Salem

"The key is placed here." Genitivi spoke, pausing every now and again for breath. It had not been a long journey, but the man was exhausted and barely healed from his torture at the hands of Haven's madmen.

I heard the chink of metal as Leliana handed Genitivi the key. "If I recall," he muttered, turning the amulet in his hand, "there is a catch just...here."

The "snick" of metal; Leliana squeezed my shoulder. He had remembered correctly. Genitivi placed the key in my hand and guided me to a groove cut into a wall of solid stone. I set the key and turned it, hearing the groan of chains and the complaints of pulleys.

Air that smelled of thick incense rushed out to greet us. I coughed and strode forward, uncertain, into the mouth of the hidden temple. How did its existence remain secret all these years? Who could have protected it from discovery?

"By the Stone." Oghren muttered. "Didn't think topsiders had the know-how t'build somethin' like this. If I couldn't see the sky, I'd swear we were in a thaig."

His voice echoed through the room, bouncing off and returning, leaving and coming again. I wished I could see what they were seeing; bask in the glory that had driven my companions to silence.

"This is...incredible." Genitivi breathed. "Of course the ancient texts give some detail, but nothing could come close to this...majesty."

"If what they say is true," Leliana spoke, "the Bride of the Maker was laid to rest here. It would, of course, be beautiful."

But beauty is denied me. I am not fit to set foot here. Even if we find the Urn, will I be able to lay my hands against it? Will I be able to bring healing back to Redcliffe? Will I be healed?

As we walked further in, the smell of incense turned from fragrant to acrid. Something here, as in Haven, was very, very wrong.

"Brother Genitivi," I grasped my swords and whispered them from their sheathes, "I must ask that you return to Haven, or stay here."

"Salem, what is wrong?" Wynne asked.

I heard Oghren ready his axe, Alistair and Zevran draw their blades, Leliana string her bow. They trusted me, even when blind, to sense danger near us.

"We were wrong in assuming that all the mad remained in Haven. If this truly is the resting place of Andraste, then the greeting party in town was just the beginning. There will be more; better armed and more skilled. Alistair, Shale, stay with Brother Genitivi. Keep him safe. That is an order."

If we die, someone must take back the story of what happened here.

"What?" my fellow Grey Warden sounded distressed. "Are you trying to insult me?"

"No, 'tis simply chivalry at work." Morrigan's musical laugh danced around us. "Women and children are to be preserved at all costs."

"No one asked you." Alistair grumbled.

"We do not know what we are facing." I fought down a smile. "Alistair stays behind. Should the worst come to pass, Ferelden will still need her warden." I laid my hand against his shoulder in apology.

"I don't like it." the future king spat.

"Neither do I." I punched him lightly on the shoulder. "No warrior wishes to leave her staunchest sword behind. But there is much more at stake here than you and I. Guard Genitivi, wait for our return. No heroics."

"But..."

"Any further complaint and I will leave you here with Morrigan." I crossed my arms. "Well?"

Alistair cleared his throat. "Godspeed, Salem."

I smiled, for sorrow. Alistair wanted to come with us, to fight whatever it would be that stood in our way. But I could not allow it. Duncan was dead; no other wardens were coming to our aid. I had to endanger my party to ensure that at least one of us remained alive. It was not a pleasant thing to do, but he had granted me the position of leadership and he knew it.

"Be safe, brother." I turned around.

"There is something ominous at work here." Leliana whispered, coming alongside me. "I have been in many holy places. None of them have ever felt like this."

"What do you feel?" I asked, trusting her judgment as she trusted mine.

"Menace." the word sent a shiver down my spine, but I felt the truth of it.

A powerful presence hovered over this place and, without speech, without sound, it was clear that me and mine were not welcome. Welcome or not, we have come. I thought. I have faced no challenge which I have not surmounted. I have even come back from death. Throw at me what you will, I am unafraid.

"Salem..." Leliana backed away.

"I hear them."

Footfalls. Plate armor striking against stone. I had been right. Our enemies were upon us.

"No mercy and no quarter." Morrigan's voice roughened.

Twin howls shattered the silence, rebounding off the walls. "Go." I ordered.

Burrow and Morrigan in her wolf-form charged into the fray. I heard the music of a bowstring drawn taut. Leliana...my guardian angel of death. A smile crossed my lips, more akin to a baring of teeth than a show of joy.

"Alistair and Shale, protect Wynne and Leliana. The rest of you..."

"Kill 'em all." Oghren finished.

I walked forward, slow, waiting for enemies to come to me, as I knew they would. The clank of armor neared and I readied my blades, stepping away from the warhammer's blow. It crashed against the stone and I stepped forward, slicing upward, through the man's gorget and into his neck. Metal crashed to the ground and my sword returned to me, smelling of blood.

"Salem!" a cry...Leliana.

I ducked as her arrow flew overhead, burying itself somewhere in another attacker's body. I rose, and kept moving, seeking enemies of flesh and blood in this hall of stone. My body felt like it was on fire, and I relished the sensation. I could not deny, that though I loathed the shedding of men's blood, I loved battle.

What manner of hypocrite does this make me? I wondered as I countered another's blade with my own, slicing through the chinks of his armor and into flesh.

Sweat ran down my back; I had grown too accustomed to not wearing armor. A knife whisked past my face and I turned, catching the attacker's wrist and striking my fist against their nose. A sick crunch as cartilage and bone shoved into their skull.

I relinquished my foe and listened. Burrow bounded up to me and gnawed playfully at my gauntlets. Apparently, his work was done. I scratched him behind the ears. "Good dog."

"Not bad, fer a first wave." Oghren came close to me. "Reckon they'll get thicker as we get closer."

"Of that," I waved the rest of my friends forward, save those whom I had told to stay behind, "I have no doubt. Let's keep moving."

Leliana came to my side as we left the main hall, her presence a silent question. I reached down and squeezed her hand. All was well, for the moment.