forgotten he was a Warden. He hadn't been part of this. And, like Loghain, and worked tirelessly to stop it. "Of course. I have never doubted your loyalty, Blackwall."
"Good luck with your Inquisition." Hawke bowed with a bit of a flourish. "Try not to start an Exalted March on anything." His face softened. "And take care of Varric for me."
She nodded.